The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-06-14

thoughts had silenced her. May no
ticed that some passengers who sat
near were looking at her curiously,
and with decided air she answered.:
To Fairtown." 1t was the only name
she could think of at the moment; her
father had driven her there one day
when he went on business.
1t was not hard now for the conduc-
tor to guess that his young passenger
was a runaway, and, sitting down be-
side May, he leaned near and said,
coaxingly: This train does not go to
Fairtown. | have little girl at home
myself; tell me where you live and
what your name is, my dear" But
May only shook her head and would
not answer him. Her first impulse had
been to tell her kind questioner all
about it, but the sudden thought: Hell
send me home if do" closed her lips.
She was not ready to go home yet,
though she began to long sadly for her
mother The conductor had no more
time to spare, and he was anxious to
leave the child as near her home as pos
sible, so he decided quickly what to do.
IllSluR W ledNe neF he Sdlu, Ill d low
voice; The station master at our next
stopping place is a friend of mine.
He's very nice man. He has some
little girls, too. I'll just leave you with
him until you can decide about sFol
train then he went on to finish cof! Z
lecting his fares. A
When the train drew into the next
gta fa1 -,
pie on the car who seemed to be look
ing at her and talking about her. She
heard an old lady just opposite say to
companion: I'm going over to talk to
that poor little girl" But just then
the conductor came up and held out
his hand, so May took it willingly and
followed him almost at a run, as he
hastily led her out Of the car and
through the station into a little room
where the ticket man sat. Its run
away girl" the conductor whispered to
his friend. Got on next sta ton down.
Find out name and address and tele
graph her people-itll be all right"
well, declared" the ticket man ex-
claimed, shutting his mouth suddenly.
May felt sorry for hin and little en-
barrassed.
It's only just me- she remarked,
soothingly
''Oh, it is, is it?'' he said, drawing
comical sigh of relief. And who are
you?"
May looked at him appealingly. I
can't tell you that, she answered.
We'll, where are you bound for, liti
tie one?" 4
The ticket man seemed to feel mordf
at home with her now and. after a
moments thought, May said, sedatelyi
''Oh, I'm just travelling a little!"
Her new friend looked at hef
thoughtfully, and his next question
was quite unexpected: where's your
MOTHER"
The little girls eyes dropped and
her lips qu;vered as she said: shes
she's at home.
Shell miss you. l guess, the ticket
man suggested. May was quite silent,
but big drops were gathering under her
lashes and splashed down on her
clasped hands quick and fast as
time for you to go to bed this evn-
ing and your mamma goes up to yur
room and looks at your bed and wen
ders where you are, and begins to
cry"
But May interrupted him. Il want
my mammal want my mamma le
sobbed.
10 ia, 1,n Cd ali
relieved. There there" he said, to
be sure you do, and you'll have herin
a jiffy, too. just tell me your name
now, and where you live"
MY name is May West. and livei in
Denville, the little girl answered be-
tween her sobs. What relief it vas
to tell him, and to give up running
away. She did not know how the tick
ct man would get her mamma, but she
was sure he would. She watched him
play with his fingers on little ma
| chine which made queer noises like
great clock ticking very loud. Then
she felt so tired and sleepy that when
the station master laid his folded
overcoat on the floor, and put chair
cushion at one end for a pillow, she
gladly lay down and was soon fast
asleep.
About an hour later she was awak-
ened by sound of voices, and one,
which she seemed to know. was say
ing: Yes, when l got your telegram
there was just time to catch the next
train She opened her eyes and saw
her father. He was talking to the
ticket man, but was leaning over her
with look in his eyes which made the
little runaway stretch out her arms
without thought of fear, although
she had given all this trouble.
While May was being borne back to
her friends, Miss Dorian and Mr.. Alien
were with Mrs. West waiting . 10.
come back the little girl f6f whom
they had suffered such terrible anxiety
that day. Il feel as though it were
all my fault" the teacher was saving.
as the three sat talking together, paus-
ing to listen every minute as the time
they expected Mr.. West and Nav
drew near. NO, no." Mr.. Allen cried.
lit was all because she was afraid of
met AS he said this the sound of
wheels was heard, and Mrs. West
jumped up and ran to the door. while
May nearly fell out of the wagon in
her eaperneSS to pet tn her mothar