The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-10-15

ter and silent good-bys with tears,
and the train steamed slowly into Chi
caSo.
1t seemed to be the final destination
of all humanity. Such crowds Of peo-
pie, such noise AMI hustle! But for
tunately tho trend of humanity
seemed in n general direction.
Maybe you ought to have tele-
graphed, John, as he said to, re.
marked Mrs. Petit, in dubious
voice. "He would have been here to
meet us"
81 know the way. We've got to
take the suburban train" said Mr..
Petit, grasping the big carpetsack
with one hand, and parcels. bags and
the umbrella with the other. "You
Just keep close to me, Lucy. That
suburban train doesn't wait more
than five minutes"
Through the big iron gates and up
the wide stairs, everybody meeting
and greeting everybody else, boys
shouting and cabmen crying their
fares, and Mt last open air. That is,
not open air like the broad meadows
aud sunny garden plots of Wilson's
Ferry, but open air II UGH like gazing
up from the bottom of n good old
fashioned chimney, SO tall were tho
buildings on either side, and SO very
little of the blue sky visible overhead.
1t was all very new and very strange
to Mrs. Petit; yet, Notwithstanding
her bewilderment, she faithfully fol-
lowed the guiding carpetsack, hurry
ing onward i'll its wake, until they
were well out on the streets and she
was quite breathless with the brisk
walk.
Then, us the carpetsack shifted it's
position for II moment to the pave
ment, and its owner turned 10 mop
his brow, Mrs. Petit saw, to her utter
dlsmay, that, while his hair was gray,
and from the back he presented al APP
pearance not unlike that of Ephraim,
this man she had been religiously fol
lowing was, in fact, an utter stranger,
and that she herself, Mrs. Petit, was
lost
Onto unconscious of the mischief
he had wrought, the stranger shortly
resumed his carpetbng and his pace
together, and joined the great merry
Go-lound of people; while the old lady.
like bit of ilotsam stayed for o mo.
ment In its course, clingin9 helplessly
to the brown basket, stood looking
about IN bewilderment, while people
whirled and eddicd and divided about
her.
81 guess yer lost, amt you?" said
big, kindly voice at her side.
t.,
face of the man, who wore blue suit
with brass buttons, and star upon
his breast
81 don't know" she said, little
tremulously, "but perhaps | am; that
Is, if you don't know where INV son,
John Petit, lives"
'Pettit--John Petit. don't seem
to place him Just now" said the police
man, placing his hand upon his chm,
In thoughtful AMI reassuring man
ner. "You don't happen to know his
street or number, now?"
"No, SAID the old lady "Ephraim
always directs his letters, anil he has
his address on card in his pocket.
But know they've put new wing to
the house lately, and it's painted
brown aud has bow windows"
Tho old lady waited anxiously,
while the officer in the kindness of his
heart appeared to ruminate deeply.
Il don't seem to remember such
place, he said presently; ''but we
can find 1T. If you'll just step down
to the station with met amt far
W gre lost people stay, I'll ring up
the central police"
Mrs. Petit relinquished the brown
basket into Officer MelIen's hands,
and walked cheeriully along by his
side. 81 hope your family are all
well, )" she said, politely.
"Well, tol'rable, thank 'ee, " said the
officer, with rather new sensation.
The baby worries some o. nights.
She's only two months old, you know,
and colicky like"
"Well, now, IN so glad | brought
1T, said Mrs. Petit, reaching for the
basket. such Il Zig bunch of catnip,
too, just in the bloom twice rs much
as Johns baby will need It's a sure
relief for collie. And here's some
young vcrbena plants / dug this
morning with plenty of earth around
them. Maybe your wife would like
them"
Theroupon - paper bag and n paste
boar box changed hands
Il thankee kindly, mn'am," said
the policeman, touching his cap.
"Ihe catnip we get at the drugstore
amt much better than dust, aud my
wife amt owned flower since she's
been married" In his secret mind
he was wondering where he could got
enough DIRT TO fill flower pot TO
plant them in.
The Detention Station was large,
high-ceilod room, with rows Of long,
hard benches along its walls, little
window behind which sat n man Mt
desk, and numberless policemen pass.
ing In and out, some accompanied.
some alone. The man at tho desk
gave TO each newcomer brought in, n
check bearing n number, aud made
corresponding entry in largo book.
Mrs. Petit found herself suddenly 50.
you'll bo called for" said Officer
Mcllcn, touching his hat "and it's
much obliged am for your kindness,
ma'ain. To himself he added as Inc