The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1905-01-06

equipped 10 COMBAT, ncr loss OF the
little remnant of property left, her
death and then the tragic fight of the
two children for bare subsistence. The
girl, helpless cripple, could only ad-
wise and encourage; the boy, not yet
ten but brave and determined, had
been the only provider. 1t had been
a life of privation and want, a life
in high garrets or loathsome cellars,
the boy always on the alert for q
nickel or dime, by selling papers,
blacking boots, running errands or do
ing the other things within the scope
of his years; the girl saving, planning,
pinching to make the paltry nickelS
pay for the coarse food, poor lodging
and the rags they wore. Sometimes
do, and then they were opulent for a
few days, but these times were few
and far between, for opportunities to
secure such work were scarce and
even then they taxed the girls strength
sorely. And she grew daily paler and
weaker and more listless and a great
fear possessed the boy.
Then came the relics of the good
saint and the marvellous tales of the
efficacy of touching them. To the boy
came a great inspiration; Grace should
touch these relics and be well, and
then all life would be joy-not that
he would have to work less, but the
haunting fear would be over and may
be some prince good enough for her
would see her and marry her, and then
perhaps the prince would set him up
in business on a corner with real
stand to sell papers and their fortune
would be everlastingly made. And so
they had scrimped and saved more
than ever, to provide proper offering
to the good saint. And Archie had
walked the ten miles out, while Grace
rode, because it cost ten cents.
The story, told with boyish ardor
not wholly subdued by the violent eff
forts of the girl, Bentley found it nee
essary to flick a cinder or two from
his eyes with his handkerchief, and he
found also that his voice was husky.
In fact. he had not been so stirred by
the greatest plays by the finest actors
for many years.
"And you are going to walk back to
town this afternoon?" he asked the
boy.
"Oh, yes, SIR replied Archie; but
l don't mind. l will whistle all the
way because Grace is going to be
we'll"
Bentley smiled. a more human and
ingenious smile than had visited his
face for, years"
Nov, look here" he said. Il don't
want to butt in. but l am out here all
alone and my carriage is built for four.
Suppose we all go in together, and I'll
feel that I've some part in the pleasure
of the miracle"
"Bully!" shouted the boy, but Bent
ley was quick to see the flush on the
girls face.
"Really," he FASTENED to add, 81
would esteem it a great favor. The
story has interested poor, fOrlorn old
bachelor, who hasn't been interested
for years-and he wants to pay for the
emotion.''
And SO they rode in together and
mitted to ride with the driver and then
most glorious of all-was given the
reins for whole mile, while the driver
looked ON with apprehension and dis
approval.
On the ride Bentley learned some Of
the details Of the girls misfortune,
and thought long and deeply on the
h Sc, al Of ho o1, hot
night
why not?" he demanded vehement
ly, bringing his fist down on the table
with a bang that brought three
walters to him on the run. "It will
be a new sense ton and Heaven knows
! have done little enough for my
Kind"
And SO it happened on the following
day that great surgeon climbed the
stairs to the attic occupied by the two
orphans and told the girl that he had
heard accidentally of her case and he
understood that it was a very excep
tional case and begged for the oppor-
tunity to make an examination. And
after the examination he told her it
was an exceptional case and that an
operation might prove effective and
there was a fund provided in the great
hospital, with which he was connected,
for experiments with unusual cases,
and if she would consent it would all
cost her nothing, and the chances were
she would be well woman after it
was over.
She could not decide until Archie
came home, because what would be-
come of him during all these weeks,
but when Archie burst in with the
news that a nnMsnanar had given him