Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-04-04
An AWKWARD HERO.

II can't see what brought him hero
anyway. None Of us asked him 10
come, am sure
Unless 1t was Dcnzil. 1e Is al.
ways 80 soft hearted about such l,cU-
pie. II he looked as If he wanted to
come, YOU may DO certain Dcnzil
gave him an invitation
"Ycs, said Dcnlil quietly, II did
ask him to come"
u can't tell what you did It for,
thcn." responded tho ono who had
first spoken; for Of all disagrecablc,
stupid creatures Caleb Orion Is tho
most disagrccablo and tho most stu
pid'
Mover says u word al day long,
but just sits and starc5, for all the
world like one OF those wooden im-
ages before tobacco shops
Yesterday, aaid girls voice, II
was trying 10 cross the brook ON tho
stopping stones, which, rs youlinow,
aro very slippery. Master Caleb
happened TO come along, and without
saying a word no picked mo up and
carried me across NJ II hud been a
bundle. Whom he saw | was angry,
he turned very rcd, muttercd some
thing about being ofraid j might
vet my fcct, and went OH, looking
more sheopisl than ever
"Ho does nothing but ride around
tho country on that bicycle Of his,
and
Now, look here, fellows, and you,
Moliic. interrupted Dcnzil, you arc
nil mistaken about Caleb Orton. Tell
me, did you over know OF his saying
or doing mean thing"
NO, reluctantly from several Of
the party.
well, then, / tell you that Caleb
Orion is u true gentleman at heart
IIo may be- slow and awkward. !
don't dony that. You may not like
his looks That IL matter of taste.
But in spite Of his quecr, shy ways
he Is one OF tho best fellows that over
lived"
And all this timo Caleb Orlon him
self stood in the shadow of the hazel
hedge, not ten steps distant from
where the party of girls and boys sat
upon the lawn. He had meant to
join them, but had paused where he
was, with an unhappy sunsc that hc
would not be welcome among them,
and while debating with himself hc
heard ALL
Caleb was slow, as Den2il had said,
hut he could not help seeing that his
young companions, except Den2il
Graham, avoided him. He had often
wondered why. lie liked and ad
mircd them all They We're "a
bright and clever TINT he would have
been satisfied just 10 sit with them
and listen 10 their talk. But he no
ticod that thoy became cold and silent
tho moment ho joined them. HC
had tried very hard 10 gain then
good will, but everything edid only
seemed to make matters worse.
Sitting by himself in his room, OF
wandering Off alone IN the woods, Ii,
had many times ponderod over this
with Il very sore heart What wa,
wrong with himi What had he don,
10 offend theml Now ho understood
lie hcsitatod n moment, drawing
his rough red hand over his eyes
then without knowing very clearly
what he meant TO do no pushed hi
way through the hazcls and stood be
fore the party,
Instantly silence fell upon III,
group. Those who had been talltinr
against him looked II little uncom
Portable; FOR there was something II
the boys face which they had move
seen there before.
mo, said Caleb, as DEUEL. beck
oned him TO place beside himscl
ON the settee. NO, Dnn2il; / Onll
came to say that heard all. d!,
not mean to listen, but 1 know nov
why mono Of You like me. I'm no
angry, only very sorry. am clums!
and dull can't talk like the rest .
YOU | can't do things that otho
boys can. WANTED 10 make friend
with you, but somehow | couldn't
IL wasn't your fault, suppose ai
different from other fellows. | an
going away tomorrow, and and
hope you viii forgive me-"
lie spoke hur1iedly, in a choke'
voice, and broke down at the end
He was ashamed OF tho tears he fel
spring to his eyes and turned ava,
quickly, without waiting for any ~
ply. He had taken Il few stops whei
he felt a hand upon his shoulder am
Denzil Graham joined him. The tw,
boys walked on in silence side b.
side for Il short distance, then DonzI
said earnestly;
Look hero, Caleb you don't moa
what you said about going away Z
morrow
Yes answered Caleb. you Sc