The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-07-13

marrow platform and small house,
where the station agent. telegraph
operator and baggage master. all In
tone. lid his Offices. Dust and sand
Hay ali around. The long road twisted
its way into town and contrasted IN
xavo-holy with the straight. smooth,
shining, rails that led up and down
from the platform. as true as an ar
vow. until they met in tiny point,
one where the sun rose every morn
sRg. and the other Just where it
tkopDsd Beyond the horizon in ball
Il FIRE each night
Once in a while the telegraph instru-
msnt, half hidden behind the desk
chi strong wire screen. clicked hest
tat;ng,y, end then ran on in chatter
ing sort OF way that was friendly, even
il che did not understand what it
meant.
Seated on the settee near the open
door were two persons. One was
youth Of perhaps IS summers. tall for
his age. and his face. neck and arms
harmed to Indian hue. He was as strong
Us en- OK in build. His head was
crowned with a shock of sandy red
hair. and his clothes were old and
ragged. His face wore a placid ex-
p9ession except when he spoke; then
Iis eyes frightened. and they grew as
keen as a squirrels. He sat watching
ahe ticker behind the wire screen,
chewing a straw, while his companion,
a girl of 16, looked from the open win
dow up the track. expectantly.
SooL there came to their ears the
familiar sound that creeps along the
pals, growing louder and louder until
it beats rhythm. 1t was the signal
cf the approaching train. and both
4rose and went out on the platform.
The Girl was well formed. but poorly
clad; her face told a tale of hardships
ard suffering. yet the features were
good.
Tho engine passed with steam es-
Gaping and brakes grinding, and at
last stopped short Just beyond the
roadway, putting IS though exhausted
with it's long run. 1t was good sized
train, composed of freight and passen-
ger coaches Toward the latter the
.oUth and girl made their way.
DO yer see him." asked the girl,
and the hand that held her brothers
rembled.
mo. don't an won't believe in
i'm till do. either" he replied.
There were but few that alighted
rom the train. One was stranger,
was easy to discern by his eastern
ppearance. Three or four were citi-
Ems returning from trip to the next
own 40 miles up the line. There was
mother, and on one at first seemed to
ctice him. He was not exactly a
tranger, If appearances counted for
nything. His manner was peculiar.
is whole makeup was shifty. His
yes were restless and his gait was
alting. He glanced from left to right.
hitting his gaze quickly from one to
bother, as though trying to fathom
i-st how far he might walk down that
istform without being stopped. It
Us plain to see that he was anxious
% get away from the crowd.
The girl saw him first. and broke
from her companion with glad cry.
She went straight up to the stranger,
end placed her hand gently on his
arm.
is this dad?" she said.
He started like frightened animal.
His grizzled face turned pale for mo-
ment, then he found his voice.
Reckon tbs. Is this sis?"
The voice was not unkindly. and for
answer the girl slipped her hand into
bis. and turned to find her brother.
RE was standing Just behind. silent
and steady. watching the pair.
"Dork," she exclaimed. "this is dad.
Why don't yer shake?"
Dork, or Dorsie. showed a big brown
nav toward his father. 1t went out
frankly, but his keen eye was search
ing the other through and through.
The elder mans eyes took on that pc
culiar look again. and his hand was
offered hesitatingly. This seemed to
nettle Dork. for he blurted out
why don't yer grip It? What yer
'fraid uf?"
The new comer's face flushed scar
let. but he made no reply to the ques-
tion.
The girl led the way to the rear Of
the station, where pony was attached
to q dilapidated wagon. The drive
home was uninteresting. It was pref
~ straight until you came to the
river, then It wound around. and made
for the town in zigzag fashion; be
yond the town were the foot hills Of
the towering range which seemed SO
near. yet were miles and miles away
They stopped before : rude shack
Not many OF the houses in the vicinity
were what one would call comfortable
but this was perhaps the least SO Of
any. The girl sprang lightly to the
ground. Dorsie was already unhitch
Ing the mare. Just as the elder man
was about to alight there came pat
ter Of hcofs. and around the bend II
the road came horseman. He would
have gone by without stopping hat
not the girl, who was truly happy II
the return of her father. called ou
as she pointed to the wagon.
Bill. that's dad. He's les come
Come in an I'll interduce yer"
Bill pulled up short and half bowct
In token Of the invitation: then HI
ierked himself up in the saddle. and |
look came over his countenance tina
wasn't pleasant to witness.
.Oh. it's you. Is it2 So you've com'
back? Well. keen with them children
thet's all, an yer safe" And ava.
be rode as II Satan was after him.
The girl looked surprised and curl
GUS. Dorsie said nothing. but hustle,
the mare into the stable quicker thai
Was necessary.
At supper the new conner was as Il
It ease as ever. He played nervous