The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-09-06

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 a hundred questions about his
work and the telegraph. and she was
particularly interested In the music OF
the wires, which murmured so sweet
ly all the time. like an molian harp.
And Bill, who was a splendid story
tellor-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. lie cx-
planned, too. how messages are sent
by telegraph and. for her amuse-
mcnt, would frequently place his ear
70 an insnlator and relate pretty
story. which he made believe was
passing over the wires.
| Yes, indeed. they were great friends.
were Bill the Lincman and little
Mile, and after they had been ac-
| quainted a few months il 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 ont with
flower pot containing a choice and
fragrant plant. At another time his
hip pocket would b. filed with a
pretty box OF chocolate drops or he
would carry. by the handle placed be-
tween his teeth. basket OF ripe
peaches Sometimes i. would be a
picture book. but always ON Saturday,
II on no other day, Bill would take his
little noighbor something.
But 1t 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 checks 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 scashore at his own ex-
pcnsc. He spent many hours each day
in turning over this idea in his mind
but Bill was very reserved and disliked
to force his acquaintance upon
stran gers.
One Saturday in September Bill, as
usual. climbed pole No. IA. taking
with him 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
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
can give you is a kiss
Bill wanted TO say somethi ng in re-
ply. but he couldn't do it-he felt toe
''choky." He managed to lean over,
however his feet on the cross-arn
and his hands upon the window-,ill,
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 thu
, wires messages from the angels fo
me?" she ASKED. childlike. but, oh. 5,
wistfully.
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 thai
/ l. + -
PLEASANTLY as possible.
We'll. my dear. they hain't sent nc
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 1t pleasant for that there lit.
tie Mile. She has tough time OF II
a-lyin' 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 q
happy man. Bill. IL 50 be you can wir
the love OF that there little gall
"Ah. we'll. said the child, as Bill
unlSneu, III Sidu tHc huEoiS tuiHA
about me, and IL could would tel
them that you're very good TO me, sir
do love you great deal. Will yol
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. il being Sunday. Bill
did not see Mile. but on Monda,
morning. as usual. he climbed polk
number VA 1t was bright. sun
: shiny day in early autumn, but thu
tenement house was on the east side o
the street, 50 that curtains, where they
had such luxuries. were never draw
in the forenoon. Up went Bill. eage'
to sec the child. and he noticed before
| | he was hallway up that the window
! was up to its usual height, but thers
was no pale little face to greet him.
Perhaps Miles good aunt" wa
, at homeP Well, Bill thought he woult
take just hasty glance TO satisfy him
self. and then hurry down. He lis
tened for moment, but he heard M
so,,nd NJ fontstens or of voices In III,