The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-04-16

piece OF pantomiine Tie little girl-a
dark eyed, intelligent child, whose pal
lor was emphasized by the Grape which
smothered her-was looking very close
Ily at the old gentleman with tho 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 foor 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 a minute was surprised to see
her lean forward and touch him gently
on the knee.
BE took no notice beyond shutting
about little and uttering a slight
growl. The woman who held her put
out an arm and drew back the childs
hand reprovingly Tho 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 a
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 70 heavens, madam, you'd
keep your child to yourself!"
"For shame, Anniel" whispered the
poor woman, cowed by his look
But again Annie paid no heed Indeed
she pushed the malacca toward the old
gentleman, saying:
! NtD1aogo civ vrrf11 Zoo ID,
rabel wi this2'
He moved uneasily and looked harshly
at her without answering For shame,
Annier the woman murmured a second
time; but saw her lean back and tear
started and rolled down her cheek.
''If you please, SIR" repeated Annie,
will zee warm Mister Barrabel wi this?'
The old gentleman stared at her. In
his eyes you could read the question,
"What in the DEVILS namo does the child
mean?" 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"
Nov" said Annie, this time eagerly,
will zee warm him same as the big
doll did just now;"
Luckily tho old gentleman did not un-
dorstand 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 ]
looked at my fellow passengers nose
and the deformity of his shoulders and
remembered how Punch treats the un.
dertaler, it was plain enough. lglanced
at the child's companions, There was
nothing in their faces to show that they
took the allusion. And the next minute
was glad to think that | alone knew
what had prompted Annie's speech.
For as looked, with a beautifu
change on his face, the old gentleman
had taken the child on his knee and wa
talking to her as dare say he had nevel
talked before.
"Are you her mothery" he asked, look
ing up suddenly and addressing thu
woman opposite.
"Her mothers been dead these twt
year I'm her aunt, an I'm takin he
home to rear long wi my own childer.
He was bending over Annie, and hat
resumed his chat. It was all nonsense
something about the silver knob of hi
malacca-but it took hold Of the child
fancy and comforted her. At the mex
station had to alight, for it was tn
end of my journey, But looking bacl
into the carriage as shut the door,
saw Annie bending forward over tn
walking stick and following the patteri
of its silver work with her small finger
Her face was turned from the old gen
tleman's, and behind her little black ha
, his eyes were glistening Arthur I
Quiller-Couch in Speaker