The Van Buren press., 1898-12-24

the mean and bitrer ones ARE RnEed foI
feebler victims
Some days later the new girl hap
pened TO reach the packing house few
minutes earlier than the general nrriv-
al. The doors were all open and the
place was freshly swept but no one was
in sight as she reached the doorway
Then she heard quick steps, and lie
grader-man stood before her.
He was ready for his opportunity fnr
signs had been in his favor in the day
just past.
your clock fast?" he said. sweeping
his eyes over the several approaches
and finding that The nearest eomers
were some minutes distant.
u don't know didn't look al 1t. !
just came when ] felt ready Maybe
twas the splendid morning that hurried
me-
1T is splendid morning, isn't tt2'
said he; and there was something IN
lis smile that seemed somehow less
careless than usual = feel a little In a
hurry myself he went on, noting tie
freshness of the morning light On heI
ihquiring face. and astonished a little
at his own audaeify. How much can
say before those girls gel here2s
81 don know, laughed the girl, but
her checks flushed a little; 81 have
never heard you try
u can say this, anyway want you
to say you like me and that can walk
home with you sometimes. and that
you'll go to church with me next sun
day"
She looked none the worse to him as
consciousness took unwonted posses.
sion Of her face, and he saw that she
wanted 10 look away, but would not.
Not far was she tipped of her poise
She answered proudly. still laughingiy,
and a stray lock, escaped from her
hat. danced al him Oh the edge of her
forehead as light breeze whisked Ey
you can say good deal in minute;
but think you are toe much in hurry
If you should walk home with me this
evening, you would have more time
Isn't it a splendid morning" she shout
ed TO four girls who were coming up the
walk 0nd who wondered al her eNhilara
tion as she whirled toward them The
grader=man climbed to his perch and
watehed a few angels among the rafters
as he waited in sublime patience for the
materials Of his industry.
A week or two after this the Missouri
girl came late and without her lunch
pail. Jim saw that her face was sad
and weary. He had never seen it SO, and
il sank deep into his heart. She glanced
at him but walked right past and spoke
to the manager who looked regfetfal
but conserving. and they went TO tho
pay-desk together. Then she walked II
the door. There she hesitated a mo
ment.
Get on here" said Jim quickly. 10
one o. the bumpers. climbing down
from his seat and not stopping TO see
his orders obeyed. They walked slowly
toward the street, and the curious ewes
that followed them were soser-some
Of them sympathetic
Her sister, for whose recovery she
had come to California. and for when
she had been determinedly hopeful,
had just been pronounced To be in a
sinking condition. and desired TO go
back TO her mother. Beneath this grief
the brave girl was also hiding a fore
taste of the loss of this new friendship
and il had suddenly become known 10
her how deeply her life and hope were
involved.
The interview was short, but it left
notable effect in the girls bearing. as
she moved rapidly away, and Jim came
IN with a look in his face that might
have been borrowed from an old Italian
painting
AT noon he stopped the manager
Gould you put some one in my place
George Barnes would do all right.
want TO go to Missouri in the morning
''All right, Jim" said the manager.
The packing-house ratified on merri.
ly through the season. Its output was
various and sundry. Jim. on his Jour
ney, was attended by four words that
hummed forever through his head with
a reminiscent accompaniment of the
rolling noise of the grader.
Through Joy and sorrow" they said
and it seemed strange to him that the
sorrow, quite as much as the JOY, was
serving the new glory of his days.-San
Francisco Argonaut.