Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-02-15
tried to speak, to saw that he would

move over to where he could get a
good look ut the children's faces, but
some invisible power seemed to keep
him rooted to his seat.
After she had seated the children
before the blazing fire, where they
could warm their freezing little bodies
into at least some semblance of COM
Portable warmth, the matron disap-
| peared for moment and then came
back with couple of bowls of hot,
steaming soup, that gave forth a
delicious fragrance, which the little
folks attacked as if they had not seen
n morsel to eat for week, at least.
As they ate, the matron questioned
them.
What is your manner" she asked
the little girl.
MAY, and his is Johnnie she an
swered.
Strange, the same names as my
two darlings; and SO like Them" he
thought.
But what is your last name?n the
matron queried He leaned eagerly
forward to catch the reply, but the
5hl JohC oO AOh LudN lG CONiu hOt
make it out.
Where is your father?" asked the
matron.
Hes dead" answered the little girl.
Eve used to have lots ofmoney once,
but he lost it all Just before he died,
and now we're poor, and mammals
been sick ever so long and can't work,
and there won't anybody hire me,
cause they say amt big enough,
and-and-" and here she broke out
crying.
The matron soothed her, and after
n little she dried her eyes, and saying
that they must be going home TO
their mother, took her brother by
the hand, and the two passed out
again into the cold and snow. He,
to, went out, and as he brushed by
the matron, to his wonder, she did
not appear to see him at all. He
thought it was strange, and would
have given it more thought, but just
then he was too busy in trying to see
which way the children had gone in
the darkness.
He followed just behind them as
they plodded sturdily along through
the singing cold and cutting sleot,
but for some reason, he could not
understand what, he could not over
take them. He tried to call out to
them TO stop, but again his tongue
refused to do it's work, and no sound
issued from his lips. Soon the little
boy began TO whimper with the cold,
and his sister took the threadbare
shawl from her own lily clad shoulders
and wrapping it around him kissed
him, and bade him to keep up good
heart for they would soon be home
Homer" he thought, "what kind
of a home must it be that two such
waits as these call by that dear name?
My God, what if my petted darlings
should ever come to this?"
He thought of his refusal to give q
paltry five dollars of his abundant |
store to aid in clothing such as these,
and then of the seven dollars and Il |
half for the new box of cigars, and |
cursed himself as a selfish brute.
Never mind" he thought, I'm |
make up to these two little ones to-
morrow"
Just then the little fellow stumbled /
and fell in the snow, and crying bit
terly declared that his feet hurt him |
so that he could go no tuther. Where |
at the girl lifted him in her arms,
chafed his feet with her equally freez- !.
ing hands for moment, then wrapped +.
ed them up in her apron and with |
his head upon her shoulders trudged |
bravely on. He tried so get near to |
them so that he could take |. hem |
in his arms-to cry out to them
to stop so that he could overtake |
them, but again the same invisible
power prevented him.
Up to this time he had been unable
to catch sight of the face ofeither of
thom, but all mt once, he. could not
tell how, he found himself in front of |
an facing them.
He gave one look into their faces,
and started back in horror. Great |
God! he saw before him the darlings |
OF his heart-his May, his johnnie
the two babes to save whom from |
even the slightest pain he would
EidhJ nave peIiith MS iie. ne /
sprang towards them to clasp them
in his arms, to gather them close
and warm their Freezing frames if |
need be, in the very life blood of his |
heart, which row throbbed and leapt |
within his bosom Ikea mad thing
struggling to be free. He reached |
them, he threw his arms around |
them, but they did not appear to |
see him, for they passed through him
as if he were but thin air, and again
he found himself behind them. He |
turned and again tried to lift them
up, but his arms again held nothing |
but the air. Three times he vainly |
tried to clasp them to his throbbing I
breast, but still brave.fearted May |
strobe brayely on, as II unconscious |
of his presence.
Then oil at once it flashed across
him that he vas dead; that perhapsa |
year had passed since he had died,
and he had but now come to life in
spirit form. And as the thought |