Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-04-29

MtluIcu kuEtu hAhA "NhuNaAbsJf
but as she saw the skilled fingers draw
the leather over the ball and fasten It
securely In place her look OF wonder
changed to one OF pleasure,
I'm ever 80 much obliged" she said
gratefully I'D hate awfully to lose
the ball. Grandpa gave It to me- She
watched him few moments In 81
lence. then added with sudden burst
of confidence, "Grnndpa lives ut our
house, and we're going home soon 8
II gets warm."
The young man sewed on for few
moments In silence. At last the ball
was finished. and he carefully replaced
the needle In his pocket.
I'm going home. too" he said grave
ly as he handed her the ball I'm
waiting for the train now"
And have you got mammar" she
asked, with sudden interest.
"Yes. and she has been waiting for
me long, long time. Poor little
motherw the last too low for her to
hear AS the little girl was moving
away he called her with a sudden ges-
ture.
II wish you would take this" he
said earnestly as he gave her tiny
box Of exquisite workmanship Il
made 1t from piece of ivory which
was found on battlefield and In
tended to give 1t to my sister. You
make me think of her."
but won't she want itT Mildred
objected.
"She In dead" was the grave an
swer
The little girls face grew sympa-
thetic.
Pm sorry" she said gently, and
I'd like 20 have the box ever so much.
But | must ask mamma"
Mildred ran of 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 dla-
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 op.
posing her But the mother stood
firm, and at last the child returned
with disappointed air.
Mamma says | 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 llstless.
ly. At length clock began TO strike
In the distance. and he counted the
strokes carefully. When II 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
its dragging motion and on his face
was a tender expectant smile.
Mildred had grown tired OF her ball
and was watching the water az II fell
splashlng into the broad basin Of the
fountain. As the young man approach.
ed she looked up timldly
Are you going now?" she asked.
mot for another half hour" he re-
piled. II would rather walt 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 u mo-
ment she gazed around wonderingly;
then she rose aud followed Neur he
fountain was n group OF excited peo-
pie. In the open space beyond she
recognized Mildred playing with her
ball What was the Inatter7
But even as she wondered came the
wild rush OF pair Of frightened
horses into the open space. What fol-
lowed happened 80 quickly thnt she
could not realize 1t until II was over
Mildred was placed, sobblng. In her
arms, and a husbed group closed about
the silent figure on the ground
ut was the bravest thing / ever
saw" said one man In low voice.
"But sad thing for the poor chap
and his people, II he had any" said
another compassionately.
"What was III What struck hlmY"
asked one who came up and Joined the
crowd.
"The child was playing near the
fountain. A runa way team came down
the road making for the place where
the child was. all unconscious Of the
danger lie" pointing to the figure
on the ground, Jumped 10, threw her
from under. and the whole thing pass
ed over him"
We'll. be went 10 his last home do
ing heroic act" said another. HE
gave bis life for little child"
Two guards from the penltentlary
came across the plaza and Joined the
group. moment later one OF them
gave few quick directions to hack
man who was standing near.
ut is No. 306." Mrs. Bradford heard
him say. Poor fellow! And be has
only been out few hours. / must
telegraph to his folks"
Mrs. Bradford waited until she saw
them place the motlonless figure In the
hack. then walked slowly back to the
settee.
Under the live oak she saw some
thing glisten. Picking II up. she found
II was the little ivory box.
Here. Mildred" she said In low
voice lyon mny keen ~