The Portland daily press., 1892-04-04

piece of pantcrnime. The little gfr1-a
dark eyed, intelligent child, whose pal
lor was emphasized by tho Grape which
s,notaered her-was looking very close
ly at the old gentleman with the hump
staring at him hard In fact. He, on the
other hand, was leaning forward with
both hands on the knob of his malacca,
his eyes bent on the floor and his mouth
squared to the surliest expression. He
seemed quite unconscious of her scru-
tiny, and was tapping one foot impa-
tiently on the floor.
After minute / was surprised to see
her lean forward and touch him gently
on the knee.
He took no notice beyond shuffling
about little and uttering a slight
growl The woman who held her put
out an arm and drew back the child's
hand reprovingly. The child paid no
heed to this, but continued to stare.
Then in another two minutes she again
bent forward and tapped the old gentle
mans knee. This time she fetched
louder growl from him and an irascible
glare. Not in the least daunted, she
took hold of his malacca and shook it to
and fro in her small hand.
81 wish to heavens, madam, you'd
keep your child to yourselfp
"For shame, Annie!" whispered the
poor woman, cowed by his look.
But again Anpie paid no heed. Indeed
she pushed the malacca toward the old
gentleman, saying:
''Please, sir, will ZEE warm Mister Bar
rabel wi this?'
He moved uneasily and looked harshly
at her without answering. "For shame,
Annler' the woman murmured second
time; but saw her lean back and tear
started and rolled down her cheek.
eff you please, sir" repeated Annie,
"will 'ee warm Mister Barrabel WI this?"
The old gentleman stared at her. In
his eyes you could read the question,
"What in the devils name does the child
mean9" The robust woman read it there
and answered him huskily: "Poor mite,
she's buried her father this mornin; an
Mister Barrabel is the coffin maker, an
nailed i'm down."
"Now," said Annie, this time eagerly,
twill zee warm him same as the big
doll did just now?'
Luckily the old gentleman did not un-
derstand this last allusion. He had not
seen the group around the Punch and
Judy show, nor if he had is it likely he
would have guessed the train of thought
in the child's mind. But to me, as l
looked at my fellow passengers nose
and the deformity Of his shoulders and
remembered how Punch treats the un-
dertaker, it was plain enough. Iglanced
at the child's companions. There was
nothing in their faces to show that they
took the allusion. And the next minute
l was glad to think that l alone knew
what had prompted Annie's speech.
For as looked, with beautiful
change on his face, the old gentleman
had taken the child on his knee and was
talking TO her as dare say he had never
talked before.
"Are you her mothery' he asked, look
ing up suddenly and addressing the
woman opposite.
"Her mothers been dead these two
year. I'm her aunt, an I'm takin her
home to rear long wi my own childer."
He was bending over Annie, and had
resumed his chat. 1t was all nonsense
something about the silver knob of his
malacca-but it took hold Of the child's
fancy and comforted her. At the next
station / had to alight, for it was the
end of my journey. But looking back
into the carriage as l shut the door, !
saw Annie bending forward over the
walking stick and following the pattern
of its silver work with her small finger.
Her face was turned from the old gen.
tleman's, and behind her little black hat
his eyes were glistening.-Arthur T.
CUTLER Couch in Speaker.