The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1894-10-25

south wind waited the uneasy chirp-
ing of ''chippies" among the leaves,
with the sweet odors of roses and new
ly-cut grass from lawns not far away.
A bunch of pansies, bought early in
the morning from the little old woman
who seemed part of the pavement by
the first floor door, dropped on their
tinfoil-covered stems near the ink
stand.
Occasionally the rafting whir OF the
electric car and the mingled noise of
many voices reached the workers ear,
apparently giving an added impulse to
his quicklymoving right arm; for the
busy scratching of the pen ceased not,
even when deluged in the red light of
an early June days sinking sun.
The room grew cooler, darker The
big book closed with abang just as the
Office light flashed on; letters, blotters,
rulers, pens, found their places The
worker rose quickly, closed and locked
his desk, eager for approaching free
dom. While putting on his coat and
hat he heard-as he might have heard
many times during the last thirty
minutes ringing tones of boyish
laughter
''At it again! l wonder what in the
world they can find to laugh att he
grumbled, as he started down the
long hall to the stairway leading to
the ffst floor.
Yes! I'll bet the 'highster' was
first fellow out!'' he further COM
planned, passing the elevator and be-
ginning a rapid run down the stairway
through cloud of dust raised By the
vigorous janitor. As he reached the
lower floor a sudden shower, so gener-
ally welcome in warm weather, came
dashing down upon the still, dry
street. plague take it!-stopped
againl-no umbrella!-car gonel-just
my everlasting 1uck!" he almost
growled, bringing himself to sharp
halt at the foot of the stairs. This
was, to him, a most uncomfortable
world. "I'll have to wait six minutes
of course I'll miss my support he
muttered, stalking to the doorway,
looking not unlike a prince of pet
tishness.
Another bounding burst of boyish
hbCl uu tiidp
his egoism In interested attention upon
its source.
A merry group of muddy newsboys
crowded close up to the stained-glass
window of the editorial room, near
the doorway where the little old woh-
an had been seated in the morning.
One, with mouth wide open, was try
ing to catch the streaming drip of
water from the high, projecting win
dow cornice. Another, like buttinR
ram, was aiming to get his own hot,
curly head under that steady, cooling
fall.
Our belated bookkeeper had made
his exit from the wild domains of boy
hood not many years ago. His face,
clearing slowly, surely, showed he
kept his bond of allegiance-youthful-
ness-still upon him.
Every boy seemed perfectly happy
and full Of joyous fun-never needing
the falling shower-laughing, joking,
chatting, whistling, yet doing all
with degree of civility quite notice
able.
A minutes watching revealed the
fact that the center of attraction was
little old woman-yes!-the little old
pansy woman!
Clad in brown calico dress, with a
quaint bonnet, made of the same ma
terial, firmly tied under her chin, but
pushed far back now on her disheveled
hair, she sat on q box within the door
way leading into the editorial rooms,
safely sheltered from the sudden
shower. Her aged face, though smil-
ing now, showed traces of beauty
worn away by sharp storms of many
sad summers and weary winters
A car passed by; but the boolkeeper
saw it not. He moved toward the next
door almost unconsciously.
Make room for the gentleman,
boys" said the old woman, sliding
back on her box; aspect he's MISE d
his car, n guess he don't like the water
like he used to-" scanning him quiz
zically.
The bookkeeper shook his head de-
cidedly, gazing off down the street as
If looking for another car.
An unmistakable small son of Erin,
with his few remaining papers snugly
tucked under his coat, joyously skipped
across the pavement into the gutter,
reveling in the luxury of running
water and bare feet. Then he half
skipped half danced away down the
street to the melody of his own merry
whistling my Sweetheart's the Man
In the Moon" and the bookkeeper
wished he could do that tool
He heard the old woman say:
"This has been good day for me,
boys, seel have just one paper and
one bouquet left"
Bully for We, Us g. Co. That's why
] go.'' shouted one enterprising lad, as
he rushed across the street to cry his
papers into the ears of some mechanics
--I '-,s-.i'bfp at THE d thsS,,sh the the
ran on to Intercept some new.co,a an..
aar'ner down the street. He wac :
s.an1ly followed by others. scatt s9 ~
- various directions. for these. sons