The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-06-18
hair rested against the back Of the

AeA1A AO0IC0&4 dSdluSC t1kG Us1C6 VI IUC
seat and-yes, she was crying!
'Leddy," spoken almost too softly
and tamidly for one whose wits had
been sharpened by rough contact with
the worlds elbows until his voice had
acquired the shrill assertiveness Of the
garnin, Il say, Teddy, won't yer take
this quarter? It's all I've got, but
p'raps it will help yer piece out so
yed kin git through
She looked at the money in the
smutty hand and smiled.
sBut shall have no chance to repay
you"
"I'm goin' ter Greenfield, toc,'' Re
saids quickly.
"Then will take it, and thank you
for a kind-hearted lad. Have you
friends in Greenfeld?"
"Goin' ter see me aunt" The hui
morous fiction came easily to his lips.
Perhaps I know her" The woman
looked doubtfully at the ragged little
fellow as though it was possible but
son could claim this child as nephew?
perhaps I know your aunt" she re-
| peated. "What is her name?'
Now did Jakey the Shrewd repent
of his glibness. He answered reserv-
edly. .~... E.>.
"Miss Tisha Prendergast'' ~
| "Miss Letitia Prendergast!" Her
| eyes Widened with establishment, then
narrowed quizzically. "Have you ever
seen her?" -
"Naw'm," and he tcrned his atten-
! ton wholly to the flying landscape,
while she leaned back glancing in a
| puzzled way at the stubby head visible
above the seat in front. Her interest
in this neglected-looking boy, who
rendered her his only piece of money,
was increased by learning of his aunt
Carelessness in signaling at the juno
ton where it was to pass the express;
on the part Of the train itelf over
speed to make up lost time-like an
upheayel Of the world it came; the
shrek Of engines as the express round
ed the curve; binding crash and
shock; the spit Of escaping steam; the
roll and slide Of cars down steep en-
bankment., The white-haired woman
tried to rise from the corner where she
found herself flung, but a broken seat
| held her down. Outside someone was
calling: "Water! water! for Gods sake,
| water! The cars are on fire." Must
| they be burned together then-the
dead, the dying and those struggling
| in frantic terror for the life that still
seemed so sweet?
! Shove, Teddy, shower said a voice
at her elbow. "I'm liftin', too. Shove
An yer'n be up.
How they got out of thai car neither
the lady nor Jakey could have told.
The former knew only that without
Jakey's aid she would have been
among those that persisted in the
crushed car ere help could reach them,
and when she found that his arm was
broken and that he was swooning at
her side with pain, it was she who
took charge Of him, and had him con-
Veyed to her mansion at Greenfield for
now, that she was among her own
neighbours, she could command assis-
ance instead of imploring it.
Jakey's convaleSeence progressed
rapidly, and his appearance, thanks
to the lady's generous purse, improv-
ed at the same rate. But one day,
after a fortnight's sojourn, he came to
her with this remark.
'Leddy, I guess as how I'll be goin'
some-eres else!'
''Why, Jakey, are you tired of stay
ing here?"
''Tired~ He did not know how much
his information revealed to his benefac-
tress. II JUS guess as how yer won't
want me no more when I let on"
"What?"
II KEEP yer ticket that day. I picked
it up with yer handkerchief" HE was
a handsome boy now that he was
properly washed and combed and
dressed, yet how pathetically little
and forlorn he looked standing there
with his arm in a sling. She under
stood how much harder for him was
this confession than his bearing during
the accident, Of which she could not
think without shudder. can I tole
yer whopper bout me aunt in Green
field. Amt got no aunt"
eyes, you have" she said. "Miss
Letitia Prendergast."
He colored to think Of having given
his imaginary relative a name. 1t
seemed such barefaced impudence now
from the new standpoint to which he
had grown.
81 saw the name on the 'spress box