Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-08-19

with this uncomfortable experience
She had taken "her ain gait" land for
once knew 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
to be disguised air of reproach with
which innocent travellers by delayed
train are always greeted, came down
the long platfrom.
Little Jamie, half-carried by Miss
Angeles firm hand, stumbled sleepily
and was scarcely aroused by her CHEEKY
assurance.
"Here they are, Jamie! That is
Judge Adams, 1 know, and the other
must be your papa"
But while the recognized stranger ex-
tended courteous greeting to the lady
the other looked anxiously about, dived
into the waiting-room and out again,
muttering audibly:
didn't come, after all! Can't depend
on woman, only 10 change her mind"
as he turned impatiently into the street.
you are wondering about my little
charge" Janet began, and found her
voice trembling with fatigue and excite
ment. Where could that man be?
Jamie Pine has come from Vermont
to meet his father here. Perhaps it is
not strange they have missed each
other, but how shall we proceed to find
him?'
pine, did you say?"
The judge looked sharply at the child,
three. What is the mans business?"
Jamie says he works in lumber
mill"
Jim Pine!" train hand standing
near interrupted. George! who's 60
ing to tell that baby?" he almost whis-
pered. "Come over here, mister"
He turned his big black thumb over
his shoulder, and Judge Adams fol-
lowed.
"Never heard of no such thing outside
q story book" he CALCULATED, hoarsely.
Lawyer, amt you? Seen you in court,
seems to me. Say, that must be Jim
Pine, sent up for life last week, count
of that killing scrape down in the lum-
Der district. An that little fellerl
Rough, amt it?"
Miss Angeles imagination had not all
been mortgaged to the realities of 40
years; she felt she knew dreadful
story, though she heard not word.
Something has gone amiss, 1 know"
she said, looking up at the troubled face
of the man, who walked slowly back to
her. jamie was fast asleep again, his
head prone on the iron arm of the sta
ton bench.
"This child must be put to bed. Cam
not you vouch for me at some nearby
hotel and make my peace with Mar
garet until to-morrow-to-day, rather?"
Her smile was faint, and she caught
at the back of the seat.
Margaret will forgive anything but
my failure to bring you home. There
is one more uptown car; we can get it
if we do not delay. Come, little man."
Janet had expected to be pleased with
Margaret's husband, but she felt rush
of deeper feeling than mere liking as
the tall man took the still unconscious
child in his arms and, directing the
porter with the baggage of the travel
crs, led the way to the corner. She saw
him set his lips tightly as an old, glazed
leather bag, bursting at the whitened
seams, was deposited at his feet; he
pushed it over on it's side, that the star
ing white letters-"James Pine, Burton,
Vt."-might be hidden. And the little
James Pine slept on, with his face
against the broadcloth arm of the man
who last week sentenced his father.
And the grandmother and wife slept I'M
der the shadow of Vermont hill, all
unknowing that their petted baby was
adrift on such troubled sea.
Jamie seemed not greatly surprised
when he was fairly awake that his IA
Their was not to be found
II s'pose maybe he's dead. All my
folks are dead. guess don't belong
to anybody"
He cried, but in subdued, tear-at-a-
time fashion that made everybody's
heart ache, and sent Janet down on her
knees beside him, while she gathered
him close in her arms.
Eyes, you do, Jamie. You belong to
me. 1 hadn't anybody, and you hadn't,
and SO the dear, kind God gives us to
each other"
If the judge and his wife would have
protested, the sight of Jamie's radiant
countenance and Janet's own satisfac-
ton closed their lips.
"And you should not go home now"
Mrs. Adams declared, when her friend
proposed to return to Loudon at once
with her newly acquired interest, IF
you emptied whole orphan asylum in
at our front door. had rather have
Jamie, dear little fellow, than Evelyn
Ford's poodle. She stayed six weeks
with that dog. 1 did not blame Ward
for saying he should use his own dis
erection as to what he escorted from the
station next time"
Janet would have laughed in her
hearty, out-loud fashion, but they were