The free press., 1894-08-23

in. it to the bitter end.
When the cars had started, and she
had said goodbye to her husband and
little Katie in section of the sleeper,
a feeling of indescribable loneliness
took possession of her, and new idea
presented itself
"Why in the world" she said to
Katie, didn't L have your father go
on ahead, and we follow the next day?
Then he would have been there to re-
ceive us and put us on board the
steamer. How perfectly stupid of me
not to think of it,"
'It's too late now, mamma" said
little Katie; 81 fink it would be ever
so nice to have papa right here with
us now."
"No, indeed" said Mrs. Bentham,
hurriedly, as the cars began to rock
with increased speed; che is safe at
home and will take care of little
brother"
Katie began to cry. 81 want my
papa" she moaned.
1t was very vexatious and her
mother ordered the berth made up,
and at an early hour retired with the
child. But not to sleep. Her head
ached sadly, and Katie was restless
and breathed as if she we're going to
have one of those terrible nightmares
Then she recalled the fact that she had
forgotten the dose that always cured
her. The bottle was at home in the
little medicine closet in her room. 1t
might as we'll have been in Fiji.
Sure enough, the symptoms in
creased, and soon the child was in q
high fever, moaning and troubled in
her sleep, and the porter was called
and asked if he had any remedies at
hand-such as camphor or paregoric.
Now the ordinary car porter deals only
in Ice water and shoe -blacking, but
this one was out of the ordinary. He
said with rhetorical flourish:
"Madame, the indications are that
your little girl is inclined to sporific-
ness. If you will modify your alarm
l will produce remedical medicine. ]"
He then disappeared and returned
with a dose in small medicine tum-
bier.
"Why," said Mrs. Bentham smell
ing of the mixture, cts the very same
thing have always given the child.
How did you happen to get it?"
"a gentleman-a friend of mine
who has little girl the same as your
self, madam, disaccommodated me
with this alleviating draught.
katie, wake up and swallow this
dear" said Mrs. Bentham, lifting the
struggling child who was in the clutch
es of an unseen disturbing power.
81 want my papa" walled the little
one, but she swallowed the dose and
in few minutes sank into q restful
slumber.
Mrs. Bentham was worried, and did
not sleep. She remembered that in
packing she had brought nearly every
thing of her husbands and of Johnny's
with her, and if the weather changed
they might need other clothes. And
there was absolutely nothing to eat III
the house, but of course, they could
90 to the restaurant for their meals,
Somehow her disposal of faith did not
seem so clever, looked at i'll the night,
by the light of a railroad lamp. Ii
only Edward were going to meet her
the next day! She fell at last into
troubled slumber III which she
dreamed that she was the last of her
family, when she was reused by the
porter, who held up Il cup OF strong
coffee between the folds of the curtain.
81 must give him quarter she
mused as she drank the welcome
draught. 81 wonder if he mistakes
me for the wife of some official OF the
road, or does he give every woman
travelling alone the same attention.
Then she wakened Katie, who
yawned and said ''papa' before she
had opened her eyes, and when the
porter came she gave him the empty
cup with quarter in it.
"The gentleman who requlsltioned
me to fotch it, madam, demands d
dollar for the obligation, said the
porter.
"What an imposition" cried Mrs.