Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-06-06
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But ceased to listen, for in
moving l had happened to glance
at the farther end of the carriage,
and there my attention was arrest
ed by a curious little piece of pam
tomime. The little girl-a dark
eyed, intelligent child, whose pallor
was emphasized by the Grape which
smothered her-was looking very
closely at the old gentleman with
the hump, staring at him hard, in
fact. He, on the other hand, was
leaning forward, with both hands
on the knob of his Malaeca, his
eyes bent on the floor and his mouth
squared to the surliest expression.
He seemed quite unconscious of her
scrutiny and was tapping one foot
impatiently on the floor.
After minute / was surprised
to see her lean forward and touch
him gently on the knee.
He took no notice beyond shut
fling about a little and uttering a
slight growl The woman who held
her put out an arm and drew back
+ the child's hand reprovingly. The
child paid no heed to this, but con-
tinued to stare. Then in another
two minutes she again bent forward
and tapped the old gentleman's
knee. This time she fetched a loud
er growl from him and an irascible
glare. Not in the least daunted,
she took hold of his cane and shook
it to and fro in her small hand.
81 wish to heavens, madam, you
would keep your child to yourseifl"
''For shame, Anniep whispered
the poor woman, cowed by his look.
But again Annie paid no heed.
Indeed she pushed the Malacca to-
ward the old gentleman, saying:
''Please, sir, will zee warm Mr..
Barrabel WI this ?'
/ He moved uneasily and looked
harshly at her without answering.
"For shame, Anniep the woman
murmured a second time. But
saw her lean back, and tear start
ed and rolled down her cheek.
eff you please, sir" repeated An
ME, "will zee warm Mr.. Barrabel VII
this ?" rs
The old gentleman stared at her.
In his eyes you could read the ques-
ton, "What in the DEVILS name does
the child mean?" The robust wo-
man read it there and answered
him huskily: poor mite She's
buried her father this mornin', an
Mr.. Barrable is the coffin maker
an nailed i'm down."
"Now," said Annie, this time ca
gerly, "will zee warm him same as
the big doll did just now ?"
Luckily the old gentleman did
not understand this last allusion.
He had not seen the group around
the Punch and Judy show, nor if he
had is it likely he would have guess
ed the train of thought in the
child's mind. But to me as L look
ed at my fellow passengers nose
and the deformity of his shoulders
and remembered how Punch treats
the undertaken it was plain enough.
, glanced at the child's companions.
There was nothing in their faces to
show that they took the allusion.
I And the next minute was glad to
think that / alone knew what had
prompted Annie's speech.
For as looked, with beautiful
change on his face, the old gentle
man had taken the child on his
knee and was talking to her as I
dare say he had never talked before.
care you her mother ?" he asked,
looking up suddenly and addressing
the woman opposite.
''Her mothers been dead these
two year. I'm her aunt, an I'm
takin' her home to rear long WI
my own childer."
He was bending over Annie and
had resumed his chat. 1t was all
Notwithstanding about the sill
yer knob of his Malacca-but it
took hold of the child's fancy and
comforted her. At the next sta
ton | had to alight, for it was the
end of my journey. But, looking
back into the carriage as I shut the
door, | saw Annie bending forward
over the walking stick and follow
ing the pattern of its silver work
with her small finger. Her face
was turned from the old gentle
mans, and behind her little black
hat his eyes were ghstening.