The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

81 don't care for thanks, but I
would like to see the owner of that
nane-must be someone l have
known"
'Mother!" called Harry, "oh.
mother, 1 bring good news. Here's
money; your story won first prize,
and here's a kind gentleman who
saved me from being run over. Now
Mary and all can have something to
eat"
Mr. and Mrs. Derwent could not
realize the sudden transition from
despair to hope. They sat as ii
dazed Mr.. Derwent came forward
at last, and in a broken voice tried to
speak his thanks.
"Why, haven't you light?' in
ouired Mr.. Mayo.
''Oh, SIR said Harry, who had re-
vived wonderfully since eating, I'VE
had no money to buy anything"
Mr.. Mayo stared. He had never
come in contact with poverty before.
Here, take my purse and get light
and, ah--something to eat"
Mr.. Derwent was again thanking
him, while Mrs. Derwent was weep
ing tears of joy and thankfulness.
God sent you to save my children
from starvation. This evening I
begged for bread, begged it, and the
baker refused me. But what
wouldn't a woman do for her chill
6ren?"
Harry soon came back with light
and basket of food and handed the
purse back to Mr. Mayo.
Il only took enough for tonight,
for mother has money, now"
Mr.. Mayo emptied the purse on the
bed, where Mrs. Derwent was already
feeding little Mary, who ate raven
cusly
The mother had less. to eat than
any, but, mother-like, thought of self
last.
Mr.. Mayo bowed himself out, prom
Using to call on the morrow, silently
| wondering that he, of all others,
should be the one to play Providence,
tC. poor family.
The second letter which Harry
brought proved to be an urgent invi-
tation from Mr.. Derwent's aunt in
the country for him and his family
to spend New Years with her, the
second day from this. How gladly
they left the close, comfortless room
FOR the spacious old farmhouse
among the hillsi
The day was glorious, the air
balmy as if Indian summer had come
again.
When they reached the home sta
| ton and crowded into the large fam
| lily carriage, she threw wide the witt
dows to let in the golden sunlight
and health-giving breeze from the
zine lands.
Was ever day more royal than
| this?
Mr.. Mayo, having called to see
the Derwents- the day previous, Mrs.
Derwent took the liberty, in her
great happiness. to invite him out
too. presented himself, to his own
and her astonishment, as they Wire
going out to dinner in the large,
handsome old dining-room.
There was just enough frost in the
air to make the wood fire accepta ble,
yet the musk roses looked saucily in
at the wide windows and nodded
welcome, while large vases full of.
flowers breathed out their hearts in
fragrance.
The browning event Of the day
came when Mr.. Derwent was giving
second helping to turkey. The dear
old aunt announced that, as he would
be her heir, it was his duty to remain
there and keep up his property; she
was tired of living without children
in the house. 'And what is more. I'm
not going to any longer" she de-
clared with emphasis.
"Ah, Mrs. Derwent," said Mr.. Mayo,
after dinner, as he swung lazily in a
hammock under large oak. tree. Il
found out why your name sounded so
-ah, familiar; there was little mis-
take. My cousin wrote story for
that competition, and took a fancy
to sign her name Mary Derwent,'
having Hedru III sO1neWHeTe.- perhaps
| She told me about it and"
| ''Then it was her story instead Of
mine which won the price,"
"Her story was called Evelyn I
think
THAT accounts for it; the letter
that contained the check said Evelyn.
| by Mary Derwent.' Mine was Evan
geline, but / thought they had made
mistake"
"Ah, quite coincidence" said Mr..
| Mayo, 'but you shan't lose by it."
81 can't lose now. Had Harry not
gone to the post Office, he would not
have met you, and had you not sue
cored us at that critical time wa
would have died, and but for the