Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-10-01

other most Bill was always taking
the child something. One dav wben
ne swung himself up the pole his bio
De't would be bulged out with a
mower pot containing a choice and
fragrant plant. At another time his
mp Pocket would be filed with a
pretty box of chocolate drops or he
would carry, by the handle placed be-
tween his teeth, a basket of rina
peaches Sometimes 1t would be a
picture book, but always on Saturday
II on no other day, Bill wo uld take his
little neighbor something.
But it grieved Bill sorely when ba
noticed that the summer sunshine and
the fresh air passing through the open
window failed to bring the roses to the
pale cheeks of the crippled child, and
ne almost wished he might somehow
get acquainted with the ..good aunt
and propose in some way to send
Mile to the seashore at his own en-
pense. lie spent many hours each day
n turning over this idea in his mind.
put BILL was very reserved and disliked
to force his acquaintance upon
strangers
One Saturday in September Bill as
usual, climbed pole No. ia, taking
with him a basket OF luscious pears.
lie had to stand at the extreme end of
the longest cross-arm to be able to set
the basket in the window, and as he
did this Mile, who was not feeling SO
we'll as usual, said TO him:
''Do you think you could reach over
and kiss me? You're so good and kind
should like to thank you, sir, and all
l can give you is kiss"
Bill wanted to say something in re-
ply, but he couldn't do it-he felt too
''choky" He managed to lean over,
however feet on the cross-arm
and his hands upon the window-sill,
while his lank body spanned the space
between. He kissed the soft white
cheek of the delicate child, while she
whispered in his ear:
II s'pose you never hear on the
wires messages from the angels for
mep" she asked, childlike, but, oh. so
wistfully.
How the words did cut into Bills
heart. for he had grown strangely at
tached to his little friend He feared
that all too soon the angel OF death
would carry message to the helpless
little cripple-but he hoped not just
yet. He gulped down the lump that
rose in his throat and answered as
pleasantly as possible.
well, my dear. they hain't sent no
message to you, not direct; but often
hear EN-, those blessed angels what
watch over all little children, and
they says to me: Bill, you must try
and make it pleasant for that there lit
tie Millie. She has tough time of it
a-!yin' there 50 quiet and patient day
after day; so you must go up that pole
O your'n and see her every day and
cheer her up bit And these blessed
angels tells me, you'll find you're a
happy man, Bill if SO be you can win
the love of that there little gal. "
"Ah, WE'LL said the child. as Bill
finished. I'm glad the angels think
about me, and if | could would tell
them that you're very good to me, sir.
| do love you great deal. Win you
kiss me again before you goP"
So once more Bill the Lineman kissed
the crippled girl and then descended
to the sidewalk.
The next day, it being Sunday. Bill
did not see Millie. but on Monday
morning, as usual. he climbed pol4
number TIA. 1t was bright, sun
shiny day in early autumn. but the
tenement house was on the east side OF
the street, SO that curtains, where they
had such luxuries, were never drawn
in the forenoon. Up went Bill. eager
to see the child, and he noticed before
he was halfway up chat the window
was up to its usual height, but there
was no pale little face to greet him.
/ Perhaps Miles good aunt was
at home? Well, Bill thought he would
take just hasty glance to satisfy him
self, and then hurry down. He lis
tened for moment, but he heard nc
sound of footsteps or of voices in the
quiet room. So he peered through
the open window and there, only few
feet back. he saw small, white coffin
He was unable to see the face in the
| casket, but Bill the Lineman, knew
only too well that "A message from the
angels had come to Millie since he
kissed her on Saturday morning.
The truth flashed upon the poor fel
| low painfully enough and the shocl
| was so severe that it was only force o
habit that enabled him to retain hi:
/ foothold on the cross-arm. He was
| dazed for several minutes and could
not take his dimmed eyes from the lit
| tie white coffin all alone in the quie
room. He trembled with mental ant
physical agitation and was weak as
woman when he commenced his de
scent of the tall pole.
1t was with much difficulty that HI
struck the climbers into the hard wood
to get a foothold, and his hands re
fused to give him the support of thel
usual firm grip. Half way down hi
feeble strength completely failed him
and he fell more than twenty feet t.
the stone sidewalk. 1nsensible, ant
with broken leg poor Bill lay there
,ba oaIIad Dolly to her