Washington State journal. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1907-1911, 1907-12-04
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-& THE GIRL WITH 8-
" A MILLION W
BY d. c. Murray --sA>~
: BY ID. G. Murray

fellow sat on the camp stoel behind them
and held animated talk with Nature.
The gray-bearded man wandered
through the wood with his chin sunk upon
his breast and his eyes fixed upon the
ground. He was tall and gaunt and swar-
thy, and looked as IL be had considera-
BILE strain of the Jew in him. His nose
was like an eagles beak and ascetically
fine. His temples were followed like
those Of a death's-head, and his eyes,
which were large and brown and mourn
full to the verge Of pathos. were the eyes
of a born dreamer and 4 fanatic BY ma
ture.
1t was already dusk when the old Nj
hilist turned his footsteps into the wood
and having just remembered that he had
not broken his fast for seven or eight
hours, he had somewhat quickened his
usual thoughtful pace, when the sound
of a sob reached his ear and he stopped
suddenly to lcok about him. Within 4
yard or two sat the lost child on the
camp stool. with his back against a broad
tree trunk. The old man knelt on the
grass and looked at the sleeping boy. His
straw hat had fallen off and lay beside
him, his golden hair was tumbled and
disordered, his long dark lashes were still
wet, and his rosy cheeks were blurred and
soiled with the traces Of his tears.
"Eh! La, Ia, LAP" said the old fellow,
in a plying accent. Lost! Did we
sleep in despair, dear little heart? in
tears? in terror? And God sendeth a
hand. ere yet it 10 night time. To the
child, rescue, and to the old man teach
ing"
Then he took the child softly in his
arms, and gathering up the hat and the
camp stool, entered the wood. As he did
so, faint and distant cry reached his
ears, and he stopped to listen. 1t was re-
peated once or twice, family and more
family, and then died away. He started
anew almost at a run, but he was old,
and the lad was unusually solid and well
grown for his years, 20 that the burden
soon told on him, and brought him to .
walk again. 1t was a full mile. from the
spot to which the child had wandered to
the Cheval Blanc, and when the little
hostel was reached the bearers back and
arms were aching rarely. The landlady
met him in the passage with cry.
"Oh, the little Anglais! You ha%e
found him, monsieur. Jeanne, run to the
woods and tell them that the child il
found"
you know himT asked Dobroski.
"Who is he? Where does he liver
He 10 the child Of the English at
the hotel des Postss," answered the wou-
an. standing on tiptoe to kiss the boy.
HE has been lost this Eve hours" Do
brosd turned into the street. and the
woman followed him talking all the way.
HE is the only child Of his parents, and
their cherished. Imagine, then. the de-
spair Of the mother. the inquetude Of his
father! They are rich. See how tho child
~ dressed. There Is nothing ysu might
not ask for"
The old man smiled at this, but said
nothing. He surrendered his charge At
the hotel, where the boy was received
with such noisy demonstrations Of pleas
ure that he awoke. Being awake, and
recognising his surroundings. be adapted
himself to chem with an immediate phil
osophy, and demanded something to eat.
A second messenger was dispatched to
the wood to bring back the party who had
gone in search Of him.
His mother kissed him frantically and
cried over him, but his father set out
for the Cheval Blame to thank his res
cuer. He found Dobroski seated in a lit.
tie room with q sanded 6oor, and BEGAN
to stammsr his gratitude In broken and
mutilated French.
ut was 4 piece Of good fortune to end
him." said Dobroski, speaking English,
to the others great relief. II am de-
lighted that the pleasure was mine"
II don't know how to thank you,"
said the Englishman, 4 little awkward
~, Juggling purse from his Trousers
pocket. For 4 moment Dobroski fancied
the stranger meant to offer him money,
but he merely produced 4 card, That's
my name" said the Englishman. blum
deringly. "Austin Farley. Upon my
word. really don't know how to thank
you"
my good. good SIR" returned Dobro.
ski. what would you have hadi What
was to do? He was sure to be found,
and 1t was my good fortune to have found
| him."
"You must let his mother come and
thank you. SIR" said the Englshman
Upon my word l really don't know what
to say to tell you how grateful and oblig
ed l am. His mother has been In the
greatest anxiety. You must let her come
and thank you"
"Well, well, Mr.. Farley" the elder ma
answered, himself little Shy at the 9th
er's concealed emotion. IF you will think
so mere an accident worth thanks to any
BODY But pray let us say no more
CHAPTER II.
There was great crowd of people a
the railway station at Namur. and thu
Luxembourg train had no sooner steamed
into the station than 1t was besieged b.
the mob. and all the carriages were taker
by storm. One tourist, who had furnish
ed himself with 4 first class ticket, ant
had shouldered himself through the Grove
to the buffet, was exceedingly wreth OF
his return to find that the carriage b,
had occupied was filled by third-clasI
excursionists. He spoke French with Z
fluency. and an inaccuracy In combination
with it, which fairly took OF his menta
feet the official to whom he appealed, ant
in very passion and torrent of his ora
tory rippled audibly the accent Of Dub
lin. He talked all over, arms AID hands
finger tips, head, shoulders, and body. H.
talked with all his features and with al
his muscles and with all his might, and q
last the official seized his meaning, ant