The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-09-03

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,
anxious, admlring gaze of Reddy's blue
eyes was disturbing her customary
tranquility and dignity. 81 was only
having U"ict little chat with Hardy
I wondered why he was late so often. i"
ITS my fault" protested Reddy has
tlly. "You see, ma'am. I'm up ali
night OIL t." bridge. and | don't get
home till about 0. and the kid here
!i'ies to eat with me. The Battersons
never give him anything. ana it's ur
to me to see that he gets his feed
and I don't want him to go TO schoo
hungry"
mo. indeed" said Miss Orvis EN-
phatically Then she hestated. Har
dy had ramhled over to the co!ored
charts ard was busy. She lowered hei
voice as size asked. Hasn't he any
ore at ALL mean any one of his own
people"
40 ma'Nm," Reddy answered ear
nestly. "My mother got him out Of the
fOundlings when he was about two
months Old. They let's the kids out up
there. you know, two-fifty week, and
the old lady thinks maybe 1t would be
company for her with me away nights.
His father took tumble off ferry.
boat. and just as she was leaving
Hardy mp 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 us 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 ali so brief,
SO simple and awful, this little tragedy
OF the very poor man.
II haven't been sorry did it.
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
Ike to ever so much"
ReGdy's clear. anxious eyes looked
at her long;agly. In her trim. girlisE
way. with tie glamour of another world
about her. II world apart from the
bridge" and Cherry street. she seemed
TO typify all he wanted his little thor,
oughbred 10 attain.
II could take him with me over tC
tue settlement" she went on. ANY
evening or afternoon perhaps" with a
swift uplift Of her long lashes at him,
Perhaps you might like it. too. Mr..
LaneT
Like il? Reddy walked on tiptOe all
the way downstairs. his eyes still full
Of a wonder like those Of a dream
haunted child, and Hardy had to dodge
the trolleys himself at the Bowery
crossing.
The next night as Pauline Orvis went
up the steps of the Endeavor settle.
ment She 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 trap for love. with sym
patty as snare.
And after that night a queer thing
happened TO the teacher In room H.
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
confitcd 10 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
let me :Hke him with me for the
summer" she begged. "It has done
him SO much good. being with me-
"Sorlr otc else. too" murmured Red.
dy. !'U' III" went on:
81 an going To the mountains. and
he would t'e 50 much company for me
BESIDES. II will give you time to study
if-that "a. if''-she hesitated and
bent farther away from him over the
broad. low rnrapet--"if you really IN.
tend takiag tie civil engineering
course
"You know what intend doing" he
Interrupted You know just as well
as dn what you've done for the little
chap and me. OF course he can 60
with you. suppose may run up
now and then just 10 see how he's get.
ting on.
"Oh. 81 course" Tier voice was low
and without invitation.
"And II pass and get the Harrison
appointment this fall. why. it's you
that's 90 blame"
"Blnmc?' The word left her startled
and vaguely frightened.
THAT'S what I 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 II do win out and
make something Of myself It's you