Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-05


NnxaW down to the road to get it.
Practice had made the young man
10 skillful that he was able to locate" what
EVER he flung to the ground, so that his sister
never had any trouble in finding it, without
going near the track, against which she hau
been earnestly warned by her mother.
AS she had done often before, she picked
mp the small package and carried it to her
mother, who read the letter aloud. The bright
eyes took on brighter sparkle, when she
understood that Kriss Kringle had promised
to send splendid doll through her brother
Jarvis. Nothing in the whole wide world
could have given her SO much delight
The subject filed her mind all day, and, by
the time night had come, she had formed the
belief that her big brother would drop her
doll from the engine on his return that night
from Bayington, and to prevent accident, II
was her dnty to be near the road as he
went by.
1t was true that she had never done SO
when it was dark, and her mother might OBJ
iect; but the occasion was so exceptional that
she came to think it her solemn duty to be
On hand She determined, therefore, to steal
out of the house and await Jarvis where he
would see her as he thundered by.
Dollie was so accustomed to signaling her
brother that she had come to know almost
Somewhat earlier than usual, she climbed the
stairs, and her mother heard her moving
around.
at won't do any good to light the Ian
term" thought cute little Brown Jug for
/ won't be. here to swing it, and then JARVIS
will say that / was asleep, and he'll plague
me awful. So 1 won't light the lantern, but
slip out without mamma seeing me-"
That same mamma, being without the
slightest suspicion that her darling held any
such dreadful intentions, was not on the
watch, and Dollie, therefore, soon found a
chance to slip out the back door without be-
ing seen.
1t was quite dark, and for a moment she
was bewildered, but she soon took her bear
ings, and passing around one end of the build
ing walked the short distance to the highway,
which she crossed, and then, with her dumpy
arms and legs, began climbing the fence on
the other side.
Though it was night, she was not in the
least scared. She had never been told any
frightful hobgoblin stories, nor made to be-
leve that terrible "booges" were in every
dark place, ready to pounce upon her the in
slant she came within reach. God is every
where" was the sweet, conhding faith of her
nature, "and He will take care of me-"
While moving with short, quick steps along
the path which her feet had worn to the
railroad she noticed it was showing. She
could not see the eddying flakes, but she felt
the cold particles against her red cheeks, and
she laughed with JOY.
Every one knows that when the air is full |
of snow, children are most frolicsome. 1t !
is explained by the presence, in an unusual
degree, of ozone in the atmosphere.
This element is very stimulating to the |
blood, and when lot of youngsters emerge
into the midst of snow storm, they are GER
tain to begin Immediately to conduct them |
selves like SO many colts turned out to play.
Dollie laughed and ran and looked upward, |
so as to let the fakes strike her blinking
ewes and cool cheeks She opened her mouth, |
she made believe to chew it up, and smacked
her lips as though the SAVIOR was very good. |
Then she broke into run, which lasted till
she reached the second fence close to the rail- |
road embankment. That was quickly climb
ed and. familiar as she was with the neigh |
She stood still and listened.
When she stepped little closer there was
enough light in the atmosphere for her to see
the iron rails, with few of the particles OF
snow clinging to their polished surface. The
outlines Of several OF the ties were also per
ceptible.
Gazing up and down the track, nothing but
the gloom of night met her eyes. When she
peered to the north or south, and indeed to-
ward any point Of the compass, she failed to
detect the first star-like point of light.
Her mother always closed the lower shut
tiers as soon as it was night, SO that the only
illumination which was ever seen after that
time was the signal lantern in the second
story.
Stil Dollie Brinton was without the least
misgiving as she stood beside the railroad in
the gloom of the snowy night. She gazed to