The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-09-02

trifc impressed, and, thinking she
might be one of the '.Old mans" rela-
tions, when they arrived at the upper
floor he showed her to the door of the
sanctum and told her to knoch Then
he left her and went back to his post.
The editor was greatly surprised
when timid knock sounded on his
door and in answer to his ''come in" he
saw over his gold bowed spectacles the
diminutive maiden who entered. He
looked hard at her, but she did not ap-
pear discounted. She came toward
him without hesitation and stood with
one little hand resting on the edge of
the desk. the other extending the folded
manuscript.
'Gran'pop forgot to bring it down,
SO fetched it," she explained, her blue
eyes looking up into his puzzled gray
ones.
Now, the editor was not q man easily
confused, but this was a novel ex-
perience even for him. In all his life
he never remembered having received
in his Office SO small and at the same
time SO confident visitor as this. He
looked at her sharply, almost sternly,
suspecting he was the victim Of some
Joke; but her gaze never fiinched and
the baby eyes were not frightened. He
took the manuscript from her grasp
and opened it. There was no solution
of the mystery to be obtained here,
however. The story was some local
history of early days. There was no
name, no mark of any kind to tell who
| wrote it or where it came from. Nom
plussed. he turned his eyes upon the
little figure beside him. Somehow, in
spite of the old-fashioned and much
worn clothes, it suggested to him that
of a little one who once had called him
father, and kindly smile lit his face.
II don't know anything about this
paper" he said. "Who did it come
from?"
"From gran'pop," she answered, as II
that conveyed full information.
Eyes, but who's gran'pop? / don't
remember him"
"Why, don't you know him? He's
been here often, and came with him
once or twice, that's how knew where
it was"
The editor raclxed his brain in vain to
think who gran'pop could be.
WELL" he said at last, You sit down
in that big chair over there and I'll look
over this paper and tell you what to say
to him." Then he wheeled his chair
about and began reading.
1t didn't take long, however, for him
l L. l. b l. L. A. L. H. L. lv
bell on the desk and boy came into
the room 'Send Mr.. Campbell to mel
tho editor said.
A moment later the city editor of the
Chronicle entered.
Campbell" said the editor, do you
know whose writing that is?" and he
handed him the manuscript
"Yes," said the other; ''it's old John
Harmon's. He brought it in here this
morning and 1 told him we couldn't
use it. It's all ancient history"
swell" said the editor, bit shortly
Its the kind of ancient history that
the Chronicle wants. Can't you see
that that's local matter that a good
many would rather read than newsi
Give it good place on the fourth page
of to-morrow's issue, and I'll try to see
that we have column of just such
stuff twice a week. That's all!'
The city editor did not see the little
figure in the big chair, and, bit dis
concerted at being turned down 81
sharply, he took up the manuscript
again and left the room, wondering
what was the matter with the ''old
man." and how the historical stuff had
come into his hands.
When he had gone the editor drew I
sheet of paper toward him. Looking
at the little figure in the chair he sal {
81 will write letter for you to take
with you and give to gran'pop."
She nodded her head wisely, and h
rapidly wrote few lines. Then b.
folded the sheet, put it in an envelop'
and rose.
i The little girl slipped out of the chat
and came across to him. Good BY!
he said, laying . hand on her head
land come and see me some tim
again!" Then he opened the door an,
watched her ring the bell and disap
pear in the elevator.
The elevator boy was quite deferen
tial to her going down; but she paid n
more attention to him than before
When she slipped out of the buildin,
she hurried up the street, the letter il
, her hand. As she turned the corne
near home she saw ''Gran'pop" just en-
tering the door and ran hard to cate
him; but he had gone in before she cam
up. SO she knocked on the door. Tn
same instant it was pulled open hun
/ riedly and the old man, white and trem
bling, stood in the frame.
, Thank God!' he brcathed, drawin
her up in his arms and burying his fac
in her curls II thought you were lost.
mo, only been to til office!" ez
/ claimed Polly, clinging to his neck.
ITO the Office! Where do 20
mean?"
9TH Chronicle office. took tn writ