Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-02-06

| girl was holding out her poor worn little
shoes to the fire.
cots dood and warm here, she said,
with face all smiles and dimples, as 1
stopped beside her.
"'That's right, get all warmed
through said, patting her on the head,
then turned to the mother again. She
had shifted the baby TO her left knee
and was carefully searching her pocket;
troubled, anxious expresses came
over her face, then one of alarm fol-
lowed.
"T had ten cent piece in my pocket
book, she said, looking up, but can't
find it; I'm sure l put it here; I'm
afraid and her lips trembled and her
eyes began to fill with tears, I'm afraid
I've lost it
"Her distress was so evidently genuine
could not believe she was playing off
as so many had done before, and l said
pleasantly: Look again, madam, you
Will probably find it somewhere, and l
turned, catching the eyes of the PreSi-
dent watching me sharply.
"The woman turned her pocket in
side out, got up and shook her dress,
then looked carefully over the floor, as
did several who sat near her. Istopped
the car to help on and off several
passengers, then came back to the
woman. She looked greatly troubled,
and could see only restrained tears by
great effort.
81 cannot 6nd it, she said looking
up at me with trembling lips, Il saved
it out on purpose for this ride, and put
it in my pocket-book just as 1 started,
but it's gone, and l must have lost it ,"
"What was l to dol The woman
seemed honest enough, yet had seen
others equally so who proved to be i'm
posters; then there were the sharp eyes
of the President upon me, and if 1
faltered in my duty off would 90 my
head, with no chance of the promotion
l was hoping for.
1.-the rules are to put off all who do
not pay, I managed to say with assumed
frmness, while all the time | felt as if I
would like to pitch the President off neck
and heels instead of the woman. I'm
sorry. madam, but the rules must be
obeved. Il know it, know it,, she
said piteously, but if you would let me
ride up could pay you when come
back; | shall have the money then,
pointing to her bundle Of work to prove
her statement; It's such long way, and
I'm so tired, she pleaded, and there was
the chubby, dimpled face of the little
girl smiling up at me all the time.
IL felt as if l would like to kick my
self as turned away; if l only dared ap-
peal to the President, but no! none of
the men were supposed to know him,
and l felt as if his cold eyes we're pierc-
ing Inc through and through as if he de-
lighted in the test 1 was passing
through.
"'Hang the old rascal said to my
self, III have to put the woman off, but
I'll slip quarter into Pusss hand so they
can pay their fare on the next car
"Tm sorry, madam, 1 tried to say
firmly, but the sad, pleading look almost
broke me down, 'the rules must be
obeyed, and I reached up to pull the
bell rope; but in an instant the younger
of the two women, Of whom | have be-
fore spoken, caught my arm.
"'No, nor she cried with flushed
cheeks and indignant eyes, and before
knew what she intended she emptied heI
purse into the woman's lap and passed
quickly out Of the car. A perfect shower
of coin-several dollars, at least, fell rat
ting down, part falling on the floor.
I stopped to pick it up, when the elder
lady dropped several more pieces into
the woman's lap and followed her com
panion. The poor woman looked up
dumb with amazement, then covering The
money with one hand, dropped her face
on the baby's head and sobbed so she
shook from head to foot. The little girl,
seeing her mothers distress, crept up
close beside her, and with her little arm;
about her neck and her cheek nestled
against hers tried to comfort her.
"sDon't kwy, mamma, she pleaded
Ill be 50 dood, don't kwy.
~ don't believe there was dry ey'
in the car; the women didn't hesi
tate to carry their handkerchiefs to thei
eyes, but the men looked out OF the win
dows. drew their hats down over thei
ewes, and some blew their noses yigor
ously. the President giving the stronge'
blast of all. AS for myself, | just rual
in fare out of my own pocket, and went
out on the platform, thankful that it wa
a cold day could use my handkerchie
freely.
"At the next street the President go
out, and as he passed the little girl h
, stopped and patted her rosy cheeks wit
r some pleasant word, and slipped some
thing into her hand. A moment later
when had occasion TO pass through IN
car again, the little puss held out ne
I L e..c1 NTH ho