Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-09

CtlOI. Inc tIUNu WdH N'''sfN
of the Great Unwashed. and swayed ana
squeezed disagreeably. so that he "as
about to make his way out OF IL, "heh
he heard a child's voice wall: tan
see nuffin'-just muffin but a man
legs" Hush, Tommy" replied tlred
voice "Walt little, and your get
chance" Brett looked over his shoulder
and saw respectably-dressed woman
with baby on one arm, and STURDY
but disgruntled small boy hanging to her
dress.
"Wei. little man." he said good-na-
turedly. get up in my arms, and my long
legs will serve you better than your snort
ones"
Now, Tommy" said the mother. with
a reproving glance. "ain't We 'shamed
the gentleman heard yeg" Tommy hid
his face in his mothers skirts, and was
dumb. shall lift him upY' Brett asked
the mother. IT'S getting late, and there
seems little chance OF coming closer TO
the window at present" Il wish you
would. sir" she answered. Tommy
thank the gentleman. and show your
manners" But Tommy still refused to
be polite. So Brett swung the child to
his shoulder. and began telling the story
Of the wonderful voyages and the
marvellous escapes which had frightened
his own boyhood. II amused him to see
the little fellows timidity melt under
the charm OF the tale. and he did not
notice how the other rough boys around
him listened with open ears, until he
heard one hard-faced characterization call
10 another: Say. Sam, git on to de new
dodge. Dat feller's as good as de man in
de theayter." Brett laughed good-na-
turedy; then he turned Tommy over to
his mother. and made his way back to
Broadway. Altogether, he was in a saner
and more healthy frame Of mind after
that touch of human companionship-eve
as such it was.
The masses Of people grew denser mo-
mentarily. A bold-faced girl in tawdry
fnery jostled him, and then begged with
a laugh: Gimme a flower, mister. tn
do for Christmas present" Brett put
his hand up TO the boutonnere. What
WAS the use? Let the girl have IT," Then
he paused as he looked at her again.
Here's dollar" he said at last. 60
buy yourself some chrysanthemums down
at the corner" As she walked off happy
over her windfall, he murmured: Il
couldn't give her these, they belong TO
Grace"
II was growing colder-the damp cold
that makes the mountaineer SILVER and
the sharp tang-tang Of the cable-car
gttIItu an lnslritnI NuERtNIlOH OF nlIilff
and warmth, so Brett jumped aboard the
front platform OF the first car. The seats
were already nearly full but he found
q place I'm the corner and they swung
ahead at a great rate, the straps swaying
with the motion as they rushed around
the double curve by Union Square. then
the car slowed down and the front door
opened to admit four more passengers.
A yelled woman in deep green, and
party of men who were hilarious with
too much Christmasing.
The woman was laden with a multi
plicity Of bundles as she passed down the
aisle Brett looked after her, wondering
where she slowed them all away. There
was no seat vacant, and she made an
Intellectual attempt 10 free one hand
for a steadying strap. Meanwhile, he
was divided from her by the drunken
men. who absorbed his attention by their
violent lurchings, for he expected one or
them 10 fall on his knees at any moment:
ne hoped devoutiy that the lady did
not hear their mumbed profanities. and
looked down the car TO see where she
was seated. No one had moved for her,
and she was still standing with hurdened
arms Brett sprang up and pushed his
wav through the men. please take my
place" he said civily lifting his hat
She turned and began TO move forward
with him Just as one OF the drunken
fellows stumbled into the vacant seat
with a roar Of laughter. Fares, fares
called the conductor loudly passing by
Bretts face set. Get up, you dog" ne
commanded I'm a low tone. Dog your
self" returned the drunken fellow mso-
lently. Il amt gOin' 10 get up Tor no
dude. 1t got as much right to seat as
YOU" Get up" repeated Brett still
l.. fnetapad n tho fol-
lows coat collar Another moment and
he would have been spared the trouble
of rising. but the fury in Brett's eyes
was too much for the tipsy creature He
stumbled 10 his feet. muttering. ana
shambled off to the back platform by his
companions.
"Oh. please, please never mind about
me-" Brett heard some one murmur be-
hind him. and he swung around as *
he were shot. IL was her voice lie
imagined he must be going mad, LOT
Grace. in street-car. unattended, at
this time OF the evening, seemed an inn
possibility. Yet. there she stood. lie
wondered that he failed TO recognize her
at first. "I-I-did not know II was
Won" he stammered. you will take
that place, won't your She seated her.
self without further ado and he stood
holding the strap by her side painfully
conscious OF his legs and arms, crazy 10
talk to her, yet unwilling to trespass be-
cause Of a chance service when 1t was
ioy to render, but which she might find
/ disagreeable to accept from him.
If 1t had not been for those drunken
louis he would have left the car. but
he could not desert her when she was
unprotected in such company. His heart
was full Of things he wished TO say,
/ for, though he knew there was no hope
| for him, he wanted to explain to her;
to tell her just how the memory OF her
| had. like a holy talsman, warded or
the gross temptations of the mining-camp.
| He wanted TO know If she was
happv: If she had married: where she
| Ived-indeed. anything that would bring
| him close to her present life. as she was
always the core OF his. Yet he was afraid
TO address her. 1t might offend her
/ Presently, the car gave sudden lurch,
! and one Of her bundles rolled 10 his
feet: she and he both stopped 10 get II.
and their hands met on the brown pa
per parcel. beg pardon" they both
/ gaspod together and looked at each
/ other.
Brett was sure she recognized him,
vet he could say nothing until she spoke
so he fidgeted uncomfortably in sience
for her thick veil completely hid any eX-
! preston that might have given courage
when did you get back to town.
| queried the voice behind the ven At last
1.-TWO days ago." he replied, and, for the
life Of him, he could find nothing more
TO say. or rather. he could not choose
what TO say first amid the hundred things
that fought for precedence. 1T IS
turning cold, isn't it?" the voice contin-
ued. This time he did little better;
evidently she was not angry, at least.
Eyes, it is colder but / believe we will
have a green Christmas, nevertheless.
You used TO like green; it would please
YOU" Il am as fond as ever Of greer" "
she said but l don't like the white
Easter that goes with warm Christ
mas. Then this unreasonable weather
is unhealthy; there is ever so much i'll