The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-08-03
LITTLE GOLDEN HAIR.
HOW THE SIGHT OF HIM STIRRED
THE HEART OF AN OuTcAST.


a Mothers Umdcfnablc Tcclin, of Fear,
and Its Scquc!-"Lct Mo Look Once in
His Face, Near. and Smooth Only Once
tho Sunshiny Hair"
1t was here in New Orleans during the car
nival. The streets were filled not only with
our own people, who seem somehow or other
to put on new life at this period of the year
and to dwell outside of their own homes, but
with tho many strangers who had come from
far and near, some merely to SEQ the sights,
and some to take them in while at the same
time enjoying tho tempered brcczcs of the
south, so in contrast to their own fierce
winds And, rs is always the case, hero and
there We're to be found some face and form
that told too plainly that no search for either
health or amusement had been tho incentive
to bring them here. but that restless tramp,
tramp, which forced them from place TO
place; southwark during tho winter and
towards higher latitulcs ut other seasons
THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER
And SO it happened that tho little mother
who figures in this story had been out with
her children and was on her way home in the
having attracted her attention, shc became
aware ;lS one will sometimes without being
able to explain why) that Size and her darl
ings were being unduly gazcd at by some one
ii man seated on tho opposite side of tho
car, but somewhat further towards tho door
Her eyes turned over again in that direction,
but no sign of diSrcspcct on his part called
for interference He was one who, us far us
l,., ,,l,,
sccdy exterior, had known better days.
FREQ of any intended discourtcsy 1t was un
pleasant, though, and annoying in itself.
Tho man, it was evident, meant no harm
to her; could it be he meant harm TO any of
her little oncs' An uncomfortable feeling
stole over her, and II few squares this side of
her residence she could bear it 10 longer, but
stopping the car she continued tho rest of
tho way on foot.
Once within the precincts of her homo II
calmncss came to her, and sho soon BEGAN to
smilo at herself for being so easily worried
by such mutter and that, too, in Il crowded
car In half hour OF so the whole affair
had become Il thing of tho past an incident
that would have lnin forgotten in mcnorys
storehousc, save for IFS startling reproduction
Some one of the many professions WAS pass,
ing up town, and the rattle of drum and baro
of trumpet had so aroused the children to tho
fact of the ncarncss of the pageantry that tho
only way to quiet them was to take them to
SEQ tho show
There WIS nothing to mar their pleasure
till about half the column had passed, whcn
that s;lmc n,lcscribablo feeling of brin5
"A IL
uncanny sensation that had with her sue
ccedcd tho hitherto enjoyment; the pleasure
of tho day was gone.
More than once sllo was minded to take
her little ones home, but each time she
thought of the deprivation to them and how
foolish were really her fears, and so it was
not till tho last flower lcckcd steamer had
gone by that she started homewurl liut IL
few steps only had been taken, when that IN
pleasant feeling grew moro intense and She
heard II voice close by call to her. Lady,
ludyl"
Quick as lasl, all the dignity of her wo.
manhood came to her, aud She turned, well
able now to cops with Whatever might bo
her fate There near her stool tho man
whose presence had worried her IL few DAYS
before in the car, and whose proximiiy for
IL.
But as on that first occasion, no sign of dis
courtesy was apparent, no diSrcspcct was in
tended. Instead there was II something in
the mans face, II softcncd, bc,lcwccf eye, n
hopo and despair in his expression that
touched some concordant chord in the moth.
er's heart and lwoko Il sympathy that must
havo made itself apparent, for, seemingly
moro at his ease llo advanced u step or two
nj l.n,lI To Int
"i.xcuso me, lady," ho went OH, 81 llavo
been once another man from what now you
see. have, or perhaps should say | had, IL
wfo and ono little boy up in Illinois God
bless thcmy, but bud habits got tho better Of
nc and my wifo turned mo from her That
lttlo boy there is just rs | remember mine
the same blue eyes, tho same misclicvous
smile, tho same bright golden hair, and ever
since met you in tho cars tho other day his
face las been present with mo in my waking
hours and with me in my dreams want to
ask ono favor, don't, OH! don't refuse it let
mo look once in his faco, near, near, aud
smooth only once the sunshiny hair Don't
refuse me that"
Something liI;o Il smothcrcd sob choked
somewhat tho last few words, and tho man
fairly tremblcd us he stood.
"Why, certainly, you may do that" an
swcrcd tho little woman with naturally
sweet voice softcncl by tho pathos Of tho
scene, and only hope that this unexpected
meeting with ono who, you say resembles
yonr own little boy may arouse in you 50
great a yearning for him and your homo that
son may find strength TO go back man. !
surely wish you that"
Tho little scene w;ls quickly over and tho
mother and children continued on their way
The man watched them for some littlc dis
tance and then, with slow step, disappeared
down the street -Seby in New Orleans Pie
ayulc.