Evening journal., 1908-12-11
OVER THE HILL


Davy looked wistfuny at the road
which passed his aunts house. He
knew that IL led to the village. for he
had been there. and he could see IL ON
the hill in the distance. He wondered
# It ended there or II it kept on and
on.
Perhaps II he should follow it long
way, 1t would take him whore his
pretty mamma was. His Aunt Kata
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
q doctor and knew a whole lot, but
papa isn't like a mamma, somehow.
BOYS always thought more of their
nnammas-at least boys OF seven did.
II was hard enough for a little boy
not 10 have a mamma, but it was lots
harder 10 have one and not know where
Bhe 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 a 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 so hard II
khe had died"
He had decided then that his mamma
had gone q long way off 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 and somehow no had stayed with
her ever since. This year his father
had moved into the country, and now
had 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 if
only Aunt Kate would allow him TO
look for her. and st seemed to him that
if he should follow the road over the
hill she would be waiting for him some
where. But he had never had a chance
10 try until today. when his Aunt Kate
was called TO see sick neighbor.
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 tho season.
aud the san beat mercilessly down on
the little figure as it trudged bravely
along. After awhile Davy grew very
tired. but he still kept ON. When he
reached the steep hill which ne had so
often looked at from a distance no was
nearly exhausted. but he only stopped
20 rest for "a moment.
Then n estarted TO cline IT, It was
hard work for the little chap but final
~ he stood on the summit. Just
little way in the distance was a sum-
mer hotel. AS he drew near no could
zee ladies' in white linen fitting about,
and gentlemen IN flannels.
Davy's face was flushed and his
throat parched. and although he was
usually timid with strangers. he de-
ternined he would ask the lady who
was sitting under a tree With TAN
dark man bending over her. for
driniy OF water
They We're talking in low tones and
did not see Davy as he approached. He
would wait a minute he thought be-
fore he spoke. FOR he did not want to
Interrupt them. The little boy had
not seen the man who had ascended
the hill a little behind him. and who
now stood only a few feet away.
why do you follow me from place
70 placer the lady was saying. Davy
could not see her face. but somehow
he was sure he would like her He
did not like the looks Of the tall dark
man az all.
you know T. began the man. But
The lady. TO silence him. put out her
hand. and II looked so soft and white.
that Davy wished she would rest Il
fust one minute on his cheeks which
---~-- s---~-inr as they had never burn