Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1907-08-15

why nothing. nothing at all" Miss
OrNis said hurriedly Just why she
should he excited or confused over a
caller from Cherry street she could
not have told herself. hut the steady,
anxious. admitting gilze of Reddy's blue
eyes was disturbing her customary
tranquility aud dignity Il was only
having quiet little chat with Hardy.
I wondered why he was late so often"
ITS my fault" protested Reddy has
tily. you see, ma'am. I'm up MI
night on the bridge. and I don't get
home till about ., and the kid here
likes to eat with me. The Battersons
never give him anything. and it's up
10 me TO see that he gets his feed.
And don't want him to 60 to school
hungry"
no. indeed said Miss Orvis EN-
phatically. Then she hesitated. Har-
dy had rambled over to the colored
charts and was busy. She lowered her
voice as she asked, Hasn't he any
one ut ALL mean any one of his own
peopler'
mo, ma'am." Reddy answered ear
nesty. "My mother got him out Of the
foundlings when he was about two
months old. They lets the kids out up
there. YOU know, two-ffty week, and
the Of. lady thinks maybe it would be
company for her with me away nights.
His father took q tumble off a ferry
boat, and just us she was leaving
Hardy up at the foundlings his moth
er Topped all to once and died too. So
took him when my mother died last
winter. and the two Of rs has bach
elors hall over on Cherry street"
1T was very kind of you" Miss
Orvis tried to say more, but the words
would not come. 1t was all so brief,
so simple and awful. this little tragedy
of the very poor man.
IL haven't been sorry l did 1t.
There's always enough for him, and
I'd like TO give him a chance. He's
thoroughbred all right"
Perhaps can help, too said Miss
Orvis hesitatingly. half shyly. I'D
like to ever so much
Reddy's clear, anxious eyes looked
at her longlngly. IN her trim, girlish
way. with the glamour of another world
about her, Il world apart from the
bridge" and Cherry street, she seemed
to typify all he wantcI his little thor
oughbred to attain.
IL could take him with me over to
the settlement" she went on, amy
evening or afternoon perhaps" with a
swift uplift of her long lashes at him.
Perhaps you might like it, too. Mr..
LaneT'
Like it? Eeddy walked on tiptoe all
the way downstairs, his eyes still full
of wonder like those of dream
haunted child. and Hardy had to dodge
the trolleys himself at the Bowery
crossing
The next hight as Pauline Orvis went
up the steps of the Endeavor settle
ment che found the two already there,
waiting patiently. And as she laid her
hand in the warm strong grip Of
Reddy Lane she felt as though fate
had laid a trap for love, with SYM
pathy as snare.
And after that night queer thing
happened to the teacher in room ii.
Every morning as she stood at the
head of the stairs, with the two lines
of small boys passing her, all at once
the color would rise in her cheeks as
Hardy drew near. for not single
morning passed that he did not bear
a love Offering of fresh violets. He
confided to her the very first morning
where they came from.
"Red gets them from an old man on
the bridge every morning fresh. He
says they look like you"
One night toward the end of June
they stood out on the stone balcony Of
the settlement house, looking down on
the crowds passing below along the
highway of push carts. Miss Orvis was
pleading the cause of Hardy
"Iet me take him with me for the
summer" she begged. 1T has done
him so much good being with me
"Some one else, too" murmured Red
dy, but she went on:
IL am going 10 the mountains, and
he would he 30 much company for me.
Besides, 1t will give you time to study
if-that Is, if'-she hesitated and
bent farther away from him over the
broad, low parapet-"if you really in
tend taking the civil engineering
course
'Youfkno what intend doing he
interrupted you know just as well
as I 40 what you We done for the little
chap and me. OF course he can go
with you. ] suppose l may run up
now and then just to see how he's get
ting on"
"Oh. of course" Her voice was low
and without invitation.
And if l pass and get the Harrison
appointment this fall, why, it's you
that's to blame"
"Blamer' The word left her startled
and vaguely frightened.
That's what | said. You've taken
and encouraged me the same as you
have the boy and made both OF us love
you to death. oh. you know It's so
all right. And if ! do win out and
make something of myself it's you
that made me try and feel 1t was
yyorfb hiIo nnfpsa I WINS only think