Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-09-03

have starved. can i'll afford this tup'
pence, but can't walk any further"
"Well. lcok out now," he said cheeri
ly. Here's our bus"
| As the vehicle drew up he caught the
brass rail with his left hand and ward,
ed OFF assailants with the bundle under
his right arm.
"Quick," he said to the woman as
soon as the people inside had descend,
ed Jump in"
She essayed to do so, but was rudely
thrust aside by a young man who had
paused ON the roof to light cigarette.
| Philip ;prang onto the step and butted
| the young gentleman In the stomach
with his parcel, causing the other to
sit down heavily on the stairs. The
boy caught the woman's arm with his
disengaged hand and pulled her up.
He dived in after her.
"You young roared the discounted
| smoker.
"Ere! Come orf of It," said the con-
ductor. "Why didn't ye git dahn be-
fore? Dye want n lift?"
Others hustled the protesting one
| out Of the way.
"ConfOund the East End, say!" he
growled as lie crossed to the Mansion
House. what the deuce Lady Louise
Morland wants to keep on sending me
to that wretched news for can't
imagine. Anyway can tell her this
time that the place is empty and will
be pulled down next week"
And thus 1t was that Philip collided
with Messrs. Sharpe & Smiths clerk.
detailed by the anxious Lady Morland
to discover his whereabouts. They
met and bumped into each other In the
whirlpool of London Just as two ships
might crash together by night In mid
Atlantic and draw apart with rutfied
feelings, or scraped paint, which IS the
same thing. without the slightest
knowledge Of each others identity.
Within the omnibus the woman was
qolubly grateful. She had kindly
neart ana timidly essayed questions as
to Philips relatives, hopi:i.; that she
might make their acquaintance.
I'll be bound, now," she said, that
y>u have u good mother. You can al
ways tell what the parents are like
when you see the children"
MY mother was indeed dear to ME"
he replied sadly, again driven out OF
himself by the mourafu! recolect.onS
thus suddenly induced, "but she Is
dead, lost to me forever"
Some people in the bus ceased talk
ing. They were attracted by the
strong, clear voice OF this unkempt
boy, whose diction and choice OF words
were so outrageously opposed to his
garments. Luckily the silence warned
him or his new friends sy.Ipa.ly
might have brought about Ill embar.
rassing position.
"Poor thing! And is your father
dead too?'
"Yes. He died long ago"
"Where do you live now|
ooh" he said, 81 have been staying
In north London, but will leave there
soon, aud | have not settled anything
definitely at present. Where is the
laundry you spoke of? will call some
day if l may and learn how you are
getting on"
Il will be so pleased. 1t is q little
place in James street, the only one
there. Ask for Mrs. Wrigley."
1T Is lucky you understand laundry
work or things might so hard with
you"
She laughed pltifully.
81 don't They asked me If was a
washer or an ironer. thought wash
Ing required least experience, so | said
was q washer. am quick to learn
and will watch the ether women. II
they find me out, l TGy be discharged
"Oh. cheer up" he said pleasantly.
81 don't suppose you'll find 1t very
hard"
Her voice sank almost to a whisper.
at Is not the work ! dread, but the
surroundings. was schoolteacher
before my marriage. My husband was
an electrical engineer. We put all our
savings into little business, and then
the end came"
"Not quite the end am only boy.
but I've had ups and downs enough to
know that the beginning of next week
may be very different affair to the
end of this. Goodby."
They were passing the London hos
pital. and he thought it prudent to
alight Mt some distance from Johnson''
News.
"well, God bless you, anyhow" she
said earnestly.
"Es got is 'ead screwed on tight,
that lad" commented man sitting
next to her.
"Better than that, he has a GOOD
heart" said Mrs Wrigley. Most fortu-
nate Mrs. Wrigley-tO have encounter
ed Philip In that hour, which she DEEM
ed the blackest In her life.
He FASTENED through the familiar
hustle of the busy thoroughfare with
heightened expectancy, it is true. but
, devoid of the least fear that his meteor
had been discovered. His mother
would take good care Of 1t. Why, the
mere chance remark of the woman he
had befrien1ed showed that her gentle
spirit watched over him wherever he
went. Here was stranger, sad toll
er among the millions. who went out of
her way to praise the goodness of one
she had never seen. He laughed JOY
ously. Mrs. Wrlgley should have fur
ther cause to bless his mothers mem
ory.
He passed O'Brien's shop. He saw
the old man seated behind the counter.
Should he go In? No. Better keep
1 wholly to himself at present. Yet he hes
itated. Which was the more judicious
course, to remain hidden, unknown. OF
or to drop quietly into the groove where
he was recognized? With rare perspi-
caclty for one so young. he ref a,cted
that only five days had elapsed since
ScrofuIa
Few are entirely free from it.
It may develop 80 slowly as to cause