Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-09-25
Akin TO Love
By LOUISE MERRIFIELD.

partneNts opchcu WY sWWp, very
contrltely, and small, anxious,
freekled face pecked IN. Miss Orvis
Turned from the blackboard at a smotl-
cred aiggIe from the children and saw
the frecklei face.
"Come III. Hardy The curving line
of her pretty. sympathetic mouth
stralglaenad with sudden determina-
tIon. Il was the fourth time that week
that Hardy Andrews had come in
late. and even the children were be-
ginning TO look upon 1t as a joke
Discipline must be enforced. even
when THE delinquent is only seven and
n hnlf. Miss OrvIs left the blackboard
with Il see bird" half finished and
stepped forward to meet Hardy.
He was smiling comfortably In his
half shy, half rog,iish way and flirting
openly witt, Marguerite Mcguire in the
front seat.
Hardy, you are late again"
.Yessum,' said Hardy happily.
ats the fourth tIme this week, Har-
dy. Have you any excusc?"
Nom. Hardy rubbed one shoe
over the toe Of the other and tried
to jam his stsckinet cap into his side
trousers pocket.
'why didn't your mother write one
for youf"
1t was so still in the large, sunny
schoolroom you could hear the clock
tick high up on the wall and the buzz
Ing of the fiies over near the open win
dow where the rows OF geraniums
stood, but slowly the color mounted
In Hardy's little, thin, freckled face,
and after minute he looked up at
Miss Orvis, his big blue eyes filed
with half apologize bewlldermcut.
II never had any mother The ST.
lence was worse than ever. Miss orvis
caught her breath and looked at the
rest of the children to see what hor-
rible effect the announcement had
made on them, but they were only in
terested and joyous over the diversion.
Hardy caught the look and hastened
to cover his mistake.
But I got a father. Miss Orvls, all
right I'm Reddy Lanes kid. and Red
dv.s a Waterman over on the bridge Mt
night. and he don't get home till most
10 o'clock In the morning. and that's
wbv I'm Int cause like to- have
breakfast with him.
Miss Oryis hesitated. but the blue
ewes pleaded well their cause, and she
smiled as abe laid one hand on Reddy
Lanes kids head.
But somehow all the morning she
caught herself musing on the child
who had no mother. II was a tragedy.
of course-some stormy. tear swept
mage Of life from the erent eity's un.
derworld and only this BIZ Of wreckage
left TO tell the story. Tears welled TO
her own lasbes once or twice as she
watched Hardy's small eager face. so
trusting and foolishly happy when he
had nothing in the whole world to be
happy for except the mere fact that he
was alive.
a. tho limo. ,raro ,oru,,o az noon
she touched Hardy ON the shoulder and
told him to wait minute at her desk,
and the little fellow obeyed. watching
the rest ~ tho hovs nrond,v from his
most on teachers chair. And when nil
was still In the great building Miss
Oryis came back and took him on her
lap.
ssYour papa's a Waterman. Won saw.
dear, over on the bridgey, she began.
but Hardy interposed hastily
ooh. no. NOT nv fatber-thafs Red.
dv I, never had anv fothar I'm a
founding kid. Reddy saws. and his
mother rented me. and then she died
and Ref,dy adopted mo his own self on
now I'm his kid.
"Oh 500. N,ss orv,s ,earod hoor
in her chair a,sl pozed nj the cheerful
little face. .And Won and Reddv live
on Cherry street,"
"Yessum We cot n room with IN.
Pattor.or, ,,,,,eI, -. -