A HINT OF HIS STORY.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 95, 20 October 1908, Page 6

A HINT OF HIS STORY.

He was a copy-holder in the reading room of a daily paper — a quiet, reserved man, of whom little was known except ' that lie ' was always punctual and attended closely to his business. When- lie came to the list of the killed arid injured in the. report of tlie accident he suddenly .stopped, and for a moment he seemed unable to speak. Then he recovered' his 'self-possession and read the list.

"That last name is spelled wrong," he said, quietly, when he had finished it. ' ; ' "■ ;: ' •■■■-

"That young womaai's name?" asked the man who held the .proof .

"Yes," he replied. "It's "according "to ; the copy, but- -" He reached over and pointed out the error.-. "Now it's allj.'ight," he said.

"You seeni to know a good deal — ; began the ■ proof 7 reader.'

"Let's finish this," said the other, sharply. -. , .

"But- — why, man, you^re ill," exclaimed the proof -reader as he looked up. _J "You're as white as a — — "

. "A little faint,"; was the reply, "but I can finish- this galley, anyway." ■ , ' ' ' ." •

- He finished it, and then without a .word went for .his coat.

"I can't finish my work," he said. "I'll try to get round to-morrow, but to-night — -",

. "Look here! Where are you going?" asked the proof-reader.

"Home," he replied, ''and, if there's a train in the morning I may go to-^ — . I didnM; know she was coming by that train until I saw " He stopped, and'then as he opened the door he wen* on. /'She wrote that she would be; here, to-morrow or the next day, and then Aye were to be " ' •*" ' '„•' ■ The door "closed behind him. He was back two 'days later, and did his work in -the same '.quiet/ methodical way; but his-sijory^-no one ever asked him for the details, and he never vokmteered*thein. % '