The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-28

| them. the children were enticed over Il
where the engineer corps was sitting
The small maiden scanned the faces be
fore her with deliberation and great
gravity: then walked around the circle OF
men to the big chairman and seated her.
self at his side. No one knew just how
TO open conversation. and an en-
barrassed silence fell on the group.
What do they like 10 eat?" some
body asked. The Back Flag suggested
jelly. Bread and butter was necessary
as foundation, the transit.nan said !;
otherwise, il would make them Ill.
The engineer said that il would make
them i'll anyhow. That was why they
ate ii; IL was SO bad for them.
AS he spoke, he passed the suggested
articles of food TO Carter, who seemed
by tacit understanding to be the
official host, and two thick slices of
bread, well spread with butterine and
piled high with the canned jelly, were
placed in the hands OF the children. The
boy at once began 10 eat his slice, leav-
ing, as he did SO, most of the jelly on the
outside Of his face. The girl held hers
untouched. Again an awkward pause
fell OH the company. 1t was broken, at
last, by the small damscl.
whats your name?" she asked
Carter. Carter answered promptly and
in full, as though he were being ex-
anined by n lawyer.
What's yourn?" he inquired, in re-
turn.
MAN." she replied. Then she looked
Carter carefully over and remarked:
II like you.'
The men laughed. Nan regarded them
with looks of grave displeasure. Carter
flushed crimson under his tan, and the
men laughed more than ever. To cover
Lis embarrassment the chairman asked
Nan why she didn't eat her bread and
jelly. Didn't she like IL?
Yes, Nan liked bread and jelly
more especially jelly--very much in
deed. But she was keeping it. she ex-
p.aincd, until she could divide il with
her mother. On being assured that her
mother would also be supplied with as
much jelly as she might care for. Mans
the piece that she held.
Where is your mother, Nan?" asked
Powers.
Nan was too busy TO speak, but she
made motion with her head toward the
from which she had come.
AN yer pa, is he there, too 81 In
quired Carter.
Nan shook her head. She could not
answer more fully just then, but. as
soon rs articulnte speech was possible,
she said that her father had gone away,
but was soon coming back. When did
he go? 1t was yesterday, the day before
yesterday. Mans friends puzzled over
his chronological statement for some
ime. Finally Carter said:
II figger it out that size meant about
hree days gone. jus aboutthree days"
Is he spoke, he looked narrowly at the |
ngineer. Powers could see how the
haiaman's mind was running. II was
bree days since the horses had been
missed.
"You are wrong" said Powers in
panish, in order that the child might
ot understand. Horse thieves do not
-avel about with their wives. Neither
o they have childSen like these chill
rem"
"Quien sabe?" replied the rodman.
Anyhow this ain't no place fer wom-
4 alone with two kids She ougnter
G at the big camp. Reckon I'll go over
n' II 4 en q Ia. a,,,,o ,,,nl Do,,.o., |
oked uncertain as Carter left his place
al forced his way through the under
'owth that concealed the camp OF the
Iildrcn's mother. In a few minutes he
turned, locking puzzled.
II couldn't say nothin' TO 'er that was
Orth sayin'," he said. in low tone, to
e engineer. IL told her that Nan an
,thcr kid was safe over here with us.
| she said che knowed IL. an don't let
II bother us. an SEN 'cm back soon,
ease, an thank you. an so on, butt
~ she talked meant: You min yer
n business She was polite, though
dead polite. She wasn't like none er
e women you'll fin aroun' here. Blu:
say no more, somehow-it
is all in the way she talked. But this
1t no place for her. Iier camps seen
kettle bottom. nm they hadn't no
u OF proper outfit 10 start on. I
'kon you'd Better go N try. Mr.. Pow
l. Tell her any rood lie you c'n think
Them kids and her, they can't stay A..
re-"
'owcrs rose reluctantly. "We can't
'e the women by force" he said. n
sting OF his riding breechcs. "Isup- =
Sc you're satisfied now that your =
ier rotio..wns OF. aren't you?" !,
'ouien sabe?" responded Carter.
ut. all the same. they oughter net a
Y here"
overs shrugged his shoulders and n
'artcd. following the line of bent !,
EDS that indicated the course pursued !,
the chairman. The camp was much :,
ser than kc had supposed. he came 81
~ u almost Immediately. II was
Aer a comiJrtlcss little camp-onc .,
I told plainly % inexperienced !,
\ lie