The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-06-20

consequences. Her work had seemed
to go on as usual. She was a success
full miniature painter-at least fine car
riages often stepped at the doorway of
the big studio building and her room
rang with feminine voices. That was
the maddening part OF it. She lived
just across the hall, SO he must see
her many times q day. He had made
up his mind to move. But, then. he
had such a beastly lot Of traps, or per
haps it was some lingering hope that
kept him there.
Some familiar chords on the organ
startled him. Was it the offertory al
ready? Yes, and the ideal choir boy
was singing alone. His handsome face
was flushed, and in his earnestness he
waved his sheet of music gently TO
and fro
"Oh, rest in the Lord" he sang.
Hastings leaned forward. The words
were apparently for him. The abso-
lutte certainty Of the boys tones car
ried conviction.
And he shall give thee thy hearts
desire"
The tender voice went straight to the
mans heart and comforted him. Yes,
he, too. would wait patiently and per-
haps some day he, too, would have his
hearts desire. Till then he would wait
and work.
The next two weeks went by very
differently. Under the press of a new
enthusiasm the book seemed to write
itself. The last sheet had gone in to
the publisher, and he had always worn
smile when he met the girl on the
stairs. Her bow was still as freezing.
but he only smiled again and hummed
the few bars from Elijah" "And he
shall give thee thy hearts desire"
Again Hastings sat in the little
church. Perhaps his choir boy would
sing for him; but the figure of the
small leader dropped. In the glare of
the choir lights his face showed white
and haggard, While his eyes were swol-
len from weeping. A wave of pity
went over the watching man. 1t might
now be his turn to comfort. The sweet
soprano voice was low and broken.
Hastings determined to find the
meaning Of the change. So he fingered
after the service, and kind faced Gu
rate told him the sad little story.
You mean Jack Haines? He has
just lost his MISREPRESENTATION
and the poor little fellow is left all
alone. He is being cared for by neigh
bors, but we must find him a place in
some charity school,"
That delicate child in a charity
school. Hastings could not bear the
thought of it. The face of the child
and his own loneliness helped him to
come to a sudden resolution. His
voice was very eager as he said, Let
me have him."
And so Jack came to live in the big
studio building. Slowly the roses came
back TO his cheeks. He did not forget
the pretty mother who had gone to
sleep SO quietly. but he haunted this
new big brother like a shadow and
crept into his arms to Cry away the
grief that time was trying to heal.
But it worried Hastings that the lad
should be so solemn When he came
in and found the boy porting over
some big book, he would half laugh
ingly scold him for turning into such =
little bookworm. You need some one
to play with. Jack" he would say 1T
is bad for you to always be cooped up
Nth an old fellow like me-" Tom was
only thirty, but somehow he had felt
very old and settled since that night.
But Jack always declared that he
didn't want to be with any zone else,
and he was such a shy child that Has
tings forbore to press the point.
He was therefore much surprised
one afternoon, on coming in, to find
the rooms empty. Where could Jack
be? AS the minutes went by, bringing
no boy, he became really anxious. The
janitor had not seen him. He was re-
turning from fruitless inquiries when
he stopped short at burst of childish
laughter. Could it be Jack?f He never