Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-03-24

clasp her slender one, while his lips
twitched tremulously. He was rou Sh
aud uncouth, this man whose continual
battle for living had crowded out all
possible opportunity for self improve.
ment out of his narrow, over buriened
life; uncuuth aud uncuiuyated but
great hearted in the extreme was Abner
Marks.
"It's costiu' you great deal, Abner,
sighed the little woman, YEARLY, ian
I'm afraid We can't afford it. The Tela-
tiyes say
plague take the relativesl l wish
the null pack on EN- was in Jericho.
They've pesterei the life ecu most
out'n you. I've got nv opinion tibet it:
more relatives than malaria what's silin
of you"
Richard noticed that this vas said in
subdued tones.
IAN as fer th' cost, don't you go 10
frettin erbout tibet, an Spite all the good
effects O. tn Calitorny climate" He
continued in much louder voice. 'l've
had a big streak O. luck lately, an can
afford a sight more'n your trip ii cost.
Now say gool-by to your folks while
give Mile word O. advice"
He drew Mile to one side where the
little woman could not hear the "word
o advice" he was about to give her, aud
in getting her beyond her mothers vi.
cinity, as well as away from the clamor-
Gus relatives, he paused quite close TO the
solitary young man whom fate seemed
to have destined as receptacle for tue
condolences Of this family. he could not
have changed his position without at
tracing considerable attention and Oc-
cupying mucl Of the precious time
needed for the fare wells.
Heres the purse with ey'ry dime |
could rake an scrape together, arter
buyin' your tickets" he began. "l'Il
get some more to you fore this is gone,
an mind you're not to scrimD nav ez
longs the money holds out, nor let her
know the. I'm a-sellin tn garden tools
to exc out, nor taet the red heller 5
sold nor tn white horse"
mo, NJ, father; surely you can trust
mt, interrupte | Mile, earnestly.
"Mother shall never know, aud if this
trip cures her, we will be too happy to
care for anything else. mean to earn
something to help along with just as
soon as we get to California
The conductor shouted call aboard"
which in this case meant for those al.
ready aboard to leave the train. There
was a hurried handshaklng, followed by
general scramble for the door, and a
moment later distance had begun to
lengthen out between brave Mile Marks
and her prairie home.
Having had SO much Of the family his.
tory forced upon him, Richard Wake
man regarded the two women in the
next compartment with more interest
thar he was accustomed to bessow on
travelling companions.
The girls face was completely hidden
by thick veil which sue now proceeded
to remove. Richard was just tribe
curious to see the face OF this girl whose
relatives, with the single exception Of
the little sick mother, were such loud
voiced, ungainly creatures. lie expected
a slight improvement perhaps, bat not
much.
With an upper movement OF her maud
she removed the veil and hat, then
busted herself making her dear invalid
comfortable. Richard came near ex.
claiming with surprise at the sweet, IN
conscious beauty of the fair, hower like
face looking out from its frame of soft
brown hair. Every curve and outline
Of it was as delicately chiseled as he
could hope to behold in the face OF a
queen.
The years schooling abroad, which
the relatives SO emphatlcaIly disap-
proved, had accomplished wonders for
Mile Marks, and Richard Wakeman
dimly comprehendel what her later life
among them must have been.
ITO girl like her it must have been a
nightmare of horror" he thought, as she
caressed the little mother, while the
cadences of her sweet, low voice were
waited back to him. az don't wonder
that she wanted to get the mother away
from them, and God helping me they
shall never go back again, but the way
shall open up for that plebian noblemar
to come to them"
Mile had already spread the evening
lunch for herself and mother when tn,
train came to stop at railway lunci
station, and she was about to go il
quest of cup of coffee for her mother
when a courteous voice at her side re.
quested the privilege of doing the erranc
for her.
at will be no trouble at ALL" he said
"as am doing a like errand for my III
valid uncle in the next car"
Mile blushed. She had meant Il
spend but ten cents, and the pitcher full
would cost much more, she feared.
"You are very kind" she said, CRATE
fully, handing him the dish and dime
Just one cup, please. do not drink
coffee. Mother takes cream and sugar
in hers"
He understood, bowed gravely, and il
very short time returned with brim
ming pitcher or delicious coffee, in which
the magic of money had dissolved tn
best of sugar and the richest of cream.
"They are very liberal at this station,
he remarked rs he handed her the pitcher
AMI hastened away.
And from that time Richard Wake
man appeared regularly at each lunct
station, and purchased whatever the.
needed in the way of supplies for tn
lunch basket. 1t was simply marvelou
to innocent, unsuspecting Mile, hov
far the money went, and how many neces
stiles, to say nothing of luxuries in tn
way of fruit, ETC., the dimes and quarter
handed to him for this purpose pur
chased.