The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-28
turned, catching the eyes Of the Presi-
dent votchinu 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. Istoppcd
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.
"I cannot find 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 l started,
but it's gone, and I must have lost it. "
"What was I to do2 The woman
seemed honest enough, yet l had seen
others equally so who proved to be i'm
posters; then there were the sharp eyes
of the President upon me, aud if I
faltered in my duty off would go my
head, with no chance of the promotion
I was hoping for.
"'The rules are to put off all who do
not pay I managed to say with assumed
frmuess, while all the time I felt as if l
would like to pitch the President off neck
and heels instead of the woman. I'm
sorry, madam, but the rules must be
obeyed.' Il know it, I know it, she
said pitcously, 'but if you would let me
ride up I could pay you when come
back; I shall have the money then,
pointing to her bundle of work to prove
her statement; Its 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.
~ felt as if would like to kick my.
self as turned away; if I only dared ap-
peal to the President, but mol none of
the men were supposed to know him,
and felt as if his cold eyes were pierre
ing me through and through as if he de-
lighted in the test I was passing
through.
"sHang the old rascal I said to my
self, I'll have to put the woman off, but
I'll slip a quarter into Puss's hand so they
can pay their fare on the next car
"sI'm sorry, madam 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 I have be-
fore spoken, caught my arm.
"sNo, no!' she cried with flushed
cheeks and indignant eyes, and before 1
knew what she intended she emptied her
purse into the woman's ]ap aud passed
quickly out of the car. A perfect shower
of coin-several dollars, at least, fell rat
tling down, part falling on the floor.
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 arms
about her neck and her cheek nestled
against hers tried to comfort her.
"sDon't kwy, mamma, she pleaded,
sI'll be so dood, don't kwy.'
81 don't believe there was a dry eye
in the car; the women didn't hesl-
tate to carry their handkerchiefs to their
ewes, but the men looked out of the WIN
dows, drew their hats down over their
eyes, and some blew their noses vigor-
ously, the President giving the strongest
blast of all. As for myself, just run2
in fare out of my wn pocket, and went
out on the platform, thankful that it was
a cold day could use my handkerchief
freely. ,
cat the next street the President got
out, and as he passed the little girl he
stopped and patted her rosy cheeks, with
some pleasant word. and slipped some
thing into her hand. A moment later,
when had occasion to pass through the
car again, the little puss held out her
chubby hand: sSeer she cried, with her
pretty face radiant with delight: % see
my bright, new pennyP I looked, it
was five dollar gold piece.
"The mother noticed it for the first
time.
"'Where did you get ltG' she asked,
in astonishnent.
"'E big man div it to me- the littlo
one answered.
"'Oh, sir, do you know who It wase
the mother said, appealing to me. 1T
must be mistake
":Not bit of it, I answered, almost
as delighted as the child, herself, 'it was
the President of this road; he could give
her thousand such pieces and never
feel st."
My friends little Elsie had been sit
ting very quietly in his lap listening at
tentively to his story, and now as he
paused eagerly.
"'And the little girl-did you ever
see her again, papaF
"sYes, Pussie, I think I've seen her
several times since then,' he said, with a
merry twinkle in his eyes and peculiar
smile under his heavy moustache. 4
think see her now,' catching up Elsie
and giving her hug and kiss, you re
the little girl, yourself, Pussp
"sMe, papa' she cried, bounding to
her feet and catching her father by the
shoulders, 'and was the lady my
mammal
"'Just your mamma and no one else,
was the reply, with smile at the child's
amazement. She used to ride fire.
qucntly on my car after that, and I al
ways carried pocket full of bonbons
for you, Pussie; we soon got to be