The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-02-04
MILLY.

ow Hosmer, as she peered anxiously
out into the bleak, rainy twilight. 'Pete
has sprained his leg SO, slipping down
out of the hayloft, that he can't take
step on it, and ! suppose you and ! will
have to finish the chores, Milly."
"All right, mother; / can milk old
Speckle us 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 o
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!'
Eyes, that's so; he does seem bit un-
balanced but l feel sorry for the poor
fellow. He is grooming dreadful with
his leg, and won't let me do q 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 got 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 tinkling
streams of milk made music in the pail:
Mother, l believe l can carry Jim's
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 1 know every
inch of the way with my eyes shut"
Mrs. Hosmer shivered a 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, 'and it's
proper kind of you to make the offer,
child; but I doubt its being safe for you
going so far alone.
Nobody would be likely to be out
such 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"
I'LL tell you. mother; I'll take Jim's
revolver. He left it in his room the
lat tine he was at home.''
81 ELL" began Mrs. Hosmer, doubt
fully, though you'd never dare to use
it.
Eyes l would, if really needed to"
responded Milly; $50 let is call it set
tied, and 60 in and get something nice
put up for lunch"
Really pleased down in her maternal
heart for this regard for her sons COM
fort, Mrs. Hosmer gave reluctant con-
sent; for Jim was her only and almost
idolized child, little Milly being only the
daughter of dear dead friend whose
child Mrs. Hosmer had gladly taken to
her home and heart.
The farm was small and Jim detested
farming; SO man was employed on the
place, while ambitious Jim risked life
and limb as an engineer. He was now
a handsome, stalwart fellow of twenty
six whose broad shoulders. bronzed
face, and merry eyes were secretly en-
shrined in Milly's heart as her ideal of
all that was noble and manly. As for
Jim, he, too, had an ideal, and often as
he sat waiting on his engine he pictured
future fireside to which he could turn
fer rest instead of his barren boarding
house, and the woman's face that al
ways smiled his welcome in its light was
wo lderfully like the little picture Of
Milly that he always carried in the
pocket of his blue flannel shirt. Many a
time the engine light shone over the
sweet face as it lay on his grim palm in
intervals of work, and Jim would whis-
per, softly, "by and by, little GIRL as
he carefully slipped it back where it
beat with every beat of his heart.
Working faithfully and steadily, &C.
cretly laying the foundation of that
ideal home, Jim had gained the respect
and confidence of his employers and
was on the road to promotion. But his
work was now somewhat varied, and
when the busy season came and freight
was moving freely, he often ran wild
train through Rockfeld, as the little
place was called, where a station had
been erected for the accommodation Of
the surrounding farmers.
On these occasions he generally sent
home a dispatch, as in the present case
and in return, found q tempting lunch
waiting his coming, and sometimes, il
the weather was fine, got glimpse Of
Milly and his mother and moments
chat. His dispatch tonight read:
Rpm through Rock6eld tonight JUS
ahead of the ten o'clock express, reach
ing there about quarterof ten"
II will start only just in time to gel
J there as the train arrives" said Milly
as they made the coffee and frizzled
some slices of ham; s.if I walk fast Car
get there in fifteen minutes, and dom
believe the coffee can get cold in tina
time, all wrapped up in this big bottle
and shut up in the pail"
"You might carry it in a little pal
and set it on the stove in the station
until Jim comes, suggested Mrs. Hos
mer.
IT don't believe there would be fir.
there; and besides, would rather no
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