Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-02-27

I've done spoke to three already, and
golly!" (here he grinned SO both rows
of teeth showed) sthey was mad.
Deed they was"
CHOW were you to know the lady?"
[ asked.
''Little Jim said," replied the boy,
s'I'd know her by her smile. So help
me Gawd, every one as hes gone by
a. grinning I've asked. rs you the
little coloneTs partner?' an it strikes
'em silly an they gifts mad. Deed
they does!"
was smiling broadly at his pictur-
esque and animated relation of the
past few hours adventures; he ceas-
ed looking up and down the street
and caught me in the middle of full
blown smile.
Up went the black paw, off went the
cap, tattered and torn, and my in
quisitor exclaimed, "Say, lady, yo'
bean't her; be yo'?'
"You've found your man." I said;
II am the colonels partner. Now
tell me what message he sends by
YOU"
"The colonel am very sick. He
done tole me to fetch yo' eff yo' would
come, an eff yo' had no time to tell yo'
neber min, but dat he'd tote himself
down ter business at de first partic-
ular opportunity when he can get
outen his bed"
'sCan you take me to him?"
The boy was wonderfully solemn by
this time and hustled off to lead the
way in double quick time.
''Ef yo' is tired,'' he said thought
fully, s'yo' might tex a car. The line
runs right near his house. I'll run
behind. Yo' kin get off at-street."
"You come, too" ] said: ''get on
the platform. I'll pay your fare"
was lost in dreams about my sick
little friend when [ was aroused by
the car coming to sudden standstil],
and my guide came and touched my
arm gently. Following him off the
damp alleyway and stopped in front
of a tumble down frame cottage.
ssPoor little colonel I thought, 1--WE
will have to get him out Of this place
as soon as he can be moved"
On either side Of the alleyway stood
a mass Iof little woolly headed ur-
chins, male and female. [ stepped
over the threshold in the open door
way, for it was May, and the day,
outside Of the alley, at least, was
warm My guide followed in my
walk A pale faced woman met me
and clasped both my extended hands
in hers. There was sorrow, far deep
er than tears would tell Of, in that
quiet, drawn face. There was bed
in the farther corner, and one little
folded and parchmentlike hand rested
on the darned coverlet.
1 stepped to the side of the bed. The
little light brown head was thrown
back on the pillows, the blue eyes were
more magical than ever in their hue.
The mouth, with it's shrewd, old lines
was open, and the breath came un-
steadily through the even rows of
small white teeth.
My throat filed up. and I could not
speak. My poor little partner; my
brave little colonel! His mother be-
gan tanning him gently and evenly
again from the other side of the bed.
His eyes frightened when he saw
me and his hand was lifted to greet
me.
clad to give up business for
SPELL" said the colonel, falteringly.
ooh, darling,' cried, forgetting
my part in this strange scene, IT can
not bear to see you look SO i'll. What
can I get your"
A radiant smile lighted his face and
he pointed upward. ''I'm afraid [
can't do business in the old stand,'
he said family, "but I've got place
up there, and [ hope | can keep my
bunch on my back, cause if l don't
when you come along you won't know
the little colonel"-
He ceased speaking to rest. I pass
ed him some wine and water mixed
that stood at hand. His eyes fell on
his little colored friend standing back
by the door twisting his hat in both
hands nervously and shifting noise
lessly from one foot to the other.
"You found her by her smile, didn't
you?'' said the little colonel IT told
you you could do it. My partner has the
sweetest smile in the world.'
The temporary stimulus afforded by
the wine and water began to wear
away ever SO quickly.
The shouting Of the children came
l. LIZ