San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-01

ner.
Scarcely knowing what she did, she threw
the milking pail at him and screamed for
Jack.
He came with bound, seizing club as
he passed the woodpile.
I'm coming, mother" Old Peter Glass
passing near heard Jacks cry and ran down
to see what was the matter There he stood
between his mother and the ferocious mad
beast, hourishing his club and bidding the dog
BECOME.
Pete relieved the loyal little fellow by kill
ing the dog, which, he afterwards declared to
his wife, was ''raving mad"
But mad or not" he added, 'it wouldn't
a-hindered that boys pitching right in to
fight for his nanny. 1t always brings the
tears to my eyes somehow when come i'll con-
tact with that manful little chap of Jack Con-
nor's"
Peter Glass was not the only one whose
heart softened for Jack Connor's son. Aye,
many an eye wept and many heart bled
for him when the little fellow ceased to ap-
pear on the hill above the railroad track.
Some lives there are that seem to run amid
perpetual sunshine and rose. Some are
rounded to darker lines, and run always be-
side the deeper abysses of tragedy.
Jacks mother went one morning to call on a
sick friend and old neighbor at the station
just above Antioch.
Jack thought be had never seen so fair q
day-the sun shone, the birds sang, and the
flowers were everywhere.
You can come to meet me at IL o'clock,
Jack his mother said, as she kissed his
cheek. an be sure to come on that train
unless something happens"
iii be here, mother, said Jack, 'to every
train until you come"
The sun still shone when the train came in
at noon. Jack thought the whistle sounded
mournful, somehow. And the engine slowed
up sooner than usual, SO that the train came
in slow and solemn like.
And the telegraph operator had laid his
hand in very gentle way on the boys head
as he hurried past him. And Engineer Rob
inSon never once looked out to speak to him.
The fireman, too, turned his face the other
way and was busy with his shovel. The
brakeman leaned on his brake and never lifted
his eyes as the cars pulled up. Jack thought
it all very strange
Here | am, mother"
The conductor cleared his throat when the
we'll known welcome rang through the train.
Passengers turned from the windows and put
their handkerchiefs to their eyes, as if the
sight of an eager little face aglow with ex-
pectation and delight were painful to them.
Here | am, mother" He was scanning
every face eagerly, longingly, when the con-
ductor stepped out.
Jack" he said "she isn't aboard" A
shadow fitted across the bright countenance.
The conductor took the boys hand in his and
held it close.
Jack, my boy" he said, 'you must be
man. Your mother has not come, will not
come, Jack. Your mother is dead, my son."
And the sun still shone but not for Jack.
He never knew the terrible story, how in
stepping from the train her foot slipped and
| she fell beneath the wheels which passed over
| her body. He never knew-for from that dag
| he never knew anything except that she had
never come back to him.
Day after day crept on, growing into
years. Day after day when the whistle
sounded a little figure was seen to climb the
| woodpile-Jerry Cranes woodpile then-to
watch for his mother.
His eve seemed to search every window as
the trains came up.
Here / am, motherm the shrill, clear voice
would ring out. And when the train passed
on some one would explain:
Its poor Jack Conner come to meet his
mother"
They grew accustomed to seeing him there
as the days drifted on into years and he still
kept his promise.
every train until you come back, he had
said; and day or night, winter or summer,
the trainmen would see the cottage door
open, and knew it was Jack waiting for his
mother.
One day they missed him; he was i'll, raw
ing with fever.
Jerry Cranes wife bent over his pillow; the
poor little life was going.
AT 10 o'clock he opened his eyes.
SIS No in yet!n he asked.
'Not yet Jack" they told him.
He smiled and closed his eyes again.
She'll be here on that train" he said. 81
must go down to meet her when No 6 comes
in"
At II he started and sat up in bed.
is she in yet?" he asked. SIS No. inr
mot yet, Jack, dear" they told him. and
he dropped back among his pillows, where he
lay for au hour talking, first to the engine,
then to Engineer Robinson. Then his mind
wandered to mis- father and the night he
died.
Stick to your engine and stand by your
mother, jack they heard him whisper.
At midnight whistle sounded sharp and
shrill, and Jack raised himself in bed and
gave a cry of joy: 'She's in!'' he shouted.
"No is in Here am, mother!" The train
pulled up and stopped 1t was only freight
stopping for water, but that was nothing to
Jack A smile fitted across his face. "She's