The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-06-23
AND A LITTLE CHILD
SHALL LEAD THEM
By Lo uiee
Hubert Guyol
Copyright, 1908. by 7. c. Mcclure

Allyn Hardin was man who,
though but thirty-seven, had Travelled
till he was well wearied with the
world. Without family or ties, no one
cared when he came nor where he
went, SO that whenever he did think Of
settling down it was with 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 60 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 to make
her feel aught but the JOY of living.
1t 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-
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'-
a home should be, and while she
scarcely dared dwell on it, as he could
do, it was there, in the clouds above
her head-a home in which there was
q woman whose llfe's one aim was to
keep the tired lines from her husband S
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, man
who could understand the hearts Of
those little children in the arms of that
| woman.
| So, thinking much but understand
| ing little Of each other, they went their
separate ways until one morning early,
when a train drew out from the depot,
Alice seated In the chair car, Allyn
swinging on to the step OF the last
coach.
He was of ON his vacation, and in
the curlings 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 beneath
his feet and felt the tugging of the
| trout upon his line.
He had bid Alice goodby two even
ings before. expecting to leave the city
then. and he recalled her look Of good
frank friendship as she had put hel
hand in his. "What pity there is no
more TO her." he unused. "She is SO at
tractive. but she lacks weight"
The train was coming to stop, ant
Allyn rose and went out on the plat
form. They were slowing into pic
turesQue little town with green trees il
sight Of the depot and big. sprawl.
southern homes, white and green In tn,
sunlight
Was that Alice?
Yes, there on the lower step Of tn
coach ahead of him she stood, with al
impatience barely hidden by her quie
manner, waiting for the train to stop
She was smiling, oh, so brightly, an,
the train had scarcely come to stand
still before she had sprung down ant
was running across the platform t
meet
Allyn Hardin could not believe hi
own eyes.
A little girl with brown legs fashin
bare above low socks and face left bar
by the bonnet that hung about he
neck, rejecting the brightness he ha
seen on Aiice's, came rushing down tn
platform too. With shrek Of JOY sh
threw herself into Alice's open arms.
The whistle blew again. Alice wa
moving of with young man and WI
J man who had joined her.
. Miss Ellison! How do you do?"
, Alice turned about quickly.
! "Oh," she gasped, Il thought 70
. were in wisconsin," She moved t,
ward the train, not losing hold Of tt
little hand that lay in hers.
II could not get off. Wish I ha
! known you were aboard'-the train we
moving. ''Goodby, goodby."
bon voyage" called Alice. The
bending toward the child, Wave b.
I. by to Mr.. Hardin"
: A sunburned little hand clawef Il
] air, and Alice, raising her head, locke
l up at Allyn. They both laughed.
. On the rest of that northbound tr
all that Allyn saw was little countl
! railroad station, with its usual motle
setting. Standing. forth from ita