The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-01-21

securely in place her look Of wonder
changed 10 one Of pleasure.
I'm ever so much Obliged she said
gratefully. I'D hate awfully 10 lose
the ball. Grandpa gave II 10 me- She
watched him a few moments In ST.
lence. then added with sudden burst
Of confidence. Grandpa lives at our
house. ana we're going home soon s
/ il gets warm
/ The young man sewed on for few
1 moments in silence. Al last the ball
was finished. and he carefully replaced
| the needle in his pocket.
I'm going home. too" be said grave
/ Is as be handed her the ball Pm
4 waiting for the train now"
And have you got mammal" she
asked. With sudden interest.
Yes. and she has been waiting for
me long. long time. Poor little
moiber~ the last TOO low for her 10
hear. As the little girl was moving
away he called her with sudden ges-
Ture
~ l~h W. "NAaN AAAN NI4N. AS
said earnestly as he gave her tiny
box OF exquisite workmanship y
made il from a piece OF ivory which
was found OH a battlefield aud in
tended 10 give it 10 my sister. iou
make me think Of her"
But won't she want liz" Mildred
objected
''She is dead" was the grave an
swer
The little girls face grew sympa-
rhetic.
I'm sorry" she said gently. and
I'd like 70 have the box ever so uucn.
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 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 op-
posing her. But the mother stood
firm, and Al last the child returned
with a disappointed air.
Mamma says | mustn't take gifts
from strangers" she said regretfully.
but I'm ever so much obliged, Just
the sa me"
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 listIess-
ly Az length a clock began to strike
IN the distance. and be counted the
strokes carefully. When il ceased he
once more got up and began 10 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 tender. exppciant smile.
Mildred had grown tired of her ball
and was waicniu- the water ~ il fell
spIaShinc into the broad basin OF the
fountain ~ rh- Young man approach
cd she luts-G up ttmidly.
Are yuu going how she asked.
Not fur auolber half hour" be re-
piled. # would rather wait here than
down 20; Ga, depot" For some mo-
meuis D" ,teod -az'ug at her Evil
DENLY ler iace brought up some mem
ory If the lmSt. for he sighed as be
turned await.
\ .ittIe later Mrs Bradford was
aroused by excited voices. Several
figures rushed past her For a mo-
meut she 2azed around wonderingly;
then she ro-e aud followed. Near the
fountain wits group Of excited pao-
pie. In ,hr open space beyond she
recognized Mildred playing with her
ball. What WIS he matter?
Put even as she wondered came the
wild rush Of Il pair Of frightened
horses into the ureu space. What fol-
lowed bappeurd 50 quickly that she
could not realize it until il was over.
Mildred was placed. sObbing. in her
arms. and Il hnSned group closed about
the silent figure CD he ground.
1t was the brayest thing | ever
saw." SAID one man IN low voice
Put a sad thing for the poor chap
and bis people. 10 Do bad any" said
another coupassiouateiy
What was 1t: What struck him:"
asked one who came up and joined the
crowd
The child was playing near the
fountain. \ runaway team came down
the road. making for the place where
the child was. All unconscious Of the
danger. He. pointing 10 the figure
Oh the ground jumped in. threw her
from under. and the whole thing pass
81 over him
We'll. be went TO his last home do
ing heroic act" -aid another. He
gave bis life for a little child"
Two guards from the penitentiary
came across the plaza and joined the
group. moment later one Of them
gave few quick directions 10 a hack
man who was standing near.
1T is No 3O6 Mrs. Bradford heard
him say. Poor fellow. And be has
only been out few hours. / must
telegraph ~ his folks"
Mrs. Bradford waited until she saw
them place the motionless figure In the
hack. then walked slowly back 10 the