Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-09-19

tory, and on Sunday he never went up
at all except for moment quite early
in the day.
The child from time to time asked
Bill hundred questions about his
work and the telegraph, and she was
particularly interested in the music of
the wires, which murmured so sweet
" all the time, like an aolian harp.
And Bill, who was a splendid story
teller-having amused his own little
girl in days gone by with his original
tales-told her that the good fairies
made the music on the wires. He ex-
planned, too, how messages are sent
by telegraph and, for her amuse-
ment, would frequently place his ear
to an insulator and relate a pretty
story, which he made believe was
passing over the wires.
Yes, indeed, they were great friends.
were Bill the Lineman and little
Mile, and after they had been ac-
quainted few months it is hard to
say which would have missed the
other most. Bill was always taking
the child something. One day when
he swung himself up the pole his big
belt would be bulged out with a
flower pot containing choice and
fragrant plant. At another time his
hip pocket would be filed with
pretty box of chocolate drops or he
would carry, by the handle placed be-
tween his teeth, basket of ripe
peaches. Sometimes it would be a
picture book, but always on Saturday,
if on no other day, Bill would take his
little neighbor something.
But it grieved Bill sorely when he
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
he 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 ex-
pense. He spent many hours each day
in turning over this idea in his mind.
out Bill was very reserved and disliked
to force his acquaintance upon
strangers.
One Saturday in September Bill. as
usual, climbed pole No. 774, taking
with him a basket of luscious pears.
He 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
| well as usual, said to him:
'.Do you think you could reach over
and kiss me? You're so good and kind
1 should like to thank you, sir, and all
can give you is kiss.
Bill wanted to say somethi ng in re-
ply, but he couldn't do it-he felt too
''choky." He managed to lean over,
however-his 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:
Il s'pose you never hear on the
wires messages from the angels for
me?" she asked, childlike. but, oh. so
wistfully.
How the words did cut into Bill 8
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 'em, 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 Mile. She has 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 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 l could would tell
them that you're very good to me. sir.
do love you great deal. Will you
kiss me again before you go?"
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 pole
number ia 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 that the window
, was up to its usual height, but there
was no pale little face to greet him.
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