Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1909-12-17
and the boy spo-e agn,n.

When the woman looked around he
was climbing the fence and the man
had disappeared. The boy took his
cap and coat
He won't beat his wife again" he
said "He promised me. II he
breaks his word I'll give him what
promised him."
The woman looked at him with
something like admiring awe.
"Did-did you hurt him much2" she
asked.
Il hurt him enough to make him
go slow when he thinks Of hurting his
wife. It's lucky didn't hurt him a
good deal more"
His tone suddenly grew bitter.
"I-I made a fool of myself"
Il don't understand" said the won-
an.
Il lost my temper. That's the
trouble with me- He made me mad.
I should have laughed. Instead OF
that I got wild. I'll never succeed un-
til l can keep tight grip on my
temper"
He seemed so discouraged that the
woman put out her hand and laid 1t
gently on his arm.
why" she cried, you are hurt"
MY knuckles are bleeding, that's
ALL" he answered. ut doesn't mat
ter"
Get into the buggy" said the wom-
an. "I'm going to take you home and
tie up your lands. It's a small
enough return to the man who has
taught that dreadful Harris lesson
He took the seat meekly and she
drove home and put soothing lni'
ment on his torn hands and tied them
up and gave him food and drink. And
presently he was resting in one OF
the easy rockers on the shaded POI ch.
Are you quite cemfortable?" the
woman asked.
"Im all right" he smilingly an
swered.
And your unaccustomed exercise
hasn't hurt you any?"
Not a bit, ma'am."
She looked at him admiringly.
You are cutie wonderful" she
said. you come here. an invalid
and soundly whip Bob Harris, who
is considered a great fighter, and
make him beg for mercy. and then
you say the exercise hasn't hurt you
any"
The face OF the boy grew grave. He
be STATED a moment
Lady" he said, 81 hate to tell you
what I'm going to tell, but | must
You're all wrong about me-and I've
lc. You go on making the mistake
I'm rot an invalid. I'm not sick. I'm
thin. perhaps, but I'm as hard as nails
and strong as n horse. ! came TO the
village because it's quiet place anc
I've a friend there. And I've been
running these roads TO improve my
wind and to get my weight down a
few pounds lower. When ! said J
was afraid of being lurt it vas true.
To ge. hurt foolish is a serious thing
In my business
He paused and looked at the WON
an.
What is your business?" she ask
ed and her voice faltered.
Lady" he slowly answered. you
have been very good to me-kinder
than any woman | have ever known
I hate to hurt your feelings. But I'm
going to square with you. Ny name
is Danny Crane I'm a professional
fighter. a prize fighter. Two weeks
from to-day am to fight for the
lightweight championship"
He paused and looked out across
the garden.
The woman sat very still. Her
Puritan instincts were outraged by
this confession. All her lifelong
moral training revolted against it.
The roof Of her quiet porch was shell
terlng a degraded creature of the
sham eless arena. She looked at the
bovish face and the bandaged hands.
moment later Danny Crane felt
a light touch on his shoulder. He
looked up quickly and encountered
the woman's misty gaze.
I'm sorry you're fighter" she
softly said, but IL you must fight"-
she drew a quick BREATH hope
you'll fight to win."-W. K. Rose, In
Cleveland Plain Dealer.