The Lambertville record., 1908-03-18
Gilson's
Little Girl.
BY LULU JOHNSON.
BY LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrightcd, 1908, by L. c. PARCELS.


"My little girl" Gibson called her to |
himself, and of all In the human tide |
that twice day swept through the |
gates of that section of the concourse |
devoted TO the suburban traffic the |
sateman liked best the little blue eyed |
girl. She reminded him 50 strongly
of that other little blue eyed girl who
In Il happier day had greeted his com
ings and goinGs and had called him
father"
That was before the tunnel wreck
three years back, when they had car
ried her and her mother home-two
Victims of the worst disaster the road
had ever known.
The claim agent had learned that
ellison was without work and had set
tied the damage claimed by providing
him with u life position as gateman
on the big station. Ever since then
Thomas ellison had watched the tide
Of humanity ebb aud flow through the
iron gates aud had found solitude In
the crowd
UntIl the blue eyed girl had come.
not quite three months before, he had
watched indiiIerently the hurrying
throng The busy clicking of his
punch kept time to the duh monotone
Of the announccr's megaphouic voice.
Then one night he glanced up into
The face of girl so like his own dead
daughter that his punch dropped from
his nervelcss hands, and he held them
forth yearnngly II unconsciously.
The ring of the metal ON the con
crete pavement reused him His hands
dropped TO his side, and he took up his
dull routine of inspecting tickets, but
the grimy train shed. with its smoke
stained walls and its wastes of cinder
bed tracks. held Il new interest for
him
The monthly ticket which she pre-
scented was brand new and proclaimed
her recruit to the army of workers
who daily took their places In the
eity's commercial field, and he knew
that each night he should see her come
hurrying down the concourse toward
the gate.
Later, when she learned that the reg
ular commuters never displayed their
tickets, she would perhaps give him
the little nod and smile Of friendly
recognition that the more experienced
always vouchsafed the guardian OF the
remarkable. lie knew all of the com
muters by sight and had n nod for
each
1t was not long before ellison got
her trains" She came In on the 1927,
and every night she hurried to catch
the G:i5. Sometimes she was late and
missed that train, having to wait for
the SO and thereby missing also her
dinner
She never went out for dinner when
she missed the earlier train, but sat IN
the great marble waiting room. Gil
son. quick 10 deducc. knew that the
money she earned was so sorcly need
ed Mt home that she could not spare
the sum that would buy an extra meal
In town.
The old gateman did not go on duty
until 9 o'clock In the morning, but he
was always there now mt S:21, stand
ing BY the exit gate when the subur
ban trains came rolling In, and that
was how he came to know that Met
calf was becoming interested in her
Usually they came together down
the platform, and only glance at tho
girls face wns needed TO tell that she
liked Metcalf. Later on Metcalf took
TO going out on the 6:a5 insteDd on the
CAB, which was IN express and stop
ped only mt the more important sta
tlons. No matchmaking mother ever
daughter with greater solicitude than
did Gibson watch the growth of love
between Metcalf and Miss Traynor.
lie had known Metcalf (lie had learn
ed the names on the Communication tick
ctsl ever since he had come 10 the sta
tIon MeteaIf seemed Il nice, steady
going young fellow, for he seldom wait
ed over until the theater train, and
each morning his eye was clear and his
hand steady. His appearance betoken-
ed his prosperity, and ellison rejoiced
that his little girl was making so good
match
Then came the day when the little
girl came down the platform by her
self, her head held high and her cheeks
flaming Metcalf fingered in the rear,
and he, too, was flushed and angry.
Gison's heart was troubled, though he
tried TO tell himself that all would be
made smooth that night
But II was not made smooth. Met
calf did not appear until just in time
for the 7:03. and there were traces of
tears on the little girls face as she
passed through the gate to take the
GI5.
once during the week they both
came in by the same train, but Metcaf
was In the smoker and the little girl
was in the last car.
She tried very hard to look as though
she did not care. but Gllson's sharp
eyes could see the change, and he wor-
rlcd SO that be let fussy old lady
take the next accommodation in the be-
lief that 1t was the through express,
Multn Iufl MuS uuiN W hetu
quarters and resulted in Gison's being
forced to cconomiZe for Il week to coy
or his fine
Then came the night when the little
girl, hurrying to catch her train, found
the gate shut Just as she approached.
you are mean she cried, with Il
stamp OF her tiny foot. Il could have
made II easy"
"Ordcrs to close the gate on signal
reminded ellison stolidly.
.'But the train had not started to
move" she stormed. pointing to the
tracks.
I'm sorry"-Gilson's voice was fun
Of apparent concern-"or orders are to
close the gate on signal
1--WE gone through lots of times"
Size reminded him. They don't start
until the passengers are all on. OFTEN
I've Just made it You used TO be
oblging. Now ! shall have to walt for
the 7.5S; more than an hour. ! shall
ranort Won IN the ofticen