Gilpin observer., 1901-10-24

Miss Green KEEP you dredful late"
sophisticated little thing OF other girls
who had left their homes to meet low
ers who were rich in promises, or OF
women who haunted the city streets
after nightfall-women with bold eyes
that had once been soft and innocent.
mask of paint?
Does your step-pa treat you bad?"
he asked presently.
NO" she acknowledged. "he don't
treat me bad. Sometimes he's right
kind; but he hadn't ought to be boss
in me when he amt my real paw!
I'm tired of never bein' let to do
things like other girls-an' nav TAX
in his side"-
What do you spose your mall do
when she finds you're gomez" Steve
suggested.
The girl sighed.
Il reckon poor maw1l feel right
bad" she confessed. She's always
made much O. me. NAV has. He said
he'd telegraph when we was married,
but thatll be. powerful late, nowi l
reckon maw'll be wore out worryin'!"
and she looked at him with troubled
eyes.
Steve nodded.
IL guess likely she will. miss" he
assented gravely. . ..Mothers.is dread
full hands to worry. specially when
It's night comm on an the winds
blowin'." he added. as gust made the
windows rattle.
My mother WIS that Kind" he went
on presently. AN it riles a.body some
times, worryin' does; but it's mighty
lonesome when there amt anybody to
care how late you come in+an' to
keep the coffee-pot hot. mebbe, along
with the scoldin'. Sometimes a moth
er's jawin'. is mighty .kindmeant."
and the big conductor sighed.
Il amt much on advisin' folks" ht
continued awkwardly, but II seems to
me that chap thatIl cpax girl to
run off an leave her folks afh't actin
ON the square, 'specially-if- he makes
her do the runnin,. alone an risk miss
Gin him in big city. An II a man
amt square, miss. no girl hadn't
oughter trust him-not II he talks as
beautiful as a phonygraph an dresses
as fine as a tailor's dummy" n'~
Another passenger stamped out. and:
the old man near the stove swore at
the draft in a placid West Virginia
draw. Steve went forward to mend
the fire. and while he was gone tho
girl thought of many things. She re-
called stories that had followed Tessie
Bickford from Philadelphia-bits OF
gossip and innuendo, to which she had
leyally shut her ears; and she thought
OF a neighbor's allusion to- her fine
lover as "one of that sBickford girls
shady friends" She wondered II what
she had called love had been. after all,
only fiattered vanity; and when Steve
came back he found her sitting erect.
clutching her bag.
'I'm goin' back tonight II have
to walk" she announced bravely.
Pm just tormented thinkin' about
maw!" and she caught her breath with
sob.
Steve took out his watch.
Its only two miles to Tylersville."
he suggested. practically. ''an' you
could catch the 7:10 on the other road
an be home before 9. guess l could
see you over there without any danger
Of the trains runnin' away while I'm
gone" he added. with cheerful jocu-
larity.
They said very little as they splash
ed through the mud. Once the girl
spoke.
you've been awful good" she said
gratefully. AN" in an awed whisper.
Il reckon the Lord must a-made that
tunnel cave In"
II guess mebbe He did. miss" said
Steve reverently; and then they plod-
ded on through the wind and sleet.
Two hours later a thin, little woman
opened kitchen door and peered anx-
iously out into the darkness. She
listened intently and then gave a sigh
of relief at the sound Of q step on the
walk
Miss Green KEEP you dreadful late,
honey" she said. drawing the girl into
the light and warmth. my. but you're
wet! rye been worryin' some-it's