Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-11-07
The Philanthropy of
AveriU
By BENJAMIN FRANKLIN NAPHEYs

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Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. COP
The train started with a jerk. and
Rudolph Averill heard an infantile cry
Of fear, and felt a pair of tiny arms
bury themselves in his hair He raised
his hand to his head, and clasped an
other, very sort and light, that was
busy disengaging tho entanglsd fin
gers.
"Totty, Totty," sweet voice chided.
you must not do so. Let go and step
down from that suit case, you naughty
child"
The child's fingers untwined them
selves and Averill faced about with
rather forced smile. A young wom-
an, surrounded by children and lug.
gage, bent over a small youngster, evil
IDENTIFY the offender, and tried to
make place for it on the seat by
her side.
Please excuse her." the young wom-
an said, as she hoisted Totty into her
lap. She was about to fall, and
caught at the first thing within reach.
l should not have allowed her to stand
on the luggage"
Averills gaze took in the three chill
dren, Of which Totty, surely not more
than ak. was the eldest, and besides
these. babe wrapped and yelled,
asleep in the corner of the seat. The
young woman herself, sweet of face.
and extraordinarily girlish OF figure.
was crowded into the corner of the
seat.
Averill arose and turned over the
back of his seat and faced her. You
must let me make you comfortable,
madam" he said. Are you going
far?"
mo; only to Kingston"
"Ah; go few miles farther. Now,
put some Of the children over beside
me; you look tired out"
The young woman, in great confu-
sion, seemed about to insist upon keep
Ing her flock beside herself, but Aver
Ill settled the question by lifting the
unresisting Totty, and one other, to
the opposite seat. where they remain
ed with clasped hands, mutely star.
ing at him.
There" said Averill; now, put
the sleeping oherub over here. too.
and you will have room to take a
deep breath"
"Oh. no." she cried hastily, you
might awaken him"
All right" Averill calculated,
then, apologetically, 81 don't know
very much about babies, anyway"
$50 surmised; but 1t doesn't mat
ter now, I am very comfortable, thank
you," and she began to look out of
the window.
For moment Averill WAS tempted
to find another seat. He decided that
she must be young country woman,
returning from visit to the metropo-
lis, and not accustomed to even ordi.
nary courtesies from strangers. Her
race was so girlish, and her evident
anxiety SO distressed him, that his
chivalry was stirred. He longed to
tell her that there was no danger OH
the train; that none of her bundles
had been forgotten in the hurry of
departure, and that her husband as
suredly would be waiting for her at
the station,
AS he continued to study her face
ne seemed to see q look Of amusement
and mischief. which grew more pro-
nounced as two elderly women across
the aisle began to make audible COM
ments Of the group. Averill heard
something about "a large family for
so young a couple" and the young
woman stified a cough, while he felt
his face reddening. One of the
children beside him, growing more ae-
customed to his presence. tentative
ly patted his knee and socially CUR
gled
Don't. Torrance" admonished the
young woman.
Avertll was genuinely sorry for her;
1t was a shame that she was SO dis.
trustful-that she was 30 poor
judge OF human nature as To ha enc