Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-09-05

''DO You think you coulo roach otef
and kiss mop fonre 80 good and kind
I should like to thank you sir, and MI
/ Gun give you Is n kiss
Blli wanted 70 say something. IN ro-
ply, but he couldn't do ne ielt too
"choky.' Hc managed to loan over,
however his feet on the cross-arm
and his hands upon the window-sin,
while his lank body spannod the space
batwoen. He kissed the soft whito
check OF the delicate child, while she
whispered In his ear,
II s'poso you never hear on the
wires messages from the angels for
mop she asked, childliko, but oh, so
wistfully,
How tho words did cut into Bilrs
heart. for he had grown strangely at
tached TO his little friend. He feared
that all too soon the angel OF death
would carry a message to the helpless
little 5ripplo-but he hoped not Just
yet He gulped down the lump that
rose in his throat and answered as
PLEASANTLY as possible.
"Well, my doar, they hain't sent no
message TO you, not direct; u1t often
hear 'em, those blessed angels what
watch over all little ohildrer uhd
they says 20 me- Bill, you must try
and mako Il pleasant for that there lit
Tic Millie. She has q tough time OF IL
a-lyin' there so 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 mo. you'll fud yours a
happy man, Bill, II so be you can win
the love OF that there little gall"
"Ah, well, said the child. as Bill
finished, "rm glad tho angels think
about me, and II could | would tell
them that you're very good to me, sir.
| do love you great deal win you
kiss me again before you go?"
So once moro Bill the Lineman kissed
the crippled girl and then descended
to the sidewalk.
The next day. il being Sunday, Bill
did not see Millle, but on Monday
morning, as usual, he climbed pole
number VA II was a bright sun
shiny day in carly autumn. but tho
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 sec the child, and he noticed before
he was halfway up that the window
was up 20 its usual height, but thoro
was no pale little face 70 greet him.
Perhaps Miles good aunt" was
at homcP Well, Bill thought he would
take just a hasty glance to satisfy him
self, and then hurry down. He lis
tened for moment but he heard no
sound Of footsteps or OF voices IN the
quiet room. So he peered through
the open window and there, only a 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 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 he shock
was so severe that it was only force OF
habit that enabled him to retain his
foothold on the cross-arm. He was
dazed for several minutes and could
not take his dimmed eyes from the lit
tic white coffin all alone in the quiet
room. He trembled with mental and
physical agitation and was weak as Q
woman when he commenced his de-
scent OF the tall pole
II was with much difficulty that he
struck the climbers into the hard wood,
to get foothold, and his hands re.
fused TO give him the support OF their
usual firm grip. Half way down his
feeble strength completely failed him,
and ne fell more than twenty feet ia
the stone sidewalk Insensible, and
with a broken leg poor Bill lay there,
while knot OF idlers and passers-by
gathered about him.
bill the Lincman-tak n tumble
at lastr exclaimed the grocoryman
from the corner, while Bills friend,
the policeman, telephoned fer tho hos
pital ambulance.
Bill the Lineman did not die, but he
was confined in the hospital for many
weeks. The pain Of his bruises and
his fractured limb did not hurt him
nearly as much as did his grief when
he thought Of the little child at the
tenement house window, aud Of the
small white cofiin which he had seen.
He could not forget Millie and the kiss
with which she had thanked him.
One day, when he was getting along
pretty well. Bill's nurse said 10 him;
There's a young woman would like
to see you. She says she's Miles
aunt and that you will know her by
that"
"Millie's good aunt" murmured
Bill to himself Yes" he added
aloud, II should like to see her,
nurse"
When. a moment later. "Millie's
aunt" stood beside tho sick mans
bedside, Bill could scarcely believe HE
eyes. Indeed, he was so doubtful Of
his own vision that he was afraid to
speak his thoughts But the woman,
who was still young and quite good.
looking threw her arms about his neck
and sObbed as she kissed his rough,
unshaven face again and again.
"Oh, Bill, she said. "wlll you for
give me, can you? / am Miles aunt
| took the child. a little crippled waif
70 care for. In memory Of our owr
baby that I--oh, Bill, forgive me foi
thatl
Il wanted 70 come back TO you anC
the baby many times, only | was
ashamed. But have lived an hones
life, Bill, and am truly sorry for all
the badness and wickedness Of year.
ago. And now, dear Bill. for oul
baby's sake-ior little Miles sake