Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-03-24

moment later the caboose passed hean-
lev. and. with ever increasing speed,
swaved onward toward the curve at the
Lone Mound.
AS Keanley neared the little depot,
the strains of violin aoated toward him.
Soft and sweet came the tune, like the
tinkle of musical glasses, and there was
in it q pathetic, wailing undertone, as II
the player was striving to tell in music
of heart ache and trials bravely borne.
Keanley could hardly repress an ejacu-
lation of surprise as he entered the little
office and beheld the wielder of the magic
bow, q pale.faced boy, almost 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 cripple. One leg, distorted and
ghriveled, swing, useless member.
Resting on his crutches, the boy raised
his hat.
"You're the new agent, I s'pose," he
said.
eyes" Keauley answered, 81 am the
new agent. And who are youa" he con-
tinued, kindly. "The ex-agents"
"No, only his son, the boy replied.
"And where is your fathera"
cover there, on the slope"
The boys chin quivered as he spoke.
Keanlev looked from the window. Or
the slope of the Lone Mound was tiny
grave yard. One oblong black blotch in
its midst marked a new made grave
The agent was there.
"Pardon me-" KeanleY said; III die
not know. NV instructions simply tolC
me to take charge of the station. sup
posed the agent had been promoted o
discharged" g.
"He was promoted" the boy SAT-
gravely.
"And what will you do nowY' Kean
ley asked, presently.
II don't know" the boy answered
''Tve been thinking and thinking, 6'
It's no use. don't know what to dc
P'raps the superintendent will give me
place in an Office. 1 can write la
hand and wire pretty well, but l ain
much on heavy work"
This last with rueful glance at d
crutches.
Then Keanley lied, and deliberately
too. He had no need of an asslstan
but q lightning resolve flashed throug
his brain, and he said to the cripple;
"You are just the chap am iooklr
for. need a boy TO help me-"
"What for9" asked the lad.
"To-to-why, to write and look o.
for things generally" Keanley answered
half desperately. ON feel safer to ga
about when have an assistant whom
know can trust. Then, too, l mig
be sick, you know" :.
The boy looked doubtfully at hlI
"If you are in earnest, I'll jump at Il
chance to stay" he said.
sin earnest9" Keanley cried, IN pr
tended pique at the lads doubt. st
course. | am. Do you think l dol
know my own mind, young man"
The boy said nothing. Aud SO 1t W
settled, and crippled Ben became Kea
ley's assistant, although there was Il
work enough to occupy half OF one p'
sons time.
As the days when the breeze broug
from the slope the perfume OF the vi
verbenas were succeeded by those WIN
the snow came with rush and n
AGAINST the little depot, Keanley gr
e +hor fond of the little cripple.
he sure. to board and clothe the lad a
to pay him an occasional dollar ma
ouite gap in each months salary,
Keanley never grudged penny OF
II was pay enough to witness the oo
gratitude, and to see the lads great e.
following him with their glanceS ot pc
tive beatitude. =.
Often and often the violin sang
sweet songs, but now they seldom
the pitiful, walling undertone.
The lads father had planned to
Justice to his talent by having him tau
nv master of the violin. Now, he
lev and little Ben planned in nap
visionary way. They were to save W
money they could, and thus little
was to have the coveted musical lnsVt
tion. But, at best, the accumulation
funds went on slowly.
The plans of the two went further
this. Keanley had, "once upon TIN
been foolish enough to fall In love v
old Senator Hicbs's daughter, and
returned his love. The old sena