The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-06-02
S A N S F A MILE
BY ROY NORTON
Copyright By F. L. Nelson


#xlGM round his left arm bear
IKE ing a printed legend which
~ ~ bore evidence of laborious
,.iustaking on the part Of some one
9. entirely acquainted with the Eng
"a tongue. 1t read as follows:
~. Inv are nlne-year old and orphing
~ Ssthaire are Michel Lafayette, VINO
m 10 Hocomb. She's big camp In Sier-
: Madre. These boy have billet in en-
,srlonne 10 90 to see hes fathaire. Be
"a snd shove heem along, Sill yous plat
sss name Is Jean Guillot Lafayette.
and Jean Guillot, a pathetic little
sgvre. worn by long journeying in
teerage, second-class railway coaches
md humping stages, bore ample
marks that the instructions had been
literally followed and that he had IN
dggone much Showing along He
vas the last to alight from the inte-
dor Of the old Concord when, with
drilling brake and loud Gathering
halt It stopped before the Gold Dig
ssrs and he was so stir and sore from
constant jolting that he almost fell
Nlpu Ills WuDuGh bhboN6 Dill uSh LlIC
round. He Strengthened himself up,
ireW his grotesquely big cloak around
him, and peered from beneath his
.hapeau with bright, fearless, inquir-
Iug eyes at the group Of miners who
surrounded him.
he was curiosity to them, in his
Vsssant garb which smacked SO
strongly of the provinces Of far-away
France, and beside, he was the first
boy to invade this camp high up in
he hills where men wrought for gold,
fought for it and then with equal fer
vor gambled or danced it away when
he days work was done.
"A mighty little cuss to come so far
lone" commented the stage agent as
be locked from the letter of instruc-
ton in his hand to the boy. Amt
aone Of US here, reckon, ever done
40 such travelin'."
Might git him to give a lecture"
zone one suggested, and others passed
equally facetious remarks; but
through It all Jean Guillot Lafayette,
still studying the faces around him,
stood mute
The sun had set some time before,
psinting the top of solemn Old Baldy's
Enowcap a warm red and filling the
hummer air Of the dead day with
singular languorous quietude. Thus it
was that when the stage-agent vented
m exclamation on reading the tag on
the travellers arm it was heard by all
He stood away from the lad, showed
he brim Of his hat back with an awk-
ward gesture, and stared in pertur-
baton at the others of the group.
Good Lord" he calculated in dis
ress. Good Lord" while the men
Of the hills looked at him question
hgly.
Boys" he said. this little Teller
vas sent for"
They shifted on their feet, some of
hen taking a step or two forward,
and waited for the agent to continue.
Nike Lafayette was his father"
tney grew suddenly quiet. And
expect the reason the boy came is be-
eaase his folks in France is all dead.
Inc Tag says he's an orphan.
And God knows he's one now. for
sure muttered another.
ANYBODY here who can talk
Fench?"
me silence which followed indicat-
~ mat no one spoke that vastly for
ssn tongue. Spanish would have been
Aelr command, but French--no.
how in the deuce are we to tell
am mat his daddy-you all knew him
vas Killed in cave-in almost a
.seA ago." the stage agent began;
Su1 mat difficulty was unexpectedly
"ereome by the boy himself, who
Eoke Tor the first time.
Eet ees to say. monsieur he said
panstaktng English. Eat I now
ave no fathaire to meet? That he
mort! My fathaire Michel Lafay-
cite is keeled?"
ne had planted himself squarely
80 1ne stage agent, selecting him
He man in authority. His capot
- oeen thrown back with one wide
ss gesture until its two flap
- enos rested across his shoulders.
,oiN ls MS sturdy brown legs and
NJ" nots oreeches of homely drill. |
=. - ups rembled vaguely and his Sc
Of tears, I'll e@'eheu q nooo
,o.,s agent looked at him with a
!, y OF kindly sympathy, and then |
4, ~ =. Others. Jean stared at them
Un,sI 1ef another as II demanding an
H. Huauon' and each in turn dropped |
Rlsery. '' oFa'e picture Oh
pva = Boys hands, after one impul-
-, Mating movement toward his
ss,ss waved an expressive, open.fn-
NJ 49, gesture OF despair, dropped
a.. % Ills sides and then clasped
~ as'Fes together. He was learn
-. !" Know and cross palms with
hsIs h ana with none to help him
l.,.s =. ees' then. that l. Jean Guillot
Aays SeS'e, am sans tamille: that |
sOls.S nos-sing - no one.
,.,r ssre was some bitter. vibrant un.