Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-03-31


S brown W. Ter tank
an The engine soon
~ slaked its thirst at
the tank and got under way again. A
moment later the caboose passed Kean-
lev, and, with ever increasing speed,
swayed onward toward the curve at the
Lone Mound.
As Keanley nearcd the little depot,
the strains OF violin doated toward him.
Soft and sweet came the tune, like the
tnkle OF musical glasses, and there was
in it a pathetic, wailng undertone, as if
the player was striving to tell in music
OF heart ache and trials bravely borne.
Keanley could hardly repress an ejacu-
laton of surprise as he entered the little
office and beheld the wielder of the magic
bow, pale faced boy, almost a child.
As the lad carefully deposited the violin
in the open box at his side, and slowly
rose, Keanley saw that the little fellow
was a cripple. One leg, distorted and
shriveled, swing, a useless member.
Resting on his crutches the boy raised
his hat.
You're the new agent, s'pose," he
ssld.
Yes Keauley answered, al am the
new agent. And who are youl" he con.
tinued, kindly. "The ex.agentl"
"No, only his son." the boy replied.
"And where is your fatherp
"Over there, on the slope"
The boys chin quivered as he spoke.
Kean ey looked from the window. On
the slope of the Lone Mound was tiny
grave yard. One oblong black blotch in
its midst marked new made grave.
The agent was there.
"Pardon me-" KeanleY said; 81 did
not know. My instructions simply told
me to take charge of the station. sup
posed the agent had been promoted or
dscharged.'
"He was promoted" the boy said
grayeIy.
And what will you do nowi' Kean.
ley asked, presently.
II don't know" the boy answered.
"l've been thinking and thinking, but
it's no use. don't know what to do.
P'raps the superintendent will give me a
place III an Office. l can write a fair
hand and wire pretty well, but amt
much on heavy work"
This last with rueful glance at his
Crutches.
Then Keanley lied, and deliberately,
too. He had no need of an assistant,
but lightning resolve flashed through
his brain, and he said to the cripple:
You are Just the chap am looking
for. | need boy to help me-"
"What forl" asked the lad.
"To-to-why, to write and look out
for things generally" Keanley answered,
half desperately. "l'll feel safer to CAD
about when l have an assistant whom
know can trust. Then, too, l might
be sick, you know"
The boy looked doubtfully at him.
"If you are in earnest, I'll jump at the
chance to stay" he said.
"In earnestl" Keanley cried, In pre-.
tended pique at the lads doubt. "Ol
course, am. Do you think | don't
know my own mind, young manp
The boy said nothing. And so it was
settled, and crippled Ben became Kean
Iey's assistant, although there was not
work enough to occupy half of one per-
IONS time.
AS the days when the breeze brought
from the slope the perfume OF the wild
verbenas were succeeded by those when
the snow came with rush and hiss
against the little depot, Keauley grew
more than fond of the little cripple. 10
be sure, to board and clothe the lad and
to pay him an occasional dollar made
quite gap in each months salary, but
Kcanley never grudged penny OF it.
1t was pay enough to witness the boys
gratitude, and to see the lads great eyes
following him with their glances OF posi-
tive beatitude.
Often and often the violin sang its
sweet songs, but now they seldom had
the pitiful, waling undertone.
The lads father had planned t. dc
justice to his talent by having him taught
by a master of the violin. Now, Keau'
ley and little Ben planned in happy,
visionary way. They were to save what
money they could, and thus little Ben
was to have the coveted musical instruc.
ton. But, at best, the accumulation oil
funds went on slowly.
The plans of the two went further than
this. Keanley had, "once upon time,
been foolish enough to fall in love with
old Senator Hicks's daughter, and she
returned his love. The old senator,
when he found how matters stood, pro.
ceeded to squelch the whole affair. He
even forgot TIE time when he bad been
as much of pauper as the young fellow
he sent packing from his presence.
The girl, with her tear'wet face up
turned to his, promised Keanley to wait
for him till he succeeded in accommodating
the $40, 900 that the old senator named
rs the amount of wealth Keanley must
possess before he could aspire to winning
her. Then, when orders had sent Kesn'
ey to the west, he had gone with the
determination strong within him to very
'oon gain the money and the girl.
But he speedily grew respondent
The iates seemed against him. He struck