Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-12-31


have Eeen SO strong for most little
boys. On and on he sped toward the
Lgreat building in which was centered
his hope for relief for poor mamma.
Yes, he felt sure he should take back
more than bread to little Mary and
mamma. He wondered whether papa
was home, and whether he mad found
any work, and so on and on through
the crowded streets he proceeded, lit
tie minding cold or fatigue SO long
as he was nearing his destination in
time.
Meanwhile Hugh Derwent had
dragged his weary way homeward.
He had met the usual rebuffs, some
rudely uttered, some gently worded.
for there were men who were
touched. by his pallid face and the
hopeless expression of his coun-
tenance. Mary listened for his foot
steps, for it was now too dark to see
the passers-by on the street, caught
a faint, uncertain sound as of some
che tottering on the stairs. Opening
the door she discerned the figure of
her husband coming YEARLY up, step
by step, but oh, SO slowly. Soon she
| had him clasped in her arms. No
need for him to repeat the sad story
of failure again; she knew it when
he touched her cheek with his cold
| lips.
where is Harry?" were the first
words he spoke after regaining his
| breath, for. he was quite exhausted
by the exertion of mounting the
steep staircase
Hes gone out, dearest; I couldn't
stop him. Mary cried for something
to eat, and the little fellow rushed
out determined to do something.
Don't be frightened, Hugh, God will
take care of him, and of us, too. W..
must not hide our trouble from your
aunt any longer; it isn't justice to
our children"
Where, meantime, was little Harry.
and what was his object in visiting
the great publishing house of Ford &
Company? Looking at the huge,
seven-story building, with all it's win
dows ablaze with light, you would
wonder what purpose the child had in
mind.
Nearly year before, Mary Der
went, when the beginning of their
troubles had come, had mailed a
story 10 the Manhattan Magazine, en-
tering the competition for a prize of
$500, which had been offered Mary
Derwent. in her happier days, had
written verse which had been accept
ed and published. The prospect of
coming trouble had stimulated her,
as it has many another, to literary
effort, in the hope of giving her fam
lily the helping hand. Poverty had
knit this little family into a closer
and more intimate union than ordi-
narily exists in families, and they
had talked things over together, but
long since Mary had ceased to won
der about her story, giving it up for
lest.
The thought of it came as an in
spiration to small Harry, and he
meant to beg money for the story;
that was his errand. Surely
thought the child, 'the good editor
will buy it If he knows how hungry
we all are
Harry's tired little feet at last
reached the large building where the
Manhattan Magazine was published,
and through his earnest solicitation
he was admitted to the editorial
rooms, where he told his errand.
After some questioning, he was in
formed that Mary Derwent's story
had won the first prize, and as she
had sent no address except "City,"
they had forwarded the check to the
general delivery Office
1t was so far to the post office. but
that letter would buy bread, so Harry
trudged bravely on. At last he was
there. There were two letters, one
for his father. He clutched them
tightly in his thin. small hand and
started for home. How far it was!
IL he could just hold out to get
there! A pain came in his head and
everything turned dark around him,
despite the electric lights.
There was an elegant gentleman
sauntering leisurely along, looking
almost bored by the mere fact of ex-
istence. Harry stopped a moment.
passing his hand over his eyes as if
to clear away the mist, before at
tempting the muddy crossing.
What made everything turn around
so? Suddenly there was an outcry
as little form went down in the
mud and slush, right in front of a