Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-07-31
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late linen We're soiled by the black
mud of the pavement. The girl, dainty
and fairy like, little maid of aristo-
cratic type, and Of a beauty that prom
ised much in later years, was distress
ed now and almost fearful.
Through the crowd of frightened
servants. augmented by few daring
pedestrians. u burly policeman, gil
gantic in waterproof overalls, was ad-
vancing with official buster.
What has happened?" he demand
ed. rs anybody hurt?"
The man answered:
"My horses were startled by the
storm. jumped out and was en-
deavoring to eXtricate my niece when
this wretchcd boy got in the way
Uncle" protested the girl, "you
closed the door on me, and the boy
"Shut up" lie growled CURLY. 60
inside the housev'
But his niece shared with him at
least one characteristic. She possessed
the family temper.
Il will not go away and let you say
things which are not true. Listen to
me. Mr.. Policeman. Lord yanstone
did close the door because he thought
the carriage would turn over on top OF
him. For some reason the accident
did not happen Immediately, and the
boy ran round to the other side and
helped me out just in time"
"Confound the brat! think he was
the real cause of the whole affair.
Why was he hiding in my doorway?"
Lord Vanstone was more enraged
than ever by the girls obstinate de-
Tense of her rescuer and her insistence
on his own seeming cowardice.
II was not hiding. only took shell
ter from the storm. tried to help YOU
because the footman was struggling
with the horses. do not claim any
credit for simply opening door and
helping the young lady to alight. but
l lost both my dinner and my papers
in doing so.'
Every one experienced shock of
surprise Mt hearing the boys elegant
diction. The policeman wns puzzled.
He instantly understood the facts, but
dared not browbeat an earl.
you do not bring any charge against
him, my lord?' lie said.
But his lordship deigned no reply.
He told the coachman to arrange for
the removal of the carriage, grasped
his niece by the arm and led her, still
protesting, into the house.
The policeman saw the bundle Of
papers scattered over the roadway and
near them the partly eaten bun. After
n wrench at his garments he produced
a penny.
another bun and be off. It's a good
job for you the young lady spoke up
the way she did"
"She merely told the truth. That
man was liar"
Refusing the profferel penny, the
boy turned on his heel. The policeman
looked after him.
That's queer KID" he thought.
Talked like regular young gent. ID
wonder-whG he is selling papers Poor
lad! He lost bob's worth ut least,
and small thanks he got for it,
AoSSih6 oot Va Viz SluuIe Dy IVHe
first eastward street. Philip Arson,
with his head erect and hands clinched
In his pockets, strobe onward Mt a
rapid pace. The lightning was less
frequent now, and the thunder was
dying away in sullen rumblings. He
was wet and hungry, yet, although he
had three halfpence, the remaining
balance Of the only sales effected that
evening, he passed many shops where
he could have bought food.
In Piccadilly, where the cessation of
the storm created n rush of traffic, lie
was nearly run over by reason of his
own carolessness and received slash
from whip, accompanied by loud
oath from an angry cabman. He shiv-
cred, but never even looked around.
Crossing Trafalgar square, he plunged
through the vortex Of vehicles without
troubling to avoid them in the slight
est degree. Once the hot breath of Il
pair Of van horses touched his check
while speeches. driver pulled them
back onto their launches. Again, the
off wheel of an omnibus actually grazel
his heel rs he sped behind the statue
of Charles l.
At last he reached the comparative
seclusion of the Embankment and
stood for moment to gaze fixedly
at the swirling, glinting river.
Not here" he muttered aloud. 81
must be nearer to mother-dear old
mother! She is there waiting for me-"
He trudged steadily away through
Queen Victoria street. Cori,,il!. Lead.
entail street. and so ON to Johnson;
News, in the Mile End road Pausin%
Mt marine store dealers shop kept
by an army pensioner, an Irishmnu.
with whom he had II slight acquains-
ance, he entered. An elderly man was
laboriously reading paper of the pre-
ceding days date.
Good evening, Mr.. O'Brien," he
said. Can you oblige ne with Il
piece of rope? l want strong piece
about three or four yards in length.
l can only spare three halfpence."
"FaiX, dunno. They use nails on
the crates mostly nowadays. If have
n bit it's at yer salvice. wouldn't be
afther chargin' the likes O. you"
Philips story was known IN that
humble locality, and the old soldier
sympathized with the boy. He has
rale spunk an no mistake" was his
verdict when others said Philip was
proud and overbearing. O'Brien NOV
ed dramatically about the squalid
shop. At last he found some portion
of clothesline.
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