Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1898-06-23
no evil, and it did not occur to him that

he was an object of unusual interest.
A Chinaman turned his opium-glazed
eyes curiously upon the erect little per-
sonage. A coal HEAVIER stopped shovel
ing to clear the sidewalk for the en-
peror, rubbed his black fingers across
his forehead, and muttered admiringly:
swell, I'M be blowed!" Two very dirty,
youthful denizens of the gutter ceased
profane hostilities and gazed in silent
wonder. At an Italian fruit stand the
emperor in baby tongue. and with ma
ture demeanor inquired the way to
Eighth street. But the proprietor
seemed incapable of giving even the
shrug and the negative grunt with
which Italian street merchants usually
answer such questions. ..
The Emperor grew trife disturbed.
These people were different from what
by experience ne knew people to be
and darkness was getting to him faster
than he to his father. There are puz-
cling twists and curves in the streets
that neighbor Washington square, and
the alleys and courts end blindly. In
them he heard unpleasant voices and
words better unspoken, and saw blows
given to which drink lent force. Some
times at dark cruel and evil things hap
pen there. But history does not say
that the Emperor's courage failed. For
just when it might have begun to
weaken the least bit, woman stepped
out of the shadow into the flare of cleo
trio light shining from a saloon, and
asked him if he knew where he was.
Now, the emperor was first of all a
and made courteous inclination of his
golden head, ne forgot his own troubles.
Here was a lady seeking information
about the way she had missed. His blue
eyes, full of sympathy, looked up at her
painted face, and his clear voice re.
peated that he was not sure where he
was, but he was on his way to his father
and was bound to find him. Then, in
tones of genuine regret, he said: ''But
[ is very afraid you is lost too. Is you
lost?'' Stifed memory is apt to wake
at the. call of a childish voice. Hers
woke, and travelled swiftly through the
years to where pure memories ended.
"Yes, dear little one," she sobbed, 81
am lost" The emperor's firm little hand
clasped hers. Don't cry. Empe'or will
take us both home" And so these two.
humanity far apart, brought near by a
touch of the Divine, went from the
gloomy alleyway to the lighted
thoroughfare together.
Suddenly, not so PAGES away, ap.
peared tall man, his lips pale and
tightly shut, his eyes strained in eager
quest of something he could not see.
His rapid stride had left behind another
man, who glanced keenly right and left.
and let no person pass unnoticed. He
was cool because he knew how to look
for what is lost, and he was confident
because the telephone at his precinct
had put on watch every policeman on
duty below Union square and between
the two rivers. The tall man with pale
lips was neither cool nor confdent-he
had lost his boy.
The Emperor was a robust, sturdy
youth, but his efforts to moderate the
over-vigorous hugs Of a father who
went from despair to joy in so PAGES
were Intellectual. At length the found
one gasped: i.
Papa! Listen, papa! The lost lady
-Empe'or promised to get her found
again."
But there are dark byways where the
Emperor's father found him, and into
one OF these the girl ran swiftly.
IL is not tired, an is not sleepy" he
said to his mother, "an' 1 wonder who
will show her the way home, an if it is
so very farm. Y. Outlook.