Evening journal., 1904-08-26
And A LITTLE CHILD
SHALL LEAD THEM
By Louie
Hubert Cuyol
...copyrIghl. bod. BY 7. 9. MecInre...

world Without family or tics, 10 one
cared when he came nor where he
went, so that whenever he did think Of
settling down It was with a very de-
cided picture in his mind-a picture
Of home that was home in the fullest
sense Of the word where there reigned
a wife whose life would be bound up
in that home; where there romped lit
tie children who would welcome him
with smiles and with dropping faces
see him 20. And It was this feeling, but
duly realized. that made him look
upon Miss Ellison with something Of
doubt, albeit much Of admiration.
Life was Joyous to Alice Ellison.
Her blood ran high, and nothing had
crossed her path that tended 10 make
her feel aught but the Joy Of living.
II was natural, therefore, that she
should laugh and dance and sing.
Sometimes, though, It palled on her,
and she would sit within the silence OF
her room, wondering why she could
not "fall in love, really and truly and
deeply" And always at this wonder
the picture Of Allyn Hardin rose be-
fore her and her heart grew tender.
And then something would crop up,
like the weeds in the parable, choking
out these tiny seeds OF love. And that
something was pitifully like the vision
that had but just caused her momen-
tary gladness.. But the clear blue eyes
were so cold, the fine mouth TO firmly
set with determination, the chin so
square. that she would rise inpatient
ly, crying out:
"Ah. no, he would never be tender,
nor sweet. nor-nOr"-
For she, too. had her picture Of what
home should be, and while she
scarcely dared dwell on It, as he could
do, it was there. I'm the clouds above
her head-'a home I'm which there was
n woman whose life's one aim was to
keep the tired lines from her husbands
face, the worrying cares from his
heart, TO maintain forever the smiles
on those little upturned faces at her
knee. But the husband must be one
with heart warm enough to take and
profit by the sympathy she held out to
him in such good abundance. n man
who could understand the hearts Of
those little children in the arms of that
woman.
SO, thinking much but understands
ing little Of each other they went their
separate ways until one morning early,
when train drew out from the depot,
Alice seated in the chair car, Allyn
swinging on to the step of the last
conch.
He was of on his vacation, and in
the curllngs Of the smoke he saw not
the face OF Alice Ellison. but cool, greer
hooks by running streams He heard
the crunch Of the dried leaves beneatl
his feet and felt the tugging OF Tie
trout upon his line
He had bid Alice goodby two even
lngs before. expecting TO leave the city
then. and he recalled her look Of good
frank friendship as she had put hoi
hand I'm his. "What pity there is no
more 10 her" he mused "She is so at
tractlvc but she lacks weight"
The trair was coming 10 stop and
Allyn rose and went out on the plat
form. They were slowing into a pie
turesque little town with green trees in
sight of the depot and big, sprawly
southern homes, white and green in the
sunlight
i Was that Alice?
Yes. there on the lower step OF the
coach ahead Of him she stood, with an
impatiencc barely hidden by her quiet
t,,r,,. ,,.,ftf,,.. Co., tt, t-,t,, 4, rt,,,
She was smiling. oh. so brightly. and
the train had scarcely come TO a stand
still before she had sprung down and
was running across the platform tC
meet
Allyn Hardin could not believe hi.
own eyes.
A little girl with brown legs flashing
bare above low socks and face left bar,
by the bonnet that hung about hel
j neck, rejecting the brightness he haC
seen on Alice's. came rushing down tn,
platform too. With shrek Of joy sh,
threw herself into Alices open arms.
The whistle blew again. Alice wa.
moving Off with a young man and wo
man who had joined her
Miss Ellison. How do you do?'
Alice turned about quickly.
"Oh," she gaspcd II thought yol
4 were in Wisconsin," She moved to
J. ward the train, not losing hold Of tn,
! little hand that lay in hers.
s II could not get Off. Wish l Ia,
n known you were aboard d'-the train wa
moving. "Goodby, goodby"
''Bon voyage" called Alice Then
bending toward the child, "Wave by
by to Mr.. Hardin"
to A sunburned little hand clawod IN
Se air, and Alice, raising her head, lookc
In up at Allyn They both laughed.
&c On the rest of that northbound tri
e. all that Allyn saw was a little countr
n railroad station with it's usual motle
Or setting. Standing forth from II nj
~ were the same two figures, the Mador
" ma and the child-one i'm gown OF softl
p clinging blue, the other in runled whit
apron.
a The two weeks visit to her broth,
n. came TO an end. and the train was fai
a drawing Alice Ellison away from Il
ST sweet peace OF the country into Il
t. rush and whirl Of that old life in Il
city. Leaning back in her chai
D. dreamily looking out OF the windo'
el she came to the conclusion that 81
iy was tired Of herself.
m She sighed and rose wearily. Swa