The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-22
THE EVENING STORY
Akin to Love.
(By Louise Merrif1eld.N

from the blackboard at a smothered
g1gg1e from the children and saw the
freckled face.
Come in, Hardy" the curving line
of her pretty, sympathetic mouth
Strengthened with sudden determine
ton. 1t was the fourth time that week
that Hardy Andrews had come in late
and even the children were beginning
to look upon it as joke. Discipline
must be enforced, even when the de-
l1nquent is only seven and a half Miss
Orvis left the blackboard with ST see
bird half finished, and stepped
forward to meet Hardy
He was smiling comfortab bly,, in his
half shy, half roguish way, and firt-
ing openly with Marguerite Mcguire
in the front seat.
Hardy, you are late again.
tYessum," said Hardy happily.
Its the fourth time this week.
Hardy. Have you any excuse?"
Nom" Hardy rubbed one shoe
over the toe of the other, and tried to
jam his. stocl<inet cap into his side
trousers pocket.
Why didn't your mother write one
for you?"
It was SO still in the large, sunny
schoolroom you could hear the clock
tick high up on the wall, and the buzz
zing of the flies over near the open
window where the rows of geraniun1s
stood. but slowly the color mounted
in Hardy's little thin, freckled face,
and after a minute, he looked up at
Miss Orvis his big blue eyes filled with
a half apologize bewilderment.
Il never had any mother" The
silence was worse than ever Miss
Orvis caught her breath and looked
at the children to see what horrible
effect the announcement had made on
them, but they were only interested
and joyous over the diversion. Hardy
caught the look and fastened to cover
his mistake.
But I got father, Miss Orvis, all
right. I'm Reddy Lanes kid, and
Reddy's a watchman over on the
bridge at night, and he don't get home
till most 10 O'Clock in the morning,
and that's why I'm late, cause 1 like.
to have breakfast with him"
Miss Orvis hesitated, but the blue
eyes pleaded we'll their cause, and she
smiled as she laid one hand on "Reddy
Lanes" kids head.
But somehow all the morning she
caught herself musing on the child
who had no mother. 1t was a tragedy,
of course, some stormy, tear-swept
page of life from the great city's I'M
derworld, and only this bit of wreck
age left to tell the story. Tears welled
to her own laShes 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.
As the lines were forming at noon
she touched Hardy on the shoulder
and told him to wait a minute at her
desk, and the little fellow obeyed,
watching the rest Of the boys proudly.
from his post on teachers chair. And
when all was still in the great build
ing Miss Orvis came back and took
him on her lap.
Your papa's Waterman, you say,
dear over on the bridge?' she began,
but Hardy interposed hastily.
oh, no, not my father-that's
Reddy. never had any father. I'm
a founding kid, Reddy says, and his
and Reddy adopted me his own self,
so now I'm his kid
"oh. see." Miss Orvis leaned
back in her chair and gazed at the
Reddy live on Cherry street?'
"Y essum. We got a room with the
Battersons, whole room of our own,
just for Reddy and me. And the Bat
tersons have only got one room left
for their own selves, and there's six of
EN-
"You don't say So" Miss orvia
caught the lonesome little figure close
in her arms. Isis Reddy good to
you?"
You bet he is" came the smothered
gasp from her shoulder. ''He never hits
me. and he takes me out on the big
bridge with him nights and lets me see
the lights on the river, and the boats,
fine to me. When I said you scolded
me cause I was late, he said it was a
- shame
There was a sudden noise at the door
behind him. a queer hasty noise, half a
cough, half a choked explosion of
laughter, and Miss Orvis stood up
quickly.
'Hullo, Red. This is teacher,
1t was the only introduction they ever
had, those two, and neither ever for
got the moment. Flushing to the curls
of her soft dark hair, Pauline Orvis
saw before her Reddy Lane, of Cherry
i'll. He was tall, and broad shoulder
ed, this Waterman on the big bridge,
blue eyed, with keen, answering gaze,
strong jawed with a mouth close Tipped
and short fair hair that curled criSply
back from his young, reSolute face. In
his navy blue sweater he looked like a
college boy, but the hands that held
his cap were the hands of the toiler.
1T just run around after the kid
there ne explained, lowering his voice
as if he were in a sactuary. Hes
always home as soon as the rest, and
I'm worried when he don't show up.
They don't leave enough of little chap
like that to shovel up after a street car
fender rolls him under. and I get fussy
when he dent hustle in. didn't know
you'd kept him. What's the row."
why, nothing; nothing at ALL" Miss
Orvis- said hurriedly. Just why she
should be excited or confused over a
caller from Cherry street she could not
have told herself, but the steady. anxi-
Gus, admiring gaze of Reddys blue
eyes was disturbing her customary
tranquility and dignity. 81 was only
having a quiet little chat with Hardy.
I wondered why he was late so Of
ten"
Its my fault" protested Reddy has
thy. ''You see, ma'am, I'm up all
night on the bridge, and I don't get
home till about 9. ard the kid here likes
to eat with me- The Battersons never
give him anything, and it's up to me
to see that he gets his feed And I
don't want him to go to school hung
ry''