Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-01-28


Tlaen He Remainee Until She Came
Out.
returned TO his usual post, but of her
he saw nothing. Then be grew bold,
and asked q scene shifter what had be-
come OF Miss Clifford.
"Gone 4 Paris, to show there, mate"
was the reply.
Gone to Parisi Where was Paris?
Might Ii not be possible fer hiin to fol-
low her there? For to him ii seemed
that TO live on In London, without even
seeing her from time " time, was a
thing hardly TO be borne.
"IIl ask Joe's mother" said Billy 20
himself. Shell know where Paris is,
and how to get there. Shes a rare one
for knowing things, is Joe's motker."
AS a matter Of fact. Mrs. Sims did
know where Paris was, and, with the
aid Of a railway guide, borrowed from
the stock in trade, was able to inform
him that he could reach the desired
goal, at excursion rates, for the sum OF
n pound.
Then if you'll lend npe a pound"
quoth Billy, resolutely. "Ill GO there"
"Sakes alive!" exclaimed Mrs. Sims,
utterly taken back by this announce
ment- what on earth do you want to
go to Paris for?'
Miss Clifford has zone there" he an
swered. a little doggedly, as though
anticipating opposition to his design,
land I'd like to be somewhere near at
hand, just TO keep an eye over her, you
know"
Mrs. Sims looked at him pityingiy;
she had long ago discovered the secret
OF his heart, and she was far too wom-
auly a woman to scoff at such hopeless
infatuation. Yet she thought that a
little mild banter might not be amiss
now. :
Why, Billy" she said, rlayfuliy,
surely a great star like Miss Clifford is
not likely TO stand In need OF your
help!''
Perhaps not assented Billy, sadly,
perhaps not. But II came In useful
once. and might again, for all we
know"
Mrs. Sims next tried arguments of a
more serious nature, pointing out that,
over and above the cost of the journey,
there would be the daily expenses of
living to provide for, and hat for a
crippled man TO earn a livelihood
amongst strangers in a foreign land
was well nigh an impossibility.
II expect folks buy newspapers and
matches over there pretty much the
same as they do here" retorted Billy.
and II stands TO reason there must be
doss houses and coffee stalls. In
manage right enough. II you'll lend me
the money for the journey"
"Oh. as for that" seid Mrs. Sims,
frankly. Il owe you a tidy bit one way
and a~nother-to say nothing of your
share in this business. So, In you have
really set your heart upon going. Ill
make things as easy al ! can for you.
Let me see-your fare there and back
viii come TO two pounds. Say you stop
there a fortnight at a pound a week
(for, OF course, you'll never earn any
thing amongst those parley-voos), that
makes four pounds: and with, say, ten
shillingS extra, In ease of accidents,
there won't be a great deal LETT out OF a
fve-pound note"
Five poundsr' repeated Billy, rue
fully. That's a lot Of money, and you
can't spare tt"
Yes. | can" interrupted Mrs. Sims.
thanks to Miss Clifford; and as you're
going on her service, you know this
with Just a suspicion OF irony in her
tone), we'll say no more about cbe ex-
pense, If you please
You're a rare one" exclaimed BLY,.
In grateful admiration. Its my belief
you're never happy unless you're doing
a good turn to some n or another"
Then his mood. fitiul ms an April day,
changed to one Of pathetic sadness.
DO you think / shall meet Miss CNf-
ford by-and-by-after we're both dead
and buried, l mecny he asked, pres
emily.
"Of course you will" was the unhes-
itating reply. But what puts such
gloomy Ideas into your headY"
Gloomy he repeated. doubtfully.
Are they To me the thought seems
fuller OF gladness and hope than augbt
else ] can Imagine. You've often told
me about the future life, and a rare
comfort II is. to a poor, crippled chap
like me. to look forward to IL. But
don't the Good Book say anything of a
past life before this oney'
NO. Billy. not that I know Of" an
swered Mrs. Sims. somewhat puzzled
by the question. "Rut why ask rueY
fou e better than I do. ave. and
understand what you read better, too,
| think"
NO. he protested: what I read only
conf,ises my poor head. | know there
Is n Present. am told there will he n
Future. But ] am left In the ia rk es
TO n Past Yet. what with oueer
dreams. and strange fancies that take
hold of me. ! sometimes lind II easier
to irlieve thai There has been n Past
when We were all different To what we
are now. than that viii l~ a future NE
ior us' " niakrs my head swim think
Ing Of these things"
Then don't think of Them" cuun-
ssiicd Mrs. SlmA. sagely. leave them