Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-03-18
49, -
MILLY.

has sprained his leg so, slipping down
out of the hayloft, that he can't take
step on it, and suppose you and l will
have to finish the chores, Milly."
SAIL right, mother; can milk old
Speckle as well as not, and then we
have only to close up things for the
night. Pete managed to get the hay
down before he got himself down, but /
do think he is the most awkward, I'M
lucky creature that we ever had on the
place. Here it isn't week since he
almost cut his thumb off, and it's a
mercy he didn't burn the house up yes
terday when he went and started the
great fire in the fireplace without ever
taking the boards off the chimney
Yes, that's so; he does seem bit I'M
balanced; but feel sorry for the poor
fellow. He is groaning dreadful with
his leg, and won let me do thing for
it; says he has got it wrapped up and
thinks it will get easier after he gets to
bed. gave him some liniment for it,
and he went to his room. And now
comes this despatch from Jim, and no
one to go to the station with his lunch. "
Never mind, mother, we'll fix it
somehow" answered pretty, brown
eyed Milly, as she hustled about, put
ting on her waterproof and overshoes,
preparatory to finishing the chores, and
the darkness hid the rosy flush with
which she said, as the first tinklng
streams of milk made music in the pail:
Mother, believe l can carry jim
lunch down to him myself"
mercy, Milly! I'd never dare to let
you!-the night so dark and the road
so long and lonely! No, indeed, child;
Jim would never allow it."
II know, but it is too bad for the
poor fellow to 60 without his supper
this cold, bleak night, and know every
inch of the way with my eyes shut"
Mrs Hosmer shivered little as she
drew her shawl closer against the keen
autumn blast, and one could see that
her resolution wavered little.
"a cup of nice, hot coffee from home
would seem kind of cheerful to him, "
she said, in meditative tone, land it's
proper kind of you to make the offer,
child; but doubt its being safe for you
going so far alone"
Nobody would be likely to be out
such a night as this, unless it should be
some of the neighboring farmers, and
even if there were, the darkness would
hide me-"
I'm afraid to let you 60, Milly. I've
heard of tramps, and
"Tll tell you, mother; I'll take jim S
revolver. He left it in his room the
last time he was at home
well" began Mrs. Hosmer, doubt
fully, though you'd never dare to use
it."
Eyes | would, if l really needed to"
responded Milly; 80 let us call it set,
tied, and 60 in and get something nice
put up for lunch
Really pleased down in her materna
heart for this regard for her sons com
fort, Mrs. Hosmer gave reluctant con
sent for Jim was her only and almos
idolized child, little Milly being only the
daughter of dear dead friend whose
child Mrs. Hosmer had gladly taken t.
her home and heart
The farm was small and Jim detesteC
farming; so a man was employed on thu
place, while ambitious Jim risked lif
and limb as an engineer. He was nov
a handsome, stalwart fellow of twenty
six whose broad shoulders, bronco
face, and merry eyes were secretly en-
shrined in Milly's heart as her ideal @
all that was noble and manly. As TO
Jim, he, too, had an ideal, and often a
he sat waiting on his engine he picture
future tireside to which he could tur
for rest instead of his barren boarding
house, and the woman's face that a
ways smiled his welcome in its light wa
wonderfully like the little picture c
Milly that he always carried in tn
pocket of his blue flannel shirt Many
time the engine light shone over tn
sweet face as it lay on his grim palm
intervals of work, and Jim would viii!
per. softly, "by and by, little girl, {
he carefully slipped it back where
beat with every beat of his heart.
Working faithfully and steadily, 81
cretly laying the foundation of TIL
ideal home, Jim had gained the respe
and confidence of his employers al
was on the road to promotion. But h
work was now somewhat varied, ar
when the busy season came and freig
was moving freely, he often ran xvi
train" through Rockfeld, as the lit
place was called, where station hi
been erected for the accommodation
the surrounding farmers.
On these occasions he generally Sc
home dispatch, as in the present cas-
and in return, found a tempting lun
waiting his coming, and sometimes,
the weather was fine, got a glimpse
Milly and his mother and a moment
chat. His dispatch tonight read:
run through Rockfield tonight j.
ahead of the ten o'clock express, reaC
ing there about a quarterof ten"
II will start only just in time to {
there as the train arrives said Mil
as they made the coffee and frizzl
some slices of ham; IF walk fast c
get there in fifteen minutes, and do
believe the coffee can get cold in Il
time, all wrapped up in this big bot
and shut up in the pail"
"You might carry it in little +
and set it on the stove in the stat
until Jim comes" suggested Mrs. ii
mer.
81 don't believe there would be
there; and besides, would rather
go in. can't bear Tom Kennel
comments or company. l shall
stop under the porch till the tr
comes, and then can hand Jim
lunch-pail and slip away before any
notices me-"
maybe that would be best" assen
Mrs. Hosmer, who knew how disagl
Al e ~ L., L.;