La Junta tribune., 1907-06-15
On the Sidinq
By CECILY ALLEN
Copyright. 1907. b. T. c. PARCELS.
By CECILY ALLEN

Aunt Helen idollzeI Bertie Henry
Strong idoiizei Aunt Helen. and Ber
tie. ms far as his youth would permit.
idolized both Aunt Helen aud Henry
Strong. That was why he felt vague
ly aggrieyed that he saw 80 little OF
Mr.. Henry these days, ami had he
known that In his small person he per
soniiel duty and stood between the
two objects Of his alteration he would
have felt doubly aggrievei.
What he did know was that Mr. Hen
~ had taken To walking on the other
side of the street and evadlng press
ing Invitations to come over and sit
on our piazza" and that Aunt Helen
avoided all conversation bearing on
Mr.. Henry; also that she had developed
tendency to red eyes and absent
minded conduct. which annoyed BERTHE.
particularly when she stopped in the
midst Of 4 fairy story and stared out
of the window without speaking.
The neIghbors might have snlight-
ened Berthe as to the true state of af-
fairs. They all said II was too foolish
for Helen Bertram to act 80 over
child There WAS such a thing AZ car
rying ones ideas OF duty too far. and
one owed some duty TO the living az
well as the dead.
1t was the most joyous OF early
spring weather when every one should
feel happy. but Bertie felt the deprer-
sion which seemed to have settled
down on the pretty cottage which he
and Aunt Helen had occupied alone
with the servants ever since his IA
Tiers death. He slipped quietly from
the sitting room. where Aunt Helen
was writing at her desk. jumped noise
Iessly from the porch to the soft lawn.
which was taking on Just pale tint
of green. and ran out 10 the curbin9
which marked the limit OF his strayiuG
save by special permission.
He knew that very soon Mr.. Henry
would be coming home from his offlce.
on the other side of the street. no
doubt but still within haillng distance,
Mr.. Henry certainly must inspect Ber'
ties new trousers before the laddie
could feel quite satisfied that they
were all things desirable. They were
a new sort OF trousers. baggy at the
knees, and II they had been held In
pluce with "a piece OF elastic instead OF
a cloth strap aud buttons. they would
have been equal to an extra set OF
pockets Marbles. twine, apples. al
most any small article could be hidden
In their spacious folds. Personally
Rcrtic considered them great inl'
provcmcnt over the diminutive, SKIN
tight knickcrbockers he had worn here
tofore. but they needed the cache oI
Mr. iicnry's approval.
Ten minutes passed. Aunt Helen $
pen went scratch. scratch In the sit
ting room and Bcrtie's boot heels went
tap. tap against the stone curb!ng.
Then he splcd familiar broad shoul-
dcrcd figure swinging down the street
ON the other side. He waited until
Mr.. Henry was directly opposite,
then
Hello. Mr.. Henry, Can't you come
over and see my new pautsF
Mr. Henry paused uncertainty and
waved his hand in friendly fashion.
"l'd ccm. over and show 'cm TO you,
only Aunt Helen won't give me jam
for supper when leave the yard
Listen to the poor dear" exclaimed
Mrs. Johnson. Aunt Heien's next door
nclghbor. who happened TO be setting
out some new rose bushes nj the time.
The very idea of an old maid like
Helen Bcrtram trying 10 train boy
Mr.. Henry crossed the street. He
had seen Mrs johnson watching him
from the corner of her eye. aud lie
knew that Rertie was terribly IN earn
est. He inspected the new trousers In
deliberate. critical fashion and pro
nounccd them good. Then he pntted
BERTHE en- the head and started away.
Amt you coming in for tea: asked
BERTHE, with an odd break In his voice
and troubled look ON his face.
"Awfully sorry. old man" replied
Mr.. Henry. with forced sprightllncss.
'.but ! have dinner engagement, and
I must run along and dress. See you
later
But BERTHE chung to his hand.
Maggie made some sponge cakes
with Icing. | kuow-I licked the Icing
bowl"
Good for YOU said Mr.. Henry. still
drawing away from the cl'nging moist
hand "You eat one for me. won't
your
And then he was gone. He plunged
diaGonally across the street and cut
straight across the tidy lawn of his
sisters home and dashed through the
front door. His face was drawn and
white. and he paused just moment
beside his sister who came To the door
Mt the sound of his step.
Its no use. Nell. I've got 10 get out
of this. believe I'll run on to New
York for a week or so'-
'.And leave George to claim the vic
tory OF the Unrdman case after you've
worked hard on 1t FOR months Oh.
Henry, l think 1t is n shame that you
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