aby in her arms; back of her was a plain little woman of middle age dressed in a gingham suit and rough straw hat; while before her sat two young women, perhaps a year or

Landis evidently had confidence enough for two. She frequently turned to look around, gazing into the

in evidence. She was a girl of large physique, with broad shoulders, which she carried ri

looked up to Landis and depended upon her in every emergency. A reade

and people of importance along the route. As the train sto

? I should simply die if I w

way, Landis, or do something desperate

is just their summer home. I'd like to take you down there sometime. I feel like taking the liberty for

een there to vis

ubt that Mrs. Gleason will ask me there for my first season. She's not a society woman. She hasn't much abili

ust in time to see the plainly-dressed woman suppress a laugh. As Elizabeth glanced at her,

s, patting it on the back, and trying all manner of devices to keep it quiet. A little boy several years old was o

ttempt to concea

men with babies stay at home? It wouldn't matter so much if there was a decent train on this road, but one can't get a Pullman f

tery in sympathizing that one of her station s

woman back of her. Elizabeth could form no opinion about the girls in the seat ahead. S

and were moving close to its base through a country barren of vegetation and population. Th

ee what the trouble was. An half-hour passed. The restlessness expressed itself in words. Some complained loudly; some grumbled, others wal

boy cried aloud. The tired mother worried ov

ey would be delayed yet longer. The air-brake had failed them, and they must wait until the wreck-train

is looked infinitely bored. She turned to her companion with deprecatory remarks

lers who had a day's journey before them had f

child clamored loudly for something

your baby with me?" She held out her arms, but the child c

e bright color attracted the child at once. Elizabeth took her in her arms and began walking up and down. The

or something to eat. The mother endeavor

ing for him?"

experience with the world had made her feel that every one was but awaiting an excuse

, and we'd been there now if the train hadn't stopped. I was up to Leidy a-buryin' my mother,"

head to look at Elizabeth and her friend. Judging from her expression, she had no sympathy with

with drawnwork borders. The drinking-cup was silver. The lunch was in harmony with its service. There were quantities of dainty sandwiches, olives and pickles, fruit

between Elizabeth and the woman with the babies. Arising with her lunch in her hand, a

little bit of grass out here, not far from the car. There is shade, too. Don't you think it wou

m to be now. Before she had ceased speaking she had the boy in her arms, and

man, with the boy in her arms, hurried to this. Spreading out her traveling cape, she put him down upon it, and immediately taking a sandwic

o keep it from slipping from her arms, or jumping out over them. The uncertainty of what its next move would be caused her to clutch it so tightly that her muscles and nerv

" she explained. "That's

range?" asked Elizabeth, p

ow but what

s closed about it, and carried it to her mouth. It was only a few moments until the

the woman of the child's mother, as

here. We hain't been there long. I

our husban

l there. That's why we moved. He used to work up at

brickyard

m, he's a miner, but he's

is a rough place. I have never known a town so reeking with liquor. There's

t and keep sober, there's them what would come right in his house and ask him to drink. A man may be meanin' well, and tryin' to do what's right, but when the drink's in his blood, and there's them what's coaxin' him to it, it hain't muc

Gleason tried to keep th

t. It's his wife that does all the bothering. She's the one that tends to that. H

do deceive

stranger couldn't go in there and buy a glass of anything;

keeps a s

ts it every week, and the

aid the lady. "And w

the wholesale house, sells to him. Big Bill drive

, you say?" as

es

n her companions. This Dennis O'Day was the man who was doing all in his power to demoralize Bitumen. She was interested

d him overstepping the letter of the law. I can promise you, Mrs. Koons, that he or his friend, Bill Kyler, will not be l

discarded railroad ties served as a table. Over these, she had spread napkins. T

myself, I hadn't no time to eat much. I was just settin' down when pap drove round and told me I should hurry up or we'd miss the train, and I couldn't miss it, for Sam was expectin' me to-day.

. "There's only one train a day from Gleasonton to Italee and i

n't more than five miles, and mebbe I'd meet someone going up. The trucks come down pretty often. I've got to get there even if I have to walk." Back of her years of repression, he

on, and I'll get someone to drive you over. The

sure, for walkin' with two babies in your arms ain'

summer I have been out on the

big porches, and swings, and loads of flowers and all that, but th

ren along, and I'm too busy

when you picked up little Alec here. You had a knack with him that don't come to a woman unless sh

have. There are so many that, at times, I almost forget their names. None of them are grown up; for when they are, I lose them. They go off into the world-some do well and some d

th had been accustomed to hear Miss Hale speak thus of her mission boys and g

d not know what to do, but she had never heard of one who had so many that she did not know how

-no common stock-and chickens that they raise for layin', and some for hatchin', and some that's for eatin'. But the Senator don't never stay up there much. He farms j

again the merry twin

'd think it lots of fun to stay on one for awhile. I'm sure I thoroughly enjoy

no work to do. Gettin' up

y moment. I wash and dress and feed a doz

" she said sympathetically. "Life's pretty hard for a wo

hand of their unknown companion bore a heavy gold band, undoubtedly a wedding-ring, guarded by a diamond noticeable for its size and brilliance. Her hands, t

away the remains of the lunch, the con

I took particular notice of you, for there one

the times when an American-born woman

foreigners ther

ou find

home." Her companion looked at her keenly. "Expectant schoolgirl" was written from the top of Elizabeth's fair

oing to sc

Elizabeth wondered in h

tudent there over thirty years ago. I liked it, I'm sure. And every girl student I'

ny of the stude

quite well. Of course, the Senior class will not return,

anions," said Elizabeth. "I e

her head decidedly in neg

s there, but we have, too, some that are petty and selfish. Exeter Hall has sent forth some of the noblest

'd be able to keep

school, develop into strong characters, and leave there to do good work. But there are always a few who fritter their time, and leave the same as

as the reply. "I never went

ter Exeter? The requirements are cons

ght me. Miss Hale said I was ready for the Middl

take Julia Hale's word for anyt

ow her,

more fortunate than the most of girls. I really met her and knew her well. Your father

s superintendent of

I have never met him. He

y chamber supported by new props, and an exhaust engine w

at the babies! Both asleep. Perhaps I can move them without wakening them." But already Elizabeth had taken up the baby in her arms and was at the step of the car. As she waited for a trainman to help her on

ing of the supply when I spoke, but of the possibility of not being able to get it

nger here. The min

was the Kettle Creek Mining Company, I'd keep that ma

ning business. He'll

ly. Someone has been dogging his steps, and his business is falling off. You k

ins his work. Hobart's a fine fellow, but is not

care of himself. H

easy. She had unbounded faith in her father, and felt that he would be able to protect and take care of himself under all ci

This Landis gathered together in a heap in her napkin. She arose and leaned toward the window. As she did so, the lady with whom Eliz

that good lunch away. There's a woman, a foreigner, with her

to provide it for her," cried Landi

r. "There are so many little mouths to be fed that I dislike to see

yone's affair what I do with

all affronted by the la

doing what is not right to remind her, in a spirit of love and tenderness, of her error. I am sorry if

such expressions as "that class of people," "counting e

d and smile to Elizabeth, they quitted the car. From the window she saw them try to make their way through the crowd of loafers which had gathered about the platform. Suddenly a young colored boy in sn

owling down the country road in a wide-open b

athered up her wraps and magazines. She knew that she might exp

their belongings. As the train drew into t

her, as a young colored boy with an expa

how's th

n just a little more expan

firmative, she handed him her checks and the baggage which she carried in her arms. The girls whom the boy had addressed as Miss Kean