Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-04-06
AND A LITTLE CHILD
SHALL LEAD THEM
BY Lo uiIe
Hubert Guyol
Copyright, 1908. by T. c. Mcclure.


Align Hardin was man who,
though but thirty-seyen, had Travelled
ILL 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 a very de-
cided picture in his mind-a picture
of home that was home In the fullest
sease OF the word, where there reigned
wife whose life would be bound NJ
In that home; where there romped lit
tie children who would welcome him
with smiles and with dropping faces
see him go. And II 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 anght 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, sally and truly and
deeply" And always Mt 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 impatient
ly, crying out:
"Ah,, no, he would never be tender.
nor swtt VI, nor-nor"-
For she, too, had her picture of what
q home should be. and while she
scarcely dared dwell on IL. as he could
do, 1t was there, in the clouds above
Yer head-a home in which there was
a woman whose life's one aim was to
keep the tired lines from her husbands
fate, 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 iitga Of each other, they went their
separa' ways until one morning early,
when train drew out from the depot,
Alice ,eated in the chair car, Allyn
swinging on to the step of the last
coach.
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 pity there is not
more to her." he unused. "She is so at
tractive, 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 hssnes. white and green in the
sunlight.
Was that Alice?
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 tc
meet
Allyn Hardin could not believe his
own eyes.
A little girl with brown legs flashing
bare above low socks and face left bare
by the bonnet that hung about her
neck, rejecting the brightness he had
seen on Aiice's, came rushing down the
platform too. With shrek Of joy she
threw herself into Alice's open arms.
The whistle blew again. Alice was
moving off with young man and wo
man who had joined her.
Miss Ellison, How do you do?"
Alice turned about quickly.
"Oh," she gasped. II thought you
were in Wisconsin, She moved to
ward the train. not losing hold of the
little hand that lay in hers.
II could not get of. Wish / had
known you were aboard"-the train was
moving. "Goodby, goodby."
bon voyage" called Alice. Then,
bending toward the child. "Wave by
by to Mr.. Hardin"
A sunburned little hand clawed the
air, and Alice, raising her head, looked
up at Allyn. They both laughed.
On the rest of that northbound trip
all that Allyn saw was little country
railroad station, with its usual motley