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

out OF date, brought vague memory OF
small brother, dead since her own
childhood.
"As if his grandmother had saved his
fathers first suit for him." she thought.
Very tidy was the odd outfit; the pre-
else, rusty black bow at the meeting of
the frayed-edged linen collar and the
faded, grotesquely large gloves, scrupu-
lousy woven, told their own sorry little
tale.
II must get those gloves of'-and
Janet began to move, as if the matter
were of immediate Importance, but fell
back again; perhaps he was attached to
some person not now in evidence. How
ever, Dollaire ceased to interest; she
could but watch the pathetic outlines of
the face still touching the glass; unless
she were installing raindrops for tears
the little fellow was shedding the latter
in that quiet fashion which makes one
angry with some intangible cruelty
which forbids 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
r. 4 1a al
sion about the mouth deepened, and
Janet could bear it no longer. She was
hunting nickels in her purse when the
basket reached her; exchanging them
for fruit and a 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. II 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 CAlidSIIhB Win Wilt
Guilty large handkerchief from small
pocket; there was unmistakable tears
on his thin cheeks.
"But perhaps you like whole orange.
OF course, boy would. Some folks
think" and Janet leaned confidentially
toward him, shat boy can eat any
thing, and two of everything. I have
| 10 pf INV rrlnvoc uo,, COO
Somehow, she felt she hated those
gloves as type of this ill-circum-
stanced life; sense of relief possessed
her as they were drawn off.
II never had whole orange but once,
on Christmas tree, and then 1 gave it
to grandma. But she gave me back a
piece of it; she was like you-she could
not eat whole one; I guess 1 could,
thought"
Miss Angel noted the carefully-kept
finger nails, but mostly the eager,
thirsty way in which he began to
devour the segment of the orange. Was
the child hungry, too?
"We seem to be the only people trav-
cling alone to-day. May I sit with
you little while? 1t is pleasant to
talk with some one, don't you think ?"
Janet played with bit of orange peel;
her throat was too full to allow her
to swallow anything but her "feel-
ings."
"Yes, ma'am," he answered. "I've
been so lonesome I couldn't keep from
crying. And 1 ate up all my luncheon
yesterday. wanted an orange so, but
L hadn't any nickel, only just dollar
bill, and Mrs. Brown, she said not to
break it. Is'pose she meant tear it, but
she said break" as though offering
apology for 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 a'woman who had bottle Of
milk in her travelling bag.
II was pretty hungry" he paused to
say, after a long draft of milk. "I'm
awful glad to have something to eat,
but I 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. Ewfng'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 a sparkle to the tired ewes
which made him very attractive hero.
AS the afternoon darkened his head
was pillowed on Miss Angeles arm.
II guess you are good deal like an
angel" having had her name exchanged
for his own. Anyway, 1 guess you are
an answer to my grandma's prayer.
L