Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-10-18

| thO biE Onh POt0NSh
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 oabmen crying their
fareH, and Mt lust open air. That is.
not open air like the broad meadows
and sunny garden plots of Wilson's
Ferry, but open air II UGH like gazing
up from the bottom of n good old
fashioned chimney. no tall were the
buildings on either side, and 30 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 carpetsaok, hurry
ing onward in its wake, until thoy
were we'll out on the streets and she
was quite breathless with the brisk
walk.
Then, us the carpetsack shifted its
position for q moment to tho pnve-
ment, and its owner turned to mop
his brow, Mrs. Petit saw, to her utter
dismny, that. whilo his hair was gray,
and from the back he presented an APP
pearance not unlike that of Ephraim,
this man she had been religiously fol-
lowing was, i'll fact, an utter stranger,
and that she herself, Mrs. Petit, was
lost
Quite unconscious of the mischief
he had wrought, tho stranger shortly
resumed his carpetba3 and his pace
together, aud joined tho great merry
go-iound of people; while the old lady,
like bit of flotsam stayed for mo.
ment i'll it's course, clingin9 helplessly
to tho brown basket, stood looking
about i'll bowildcrment, whilo people
whirlcd and cddicd and divided about
her.
81 guess yer lost, amt you?" said
big. kindly voice Mt her side.
Mrs. Petit smiled into the honest
face OF tho man, who wore blue silt
with brass buttons, aud star upon
his brenst.
~ don't know" she said, little
TREMENDOUSLY, "but perhaps am that
is, if you don't know whore my son,
John Petit, lives"
"Pottit-John Petit. | don't seem
to place him just now" said the police
man, placing his hand upon his chm,
i'll thoughtful aud reassuriny man
ner. "You don't happen to know his
street or number, now?"
"No," sa,d the old lady; "Ephraim
always directs his letters, and no has
his address on card in his pocket.
But know they've put new wing to
the house lately, and it's painted
brown and has bow windows.
Tho old indy waitel anxiously,
while tue officer in tho kindness of his
henrt appeared to rumiuate deeply.
81 don't seem to remember such n
place" he sad presently; ''but we
can find 1t. If you'll just step down
to thu station with mot amt FIR
who're lost people stay, I'll ring up
The coutral police"
Mira. Petit relinquished the brown
basket into Officer Mellen's hands,
and walked cheer;ully along by his
side. 81 hope your family are all
we'll, she said, politely.
well, tol'rable, thank &C." said the
officer. with rather new sensation.
"Fhe baby worries some o nights.
She's only two months old, you know,
and colicky like"
"Well, now, [ III so glad | brought
it. said Mrs Petit, reaching for the
basket. ".5uch big bunch OF catnip,
too, just in the bloom twice MS much
rs Johns baby will need. It's n sure
relief for collie. And here's some
young verbena plants | dug this
morning with plenty of earth around
them. Maybe your wife would like
them"
Thereupon paper bag and paste
boar box changed hands
II thank'ee kindly, ma'am," said
the policeman, touching his cap.
"Fho cntnip we get ut the drugstore
aiu't much better than dust, and my
wife amt owned flower since she's
been married." In his secret mind
no was wondering whore he could get
enough dirt to fill flower pot to
plant them in.
The Detention Station was large,
hiSh-ceiled room, with rows of long,
hard benches along it, walls, little
window behind which sat n man mt a
desk, and numberless policemen pass
ing in and out. some accompanied,
some alone. The man ut the desk
gave to each newcomer brought in, n
check bearing n number, and made n
corresponding entry i'll II large book.
Mrs. Petit found herself suddenly 50.
you'll be called for" said Officer
Mellen. touching his hat; "and it's
much obliged I nm for your kinaness,
ma'am." To himself he added as he
turned away: cts shame for the
likes of her to be put in this place"
There were dozens of people seated
on the benches-men, women and
children-some with heads bowed in
detection, misery, sickness or despair,
others upright aud defiant, many
grown old in ways of sin, others but
beginning to taste of temptation.
Into this company Mrs. Petit walked,
with her dear old face and guileless
eyes.