Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-09-15
LOST.
BY FRANCES KNOWLES.
THROUGH the car window the EN-.

THROUGH the car window the EN-.
peror nodded reassurlngiy to his
mother on the elevated railroad plat
form. Then he turned and smiled gen.
tally upon the row of interested faces
across the car. The euperor's smile
was all-compelling, and was reflected
from wherever it fell. The guard, who
came in closing the door with a bang,
meeting 1t grinned in friendly reply,
and forgot to hurl at the passengers an
unintelllglbfe announcement of the
next stop. It is short run between
stations from Fourteenth street to
Eighth, and on the Eighth street plat
BorR the egRPoeNrA fEtAeR was wait
ing for him. The elevated, railroad
guard who can at once smile delighted
~ and do his whole duty besides Is not
and never will be. Austere demeanor
is, we know, the price Of faithful labor
In these upper regions Of travel. To this
particular guard the emperor's merry
glances were irresistible. Answering
them he winked, he even laughed aloud,
and, thus absorbed, he forgot to let his
charge off at Eighth street, At Bleeck-
err street station he carried the EN-
peTor from the cars, and, as the train
moved away quickly, he shouted an exc
plantation and request to the man at
the ticket box; but II was unheard in
the din of wheels and gong.
The emperor looked up and down the
platform, and then slowly followed tine
crowd downstairs. His reign, by the
way, had not been lengthy. 1t scarcely
numbered five years. His was the wis
dom of innocence, but not Of experience.
He reasoned that there were streets
that led to where his father was, and
people to tell him the way, but he did
not know that the silver piece in his
pocket would carry him back to Eighth
street If he mounted the opposite plat
form. So, in the late afternoon, there
fell upon the gloom of Blocker street
ard West Broadway bit of human sum
shine the like Of which is rare IN those
forbidding purlieus.
Although he did not know It, the en-
peror was quite the fairest thing that is
Gods handiwork. Over his white fore
head tumbled some golden cur1s escap-
Ing his three-cornered Napoleon hat.
On the collar Of his pearl-buttoned mil
ftary cape coat other golden curls riot
I'd. Past the sweep Of their lashes his
big blue eyes looked fearlessHy and
trustingly, and, below, his lips curved
in sweet perfection. His gloved right
hand held tiny silver-mounted cane
with which he tapped his plump leather
covered legs as they tramped forward
sturdi1y. The military cape coat fell
back from his soft white throat and
dimpIed chin, and on the lapel Of the
coat was jeweled band of gold which
held his mothers picture. There was
nothing timid in the poise of his grace
full figure as he went down the street
where shadows were lengthenlng. The
true heart knew no fear because it knew
no evil, and 1t did not occur to him that
he was an object Of unusual interest.
A Chinamau turned his optum-glazed
eyes curiously upon the erect little per-
soAage. A coal HEAVIER stopped shovel
ing TO clear the sidewalk for the en-
peror, rubbed his black fingers across
his forehead, and muttered admiringly:
well, I'm be blowed!" Two very dirty,
youthful denizeus of the gutter ceased
profane hostillties and gazed in silent
wonder. At IN 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