Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-11-03
BOUNDFORGREEN FIELDS

Il was a lovely May morning, a morning
on which even the life Of an omnibus con.
| ductnr seemed endurable. Besides, the
| particular company for which Archy
| Johnston worked had become infected by
socialiatio principles, TO the extent OF only
employing their hands from a. m. TO 10
| p. M, and giving them, as a rule, the al
| ternate Sundays. So that, as things went,
he might be considered well off.
Better of, at all events, than the pale
young man who, as Archy completed his
arrangements before starting, watched
him, with a rather melancholy air, from
| the curbstone. For this pale young man,
whose name was Warner, by special per
mission Of the company, TO whom a benevo-
lent clergyman had appealed ON Warmers
behalf, came every morning at o'clock to
see if there was a conductor of work. and
| if there was TO take his place on the omni-
| bus. For the last month he had presented
| himself regularly, and the men had come
to know and have kindly feeling toward
| him; but in that month he had only been
/ on duty seven days This fact inevitably
raised the question as to what Warner did
| with himself when no vacancies occurred.
He did not look as If he did anything very
remunerative. Nothing more remunera-
tive, probably Archy guessed correctly, as
he glanced across than tramping the
streets in search Of permanent employ
ment
Archy's omnibus started last, and he had
two or three minutes TO spare; SO, being a
sociable young fellow, he crossed over TO
speak to Warner, who, for his part, re-
sponded with an anxious good will in
| which, il Archy had known, there was a
To-
was Warner had just been thinking as he
saw the omnibuses roll away and realized
with a sigh that all the men were on duty,
what IL one Of them were 10 die and he
were taken on as a permanent hand?" The
iniquity Of this thought TO his kindly and
gentle nature seemed terrible, and the con
seriousness OF guilt made his tone TO Archy
one Of deprecatng cordiality.
He did not in any way appeal for pity,
and yet the few facts Archy drew from him
were an appeal 70 any one conversant with
the city He lived a mile away, - Dix
street, an address that fingered curiously
ia Archy's memory He had been "a car
penter and comfortably of, but now lac
was hopelessly out Of work, and with his
wife and their young child had been living
how he could
1--WE feel IL most. You zee, !" he said in hii
I
checked himself as if he had said too much
ana added quite hopefully, "But it's q
long lane that has no turning, isn't it?'
Yes said Archy, reserying 70 himself
q reflection that life contained some very
long lanes, indeed, as not of a cheering
i character
No more passed between them just then
for the conductors time was mp. But thu
y next morning, as his eyes encountered TIN
3 depressed looking figure again, suddei
!. impulse seized him.
d "Can you take my place todayYM be said
, accosting Warner. "Im awfully anxiou
to have the day, but / can't risk gettn
:, sacked
J. Warmers face beamed.
" ~ told Janet this morning" he said q
he followed Archy, "Id a feeling | shoul
b, be in luck today
II Its just here" said Archy starin
a straight before him. I'm thinking
d going down into the country for day
X two-or may be more-I can't exactly tel
/ not being on the spot, how long may r
quire to stay. And it would be a load q
IS my mind to know my place wouldn't
snapped up
a. "iill keep it for you" said Warner enc
getically, land give it up to You when 70
,e come back; for it's queer thing, AS
n. know, to be thrown out Of work And L
sure hope you'll have pleasant iourne
of Beautiful down in the country this time
year, amt it9"
- "Ahl' said Archy Eyes, the countr,
w. fine place, especially, as you say, abo
4. this time OF the year, when you can
down in field and smoke pipe witho
~. catching cold, otherwise than from Z
general treachery OF the climate Natul
\. objects, as meadows, spring flowers, Gov
windmills, ripping streams, a blue S
when it don't happen 70 be rainy fresh z
plenty OF wholesome victuals, that's
style.n
Archy had spoken ierkily aud rapid
~. but with entire composure; and yet th
i9 was something in his tone, suggestisn
a possible want of sincerity, that ms
Warmers brain whirl.
81 expect that would be all our style
he said timidly, III we could afford
IN You've friends in the country, / suppos
Abr replied Archy benignantly, 10
ing at Warner for the first time. "lot'
Ne 'em. Fellows who would share their
q crust with me But il amt come 60 II
siA they live ON the fat Of the land, l call it.
Aeh You're lucky fellow said War
4, admiringly.
ma WELL" said Archy, with still dee
~ gravity, sometimes lhluk am 10 lut
way, now you mention it. Especially
"a, morning And now I think as there
erk particular train I have it in my min,
Il a catch, and as your times just Up, iii
ID q yoa good day"
He grasped Warmers hand and tur
and away After all, he had said and d
the nothing remarkable: and yet, such
z. 90 the serene benignity Of his tone and II
Z he ner, that for moment Warner stood 81
the still on the pavement, staring after hiI
D he Archy went back TO his lodgings bul
sin, could not rest there, and soon he went
as q again He found himself wondering v
been Warmers wife and child were like, an
struck him that, rs he had nothing els
lace. do. he would 90 around by Dix street
q IN It was a small street of tiny, jerry
nave houses, with their numbers inscribed
had legibly on the doors, so that Archy ha,
ould difficulty in recognizing "A. There W
,iage brown blind over the low half Of tx
ana dow; but Archy's tall head rose abo'
and as he passed he glanced furtively i
,lerl il il we're a crime. Il was a small,
n in room with no furniture but a deal tab
box or two and an old rocking chair d
shall up to the hearth, whose fire had gone
anv On that rocking chair a girl was sit
,ense with baby in her arms, rocking slow
such and fro, and singing YEARLY, over and
at again:
ship. There is not in the wide world vail
rasi sweet.