Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-12-29


shining thread.
"They gave them to me when | left
the-the place where l learned my
trade" he said i'll a low voice. Il
don't suppose | shall ever use them.
My folks will not LET me do that. But
| shall always keep them near me.
Some time | may need advice, and this
little package will be able to tell me
great many things-a great many sad
things which you will never under
stand. little one" he added gently.
Mildred gazed at him wonderingly,
but as She saw the skilled fingers draw
the leather over the ball and fasten it
securely in place her look of w"nGer
changed to one of pleasure.
I'm ever so much Obliged she said
gratefully. sd hate awfully to lose
the ball. Grandpa gave it to me- She
watched him a few moments in ST.
| lence, then added with a sudden burst
of confidence. "Grandpa lives at our
house. and we're going home soon S
| it gets warm"
The young man sewed on for a few
moments in silence. At last the ball
was finished. and he carefully replaced
the needle in his pocket.
I'm going home, too.' be said grave
| " as he handed her the ball. Pm
waiting for the train now"
"And have you got a mamma? she
| asked. With sudden interest.
Yes. and she has been waiting for
me a long. long time. Poor little
mother" the last too low for her to
hear. AS the little girl was moving
| away he called her with a sudden ges-
| ture.
81 wish you would take this" he
said earnestly as he gave her tiny
box of exquisite workmanship. Il
| made it from a piece of ivory which
was found on battlefield and in
tended to give it to my sister. You
make me think of her."
"But won't she want it?' Mildred
objected.
"She, is dead" was the grave an
/ swer
The little girls face grew sympa-
| thetic.
I'm sorry she said gently, land
! I'd like to have the box ever so much.
! But | must ask mamma
| Mildred ran off to her mother. The
| young man occasionally looked that
| way and saw that the child was tell
| ing her mother about him. He knew
/ that the mother was regarding him
! with suspicion. For some time a dia-
/ logue that he could not hear was going
on between mother and child. Mildred
was evidently arguing for her new
/ friend, and her mother was quietly OPP
/ posing her. But the mother stood
| firm, and at last the child returned
with disappointed air.
Mamma says l mustn't take gifts
| from strangers" she said regretfully,
"but I'm ever so much obliged. just
/ the same"
The sun spots moved slowly across
the grass and disappeared one by one
in the thicker shadows of the trees.
The young man watched them listless-
ly. At length clock began to strike
in the distance. and he counted the
strokes carefully. When it ceased he
once more got up and began to walk
back and forth. But now his head
was erect and his left foot had lost
it's dragging motion and on his face
was a tender. eXpectant smile.
Mildred had grown tired Of her ball
and was watching the water as it fell
splashing into the broad basin of the
fountain. AS the young man approach
ed she looked up timidly.
'Are you going now?" she asked.
"Not for another half hour" he re-
piled. 81 would rather wait here than
down at the depot" For some mo-
ments he stood gazing at her. Evil
IDENTIFY her face brought up some mem
DRY of the past, for he sighed as he
turned away.
A little later Mrs. Bradford was
aroused by excited voices. Several
figures rushed past her. For mo-
ment she gazed around wonderingly
then she rose and followed. Near the
! fountain was a group of excited peo-
pie. In the open space beyond she
recognized Mildred playing with her
ball. What was the matter?
But even as she wondered came the
wild rush of a pair of frightened
horses into the open space. What fol-
lowed happened SO quickly that she
could not realize it until it was over.
Mildred was placed, sobbing. in her
arms. and a hushed group closed about
the silent figure on the ground.
ut was the bravest thing l ever
saw" said one man in a low voice.
"But a sad thing for the poor chap
and his people. if he had any," said
another compassionately.
"What was it? What struck him?'
asked one who came up and joined the
/ crowd.
1.-THE child was playing near the
fountain. A runaway team came down
the road. making for the place where
the child was. all unconscious of the