Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-10-09
'ONLf = LITTLE CHAP"
bat the Conductor Io1bte Hi, VI 9TH rs P.tir l
ttOry

' 'A' '0nuuc'O Ut io1otel His VI 9TH rvs P.tif
story.
II KNOW" said the conductor. MS he
Hnlshed counting up and lighted Il
cigar, THAT most people consider us a
hard-hearted lot, but we've got to be.
or at least must appear to be- A rail-
ROAD company has little to do with
sentiment, ana II gre deal to do with
business. | can't iiforl to let people
ride ut my expense, so what am | to
do?"
NO remedy being suggested. no
smoked away in silence for two or
three minutes. ana then continues:
Il DIDN'T use TO have so much heart
about it. always excusing myself on
the plea of duty: but one night, about
three years ago something happened
which has kept my heart pretty soft
ever since. 1t was on the run out OF
Buffalo. and when came to take up
the fares | came across u woman and
enid. She was rae-facel and poorly
clad, and she had IL world of trouble
IN her face. | saw that in ii general
way, but it was not my business to
pity her. The child with her, IL boy
OF I or s. was lying back on the seat.
with her old shawl for pillow. She
offered me one full-fare ticket % a
point about forty miles below, but
demanded one for the boy.
please sir she said, I'VE are very
poor, and he's only little chap. and
'm taking him home to die
THAT was no excuse, and l plainly
told her that she must pay for him or
he'd have to get off. l thought she
was trying to beat his way, but in that
l was mistaken. 1t was a dark and
rainy night. and she'd never have got
ready to leave the train at the next
stop If she'd hid money to pay for the
boy. / felt a bit ashamed when I saw
her making ready, and it hurt me to
see her lean over him and both cry to-
gether, but one Of our men had been
discharged only the week before for
overlooking a one-leggei soldier who
only wanted a lift for ten miles,
''And no one offered to pay the boys
fareo"
For a wonder, to. There was full
crowd in the car. but all seemed to
look upon the pair with suspicion.
hated to put them off, and was hoping
the woman would make one more ap.
peal and give me a show TO back
water, when the train ran into-,and
she made ready to get off, The Least
l could do was to help her with the
boy. l picked him up and started tc
follow her out. but l had scarcely
taken notice of his white face and tear
wet checks when he uttered a shriel
OF fear, Strengthened out in my ar;ns
and next instant / knew l held ,
corpse Yes sir, the life went out o
him in that cry. and the mother turned
on me with look can never forge
and cried:
"'He's dead! He's dead! And 20,
have killed him.
II don't like to think OF it," whis
pcred the conductor after a long 81
lenco. II had my months wages il
my pocket, and gave her every dol
lar OF it, and the passengers raised a
much more, and when left her with he
J dead at the next station l had don
everything l could. but that didn'
clear me. had been too harsh and cold
. She had told me the truth. and l ha
doubted her She had asked for mercy
and I had ordered her out into tn
night and the storm with a dying DO
in her care. She has never forgive
me- aud never will. and try as hard a
l my l can n .ver forgive myself ~
New York Sun.