Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-08-13

thing but the unreasonable bounty Of !
nature toward her and her children. OF /
course there was fierce discussion be- /
tween "the boys" Of the road and the 3
few married families Of the settlement
on this point, but of course progress and /
"snivelization"-as the boys chose to
call it-triumphed. The projection OF
railroad settled it. Robert Foulkes,
promoted to firemapship on division
of the line, was made TO understand
that his daughter must be educated.
But the terrible question of Mary's fam
lily remained. No school would open it's
doors to that Heterogeneous collection,
and Mary's little heart would have
broken over the rude disposal or heroic
burning of her children. The ingenuity
of Jack Roper suggested a compromise.
She was allowed to select one to take to
school with her; the others were adopt
cd by certain of her friends, and she
was to be permitted to visit them every
| Saturday afternoon. The selection was
cruel trial, so cruel that knowing her
undoubted preference for her firstborn,
| Misery, we would not have interfered
for worlds. but in her unexpected choice
of Johnny Dear the most unworldly of
US knew that it was the first glimmer-
| ing Of feminine tact, her first submits
sion to the world OF prcpriety that she
! was now entering. Johnny Dear was
| undoubtedly the most presentable; even
more. there was an educational sugges-
| tion In its prominent, mapped out
chronological organs. The adopted IA
theirs were loyal to their trust. Indeed
for years afterward the blacksmith kept
the iron headed Misery on a rude shelf,
like shrine near his bunk. Nobody but
himself and Meary ever knew the Sc
cret, stolen and thrilling interviews
that took place during the first days Of
their separation.
Certain facts, however, transpired
concerning Mary's equal faithfulness
TO another of her. children. 1t is said
that enc Saturday afternoon when the
road manager of the new line was seat
ed in his Office at Reno in private bust
ness discussion with two directors a
gentle tap was heard at the door. 1t
was opened to an eager little face, a
pair of blue eyes and blue pinafore.
To the establishment of the directors a
change came over the face of the man
Rger. Taking the child gently by the
hand, he walked to his desk, on which
the papers of the new line were scatter
ed, and drew open drawer, from which
he took large ninepin extraordinarily
dressed as doll. The establishment of
the two gentlemen was increased at the
following quaint oolloquy between the
manager and the child:
"She's doing remarkably we'll in
spite of the trying weather, but have
had to keep her very quiet, said the
manager, regarding the ninepin critic
ally.
"Ess,'' said Mary quickly. Its just
the same with Johnny Dear. His cough
is rightful at night. But Misery's all
right. I've just been TO see her. >"
There's good deal of scarlet fever
around" continued the manager with
quiet concern, land we can't be toe
careful. But / shall take her for little
run down the line tomorrow.
The eyes of Mary sparkled and over.
flowed like blue water. Then there was
q kiss, little laugh, a shy glance at
the two curious strangers. the blue pin
afore huttered away and the colloquy
ended. She was equally attentive in
her care of the Others but the rag baby,
Gloriana, who had found a home in
Jim Carter's cabin at the Ridge, living
too far for her visits, was brought down
regularly on Saturday afternoon &c
Mary's house by Jim, tucked in asleeI
in his saddlebags or riding gallantly
before him ON the horn of his saddle.
|. On Sunday there was a dress parade OF
all the dolls, which kept Mary III heart
: for the next weeks desolation.
But there came one Saturday and Sun
: day when Mary did not appear, and il
: was known along the road that she haG
been called to San Francisco to meet ar
= aunt who had just arrived from eth,
States" 1t was a vacant Sunday tt
"the boys" a very hollow, unsanotifeC
Sunday somehow, without that ittl,
figure. But the next Sunday and th'
next were still worse, and then it wa
known that the dreadful aunt was max
ing much of Mary and was sending hel
to a grand school--a convent at SAINTS
Clara-where it was rumored girls were
turned out so accomplished that theil
own parents did not know them. Blu
we knew that was impossible to oui
Mary, and letter which came from hel
at the end of the month and before tn,
convent had closed upon the blue pima
fore satisfied us and was balm to oul
anxious hearts. 1t was characteristic o
Mary-it was addressed to nobody il
particular-and would but for the pru
dence Of the aunt have been intrusted Il
the postof1ice open and undirected.
was single sheet, handed to us with
out a word by her father, but as w
passed it from hand to hand we under
stood it as if we had heard our los
:, playfellow's voice:
: others more houses in Frisco thar
you kin shake stick at and wimmen
:. till you kant rest, but mules and jack
asses amt got no sho, nor blacksmith
- shops, witch is not to be seen no wear
= Rapits and skwirls also bares and pan
fers is on-noun and unforgotten ON 40
count Of the streets and Sunday skoles
! Jim Roper you orter be very good t.
Mizzery on kount of my not bein here