The bee., 1908-11-12
OVER THE
HILL.

had been there. and he could see IL
on the hill In the distance Tie won
dered II IL ended there or II IL kept
on and on.
Perhaps II he should follow It long
way, it would take him where HIS
pretty mamma was. His Aunt Kate
wasn't pretty, and though she took
good care Of him. he didn't like her a
bit And there was his papa, who was
doctor and knew whole lot, but a
papa isn't like a mamma, somehow.
Boys always thought more of their
mammas--at least boys of seven did.
II was hard enough for little boy
not to have a mamma, but It was lots
harder to have one and not know where
she was.
For two years Davy had not seen his
pretty mamma. He remembered
vaguely that one morning he had asked
for her, and HIS father, with q grave
face, had told him that he couldn't see
her any more He knew that she
wasn't dead, for he had heard his papa
say once to Aunt Kate:
1T would not have been 80 hard II
she had died"
He had decided then that his
mamma had gone long way of and
left him and his papa. At that time
they had lived In the city; but the
next summer his papa had sent him
to see his Aunt Kate aud somehow he
had stayed with her ever since. This
year his father had moved into the
country. and now had a large practice.
Davy was not happy. His aunt
wouldn't let him do what he wanted to.
II was a fancy OF HIS that sometime he
should find his pretty mamma II only
Aunt Kate would allow him to look for
her, and it seemed to him that II he
should follow the road over the hill
she would be waiting for him
somewhere. But he had never had a
chance to try until to-day. when his
Aunt Kate was called to see sick
neiEhbOr.
Then Davy quickly decided that he
would follow the white road over the
hill, until he had found his mamma.
IL was the hottest day of the season,
and the sun beat merciIessly down on
the little figure rs 1t trudged bravely
along. After awhile Davy grew very
tired. but he still kept on. When he
reached the steep hill which he had so
often looked at from = distance he
was nearly exhausted. but he only
stopped 10 rest for a moment.
Then he started to climb It. II was
hard work for the little chap, but final
ly he stood on the summit. Just a 1T
tie way in the distances was a summer
hotel. As he drew near he could see
ladies in white linen fitting about, and
gentlemen In Aanneis.
Davy's face was nushed and his
throat parehed, and although be WAS
usually timid with strangers, no. de-
termined he would ask the lady who
was sitting under q tree With tall,
dark man bending over her. for 3
drink OF water
They we're talking IN low tones and
did not see Davy az he approached. He
would wait q minute, he thought, b..
fore he spoke, for he did not Want TO
interrupt them. The little boy haA
not seen the man who had Aseeaded
the hill n little behind Ala, and who
now stood only a few feet away.
why do you follow me from plAOa
TO place = the lady was sayiAN. DGVy
could not see her face, but somehow
be was sure he would like her He
did not like the looks OF the tall dark
man at all sst. ~
lyon know T." began the man. But
the lady, to silence him, put out her
hand; and It looked so soft and Whlts.
that Davy wished she would rest II
just one minute on his checks which
we're burning as they had never burnsd
before.
"You spoiled my whole life," she
went on. rs that not enough? You
made my husband believe that / was
false to him. / tried to explain, but
he would not listen to me. had TO
leave my home-my little child I
came here 30 l could be near him, so
that might see him perhaps, some
times-and now you follow me. Why
do you prosecute me so? You know l
despise you"
There was a silence; and Davy
stepped forward with uncertain steps.
What made his head feel so Queer1
The lady rose suddenly TO her feet,
and as she saw DaVy she gave glad
little cry. He took another step; then
with \ smile he fell unconscious into
her ontstretchsd arms. Pretty nam
ma" he had murmured.
When Davy awoke to consciousness
be was lying with his head en- his
lap, and his papa was there.
too. The tall dark man had gene
away.
How do you feel now" asked his
papa. II guess the heat was too much
Tor you"
"Oh, I'm all right" said DaVy. He
would show his pretty mamma how
brave he was, and he struggled 70 his
l.