The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-06

glance over his shoulder. had dellber-
ately turned his back on home and long
instilIed obedience II Mr.. Henry was not
going to share the pleasures of tea,
sponge cakes. and new trousers. what
was the use Of having them at all? And
over there. beyond the railroad track.
lived a little boy who had three big
brothers and a jolly father who smoked
"a pipe and whose mother did not write
letters and cry.
a minute later came to Aunt Helen
one sharp, shrill cry Of boyish terror.
She sprang to her feet, terrified. and
trying TO figure the direction from which
it had come. When she reached the street
Mrs. Johnson. white Of face was lean
ing against "a tree
'Berrie-hes caught on the railroad
track-the express is backing down-my
heart-I can't run"
But Aunt Helen could run. and down
the street. toward the track. she sped.
She could see the small. dark-blue figure
huddled in the middle OF the tracks
she could hear the warning whistle OF
the express, backing from the transfer
I 4
thing dreadful happened.
"Bertie-Bertie, I'm coming, she cried.
and then fell. her dainty slipper tangled
in a mass of lace frippcries. In vain she
struggled 40 her feet A fresh eutangle-
ment Of lace threw her back 70 the
ground She could hear people screaming
in every direction. She heard the rush
of hurrying feet-and then strong
voice called Coming Just as she got
10 her own feet. she saw Henry Strong
Slide down the pillar Of his sisters porch
He had sprung through his window to the
roof OF the porch and was not wasting
time on stairways. Straight ahead of her
he flew like a streak. bounded over the
rrst track, bent over the boy. and then
something came between her and the two
dark figures, something that rumbled and
Numbered away into q horrible silence.
Aunt Helen did not open her eyes. She
did not dare TO. When Mrs. johnson
came she found her lying unconscious
and white on the edge OF the curb.
II was Mr. Henry who carried Aunt
Helen home 20 the dim sitting-rOom and
Bertie limped soberly, for. like the boy IN
the song. be- had one shoe on and one
shoe of Later, when Aunt Helen was
quite herself Mrs. Johnson brought in
fFA4el vas lttN Ut tie MISSING SlDt when
the express had passed over #. and
then Aunt Helen learned how Mr.. Henry
had ripped open the shoe, which had
caught in a frog on the track. and with
BERTHE in his arms had rolled down The
bank to safety
That night. after BERTHE had eaten two
sponge cakes and had been tucked into
bed, Mr.. Henry, who had forgotten that
dinner engagements ever existed. SAT- in
his old corner in Aunt Helen's sitting
room, and Aunt Helen sat beside him In
her little wicker rocker.
Henry, she said, softly. I was wrong
and YOU We're right. BERTHE needs YOU
and / need YOU. I have missed you
He did not answer, and there was a
troubled look in his eyes. She rose
suddenly and crossed to her desk.
See, dear. IL was not because of what
happened this afternoon. I was writing
20 you-when he ran away. poor. lonely
laddie. He knew something was wrong -
Henry Strong read the haIf-finished let
ter and kissed her
And now he knows it is all right
again. Let's go up stairs and make sure
he is not having bad dreams. Poor chap.
he had a great scare"
And so BERTHE. waking from restless
Slumber, saw the two faces dearest in
ali the world bending over him. and
reaching out for two protecting hands.
he fell into peaceful sleep.