Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-05-06

AND A LITTLE CHILD
SHALL LEAD THEM
By Louie
Hubert Guyol
Copyright, 1908, by t. @. Mcclure.

RN|>/>/\/\/\NNNN~\NN NNNNNNN~N<<Nf8
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 30 that whenever he did think Of
settling down 1t was with very de-
cided picture In his mind-a picture
Of home that was home in the fullest
sense Of tie 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 go. And 1t 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 ut 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 a monzan-
tary gladness. But the clear blue ayes
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, mormon
For she, too, had her picture Of what
a home should be, and while she
scarcely dared dwell on 1t, as he could
do. 1t was there, In the clouds above
her head-a home In which there was
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, a 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 thell
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
coach.
He was OF on his vacation, and In
the curlings OF the smoke he saw not
the face Of Alice Ellison. but cool, green
hooks by running streams. He heard
the crunch OF the dried leaves beneath
his feet and felt the Juggling 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 her
hand In his. what a pity there Ia not
more TO her." he unused. "Sbe IL so at
tractlve, but she lacks weight"
The train was coming to a stop, and
Allyn rose and went out on the plat
form. They were slowing into a pic
turesque little town with green trees In
sight OF the depot and big. sprawly
southern homes, white and green In the
sunlight
Was that Alice2
Yes, there on the lower step OF the
coach ahead OF him she stood, with an
Impotence barely hidden by her quiet
manner, waiting for the train to stop.
She was smiling, oh, so brightly, and
the train had scarcely come to stand
still before she had sprung down and
was running across the platform TO
meet
Allyn Hardin could not believe his
own eyes.
bare above low socks and face left bare
by the bonnet that hung about her
neck, rejecting the brightness he had
seen on Allce's, came rushing down the
platform too With q shrek Of Joy she
threw herself into Alice's open arms
ine WHSLE p'e" "saN' Anoe was
no'ins vi VIZ" yVunb "'"" """ W"
ninh VINO nau Jo'"eu neI.
MISE h'''7oh' no" 10 you no
aug" lurhe" hpou, PuneSy'
on' sne snspeu, lnousnt you
were III " lscoiisin' one moVeu 10
WaIu 'he 'Iaih' no' osihs noiu oi 'ns
niue nAhu 'nht 'ay W ners.
cou'u NOT get on. WISH i mao
KNOWN you were hpoaru inc train was
i" on uouDS, sooaoy'
%" '"ynse, ea"eu nnes ineh'
pei'u''s '1maIu ''e e"i'u' wave ny
ny !" M,' iihroin
a sunDurheu iittle nahu cln"eh the
mr. anu Ahce' rnn'ns ner MENU 'ooheo
Wy NJ niiyn' ihey poui 'husheu'
on 'ne resi- u tnhl nor ,.a,' .rIp
al mat hiiyn sa" Ths httie country
raIIroau S.n''on, WIN US usuhI inotiey
Se''ins ol"huihs iorlh from u"
were Ins same TWO hsures' lne hhu H',
nh hnu inc cuHu -OHe III BOWH VI bOitiy