Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-08-12

the race sun tOucn1ng the glass, unless
she were mistaking raindrops for tears
the little fellow was shedding the latter
in that quiet fashion which makes one
angry with some intangible cruelty
which forbids 4 child the natural priv
ilege of noisy grief.
Just now the entrance of the train
boy and his wares might have diverted
this unhappy child. But he did not
even look around, turning his head ever
so slightly when the boy touched his
arm.
Have some oranges, kid? Two for
five cents! Shell out your nickel and
be lively. now"
The fair-haired head, surmounted by
a shabby velvet cap, returned to its
former position; the hopeless express
sion about the mouth deepened, and
Janet could bear it TO longer. She was
hunting nickeIs in her purse when the
basket reached her; exchanging them
for fruit and box of Lowney's. she
moved down the aisle.
II am looking for some one to divide
my orange with she began, beaming
at the child. as he turned suddenly at
the sound of her voice. Il never do like
to eat a whole one"
He took his feet down and pulled off
the old cap.
Excuse me- he said; 81 didn't see
you"
He meant to now. evidently. but while
keeping his eyes on the lady's face he
was extracting with considerable diff
Guilty a large handkerchief from small
IL
on his thin cheeks.
But perhaps you like whole orange.
OF course, a boy would. Some folks
think" and Janet leaned confidentially
toward him. that boy can eat any
thing, and two of everything. l have
taken off my gloves, you see"
Somehow, she felt she hated those
| gloves as a type of this ill-circum-
stanced life; a sense of relief possessed
her as they were drawn off.
| II never had whole orange but once,
/ on Christmas tree, and then gave it
/ to grandma. But she gave me back a
! piece of it; she was like you-she could
not eat a whole one; guess l could
/ thought"
Miss Angel noted the carefully-kep.
I
thirsty way in which he began to
devour the segment of the orange. Was
the child hungry, too?
I'VE seem to be the only people trav-
cling alone to-day. May I sit with
you a little while? 1t is pleasant to
talk with some one, don't you think y
Janet played with a bit of orange peel;
her throat was too full to allow her
to swallow anything but her 'feel,
ings."
Yes, ma'am," he answered. eve
been so lonesome 1 couldn't keep from
crying. And ate up all my luncheon
| yesterday. l wanted an orange so, but
1 hadn't any nickel, only just a dollar
bill, and Mrs. Brown, she said not to
break it. l s'pose she meant tear it, but
she said break" as though offering
apology for a lack of lucid English.
1t was not far to station, where, no
buffet car being attached to the train
until later in the day, Janet snatched
such eatables as were available, and
was so fortunate as to enlist the sym
| pathies of woman who had u bottle of
milk in her travelling bag.
81 was pretty hungry" he paused to
say, after a long draft of milk. I'm
awful glad to have something to eat.
but 1 guess I'm gladder to have some
one to speak to me-"
And then Miss Angel leaned over to
kiss him, no matter who might be look.
ing.
The long hours went by; the rain still
fell; people came and went at every sta
ton; the Quebec romance was forgot.
ten, but Miss Angel was not having a
stupid day. A copy of Mrs. Ewing's
'Jackanapes" was found among the
trainboy's trash, to which the languid
child listened with fattering attention,
while afterward the reader heard a
story even more touching than that vel
low-haired laddie's. This hero's name
was plain Jamie, and when hot cocoa
and chicken had supplemented the ear
lier meal color came into the pale
cheeks and sparkle to the tired ewes
which made him very attractive hero.
As the afternoon darkened his head
was pillowed on Miss AngelI's arm.
Il guess you are good deal like an
angel" having had her name exchanged
for his own. Anyway, guess YOU are
an answer to my grandma's prayer.
| She asked God to let me find a friend
wherever had to go. l don't believe
she would have thought / could come
so far alone; she didn't like to have me
go to the village alone. but Mrs. Brown.
she said 1 must go to my father
And the father he could not remember
at all! Poor little wanderer! But now.
whatever might be in store. he slept on
Janet's arm, the sleep of childish trust
and safety.
This was a slow train at best; and
there had been a hot box, and then a
tedious detention on side track for the
passing of the east-bound train. So it
was growing very late, and no one could
guess what time the city would be
reached, since the right of way was
lost. Judge Adams, Janet's friends
husband, whom She had never seen, was
to meet her; it was not agreeab BILE that
his acquaintance with her should begin
with this uncomfortable experience.
She had taken her ain gait" land for
once l knew a reason for having my
own way" she said to herself, looking
down at the still, white face under the
swaying lamp.
1t was early rather than late when
the few through passengers from Chi
cago, stiff, sleepy and cross entered the
great empty station-quite two o'clock.
Two weary-looking men, with that not