Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-01-11
LOST.
BY FRANCIS KNOWLES.
THROUGH the car window the I'M

o.
tally upon the row of interested faces
across the car. The emperor's smile
was all-compelliDg, and was reflected
from wherever it fell. The guard. who
came in closing the door with a bang,
meeting it grinned in friendly reply,
and forgot to hurl at the passengers an
uninteiligible announcement of the
next stop. 1t is a short run between
stations from Fourteenth street to
Eighth, and on the Eighth street plat
form the emperor's father was wait
ing for him. The elevated railroad
guard who can at once smile delighted
ly and do his whole duty besides is moi
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 Cmperor's merry
glances were irresistible. Answering
them he winked. he even laughed aloud,
and, thus absorbed, be- forgot TO let his
charge off at Eighth street, At Bleeck-
er street station he carried the en-
peror from the ears, and, as the train
moved away quickly, he shouted an eX-
PLANTATION and a request to the man at
the ticket box; but it was unheard in
the din of wheels and gong.
The emperor looked up and down the
platform, and then slowly followed the
crowd downstairs. His reign, by the
way. had not been lengthy. II scarcely
numbered five years. His was the wis
dom of innocence, but not of experience.
lie reasoned that tere were streets
that led to where his father was, and
people to tel 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 pat
form. So. in the late afternoon. there
fell! upon the gloom Of Bleecker street
and West Broadway a hit Of human sun
shine the like Of which is rare in those
%forbidding purlieus.
Although he did not know il. the en-
peror was quite the fairest thing that is
Gods handiwork. Over his white fore
head tumbled some golden curls escap-
ing his thrce-cornered Napoleon hat.
On the collar Of his pearl-bu'roned mil
itary cape coat other golden cur.s rioi-
ed. Past the sweep Of their lashes h..
big blue eyes looked ~fcarlpsSiy and
trustlngly, and. below, his lips curve.
in sweet perfection. His giovcd righ'
hand he'd a tiny Silvcr-muuutpd cane
with which he tapped his plump leather
covered legs as rhey tramped forward
sturdi'y. The military cape coat fell
back from his soft white throat and
dimpied chin, and on the lape! of the
coat was a ieweled band Of gold which
held his mothers picture. There was
nothing timid in the poise of his grace
full figure as h. went down the street
where shadows were lengthening. The
true heart knew no fear because it knew
no evil, and il did not occur to him than
he was an object of unusual interest.
\ Chinaman turned his opium-glazed
eyes c~uriously upon the erect little per-
sonage. \ coai HEAVIER stopped shovel
ing to clear the sidewalk for the EN-
peror, rubbed his black fingers across
his forehead, and muttered admiringiy:
well, ! III w h4DNtu. lND very ulTlN.
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 rne negative grunt Will
which Italian street merchants usually
answer such questions.
The Emperor grew Il trifle disturbed
These people were different from wha'
by experience he knew people to be
and darkness was getting to him fastel
than he 10 his father. There are puz
zling twists and curves in the street,
that neighbor Washington square, an,
the alleys and courts end blindly, In
them he heard unpleasant voices AM
words better unspoken, and saw blow
given to which drink lent force. Some
times ut dark cruel and evil things hap
pen there. But history does not sa.
that the Emperor's courage failed. Flo
just when il might have begun 4
NNdhNu lut ltdHA blAs ~ Nbhidh = BlbN'
out of the shadow into the flare of cleo
trio light shining from a saloon, an
asked him if he knew where he was.
Now, the emperor was first OF all
gentleman. As he grayely lifted his ha
and made courteous inclination of hi
golden head, he forgot his w troubles
Here was a lady seeking informatio
about the way she had missed. His blu
eyes, full of sympathy, looked up at he
painted face, and his clear voice RI
peated that he was not sure where h
was, but he was on his way to his fathe
and was bound to find him. Then, i
tones of genuine regret, he said: "Bu
| is very afraid you is lost too. Is yo
lost?" Sti1ed memory is apt TO wax
at the call of "a childish voice. Her
woke, and travelled swiftly through tn
years to where pure memories ended
"Yes, dear little one" she sobbed, A"
am lost" The emperor's firm little han
clasped hers. Don't cry. Emperor wi
take us both home.'' And so these TIVE
humanity far apart, brought near by
touch of the Divine, went from tn
gloomy alleyway to the lighte
t~horoughfare together.
Suddenly, not 80 PAGES away, az
peared a tall man, his lips pale an
tightly shut, his eyes strained in cage
quest of something he could not Sc,
His rapid stride had left behind anothe
man, who glanced keenly right and lef'
and let no person pass unnoticed. ii