Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-13
His Chance.

back to the office when the sudden shower
! caught her without umbrella
she stood looking out of the win
dow at the crowds in the rainy street be-
low. She felt very happy and she was
humminS a little song to herself when
she became aware that somebody was
near her.
! Maybe there's others that amt SO
gay growled the office boy. cut it
out. 1t gives-me pain.
Naturally the stenosrapher concluded
| that Dan had been disappointed in the
quantity or quality of his lunch
I've got box of crackers on my desk,
| Dam" she said, without turning around.
Pm going on my vacation tomorrow and
they won't keep till ] get back, help
yourself"
Well" said Dan. in Modified tone.
II amt hungry. but I'm stuck on these
| crackers
His mouth was full before he got to the
end of the sentence.
| My brothers always ready to eat
laughed the stenographer. Having you
here in the Office has made me desperate
lily hOmesick for him all winter, because
| he's just your age Now I'm going to see
MN 1OT Il whole nOnIn. =
The Office boy regarded her curiously
| Say. you're awful stuck on tnat kid.
amt YOU he said with an air of scorrt
that tried to hide wistful note. Where
is he at?'
/ We live on farm" the stenographer
said happily. We're three miles from
town. but We drive there a good deal and
| Billy goes fishing and rides on the hay"
| Gee. I'd rather drive the horses the
boy cried. eagerly. lis there cows. too?''
| I'VE have four A man takes care of
everything. but. of course. Billy helps all
he can. We have lot of fun when we're
! together. Billy and H.
What's there to do in a place like
lthat?"
We have lots of friends" said the
| stenosrapher. But ! like best to fish
with Billy or tramp with him in the woods
or ride horseback or drive in the moon
light. Billy goes swimming a lot. too
The boy heaved a sigh that lie tried to
| turn into cough. The stenographel
wheeled about and looked at him keenly
| How long vacation do you get?" she
asked. for all the world though she
| had not lain awake the night before plan
| ming this very conversation. And where
! are you going?
| Il get two weeks" Dan said ungra-
ciously. And if / get to some amuse-
Iment park l guess I'll be lucky. There
amt nobody at home but me and my
father and he's on a job-frst one he's
had in month of Sundays"
| eff I wait over a week will you go tC
the country with me?'' she asked timid-
|
doesn't it? Then we could take the trip
together"
Say. what do you take me for?' the
boy asked turning lis back 81 amt no
Rockefeller
The fare isn't much more than ST. she
urged. And L
The boy drew himself up fiercely.
Save yonr money for poor kids" he
mumbied. Il en- take care of myself
see?"
The stenographer looked at the thin
face and then at the shiny clothes that
covered his small figure and smiled lit
tie uncertainty. She must try her second
plan, apparently, even though it might
oblige her to forego some good times ir
the winter because of a depleted bank
You needn't get so excited" she said
1--WE need somebody to help and would b;
glad to pay you a little for your work
and then you could pay for your ticket
out of that. The work isn't hard; its
what Billy does every summer and he
likes it. You'd have all the time you
want to go fishing and swimming ant
lriding
The small figure, remained mOtionles.
at the table. back turned, head up. She
went on.
Billy d love to have boy to go about
with him. for sometimes he's rather lone
some. | can get three weeks for you i
you really want to go. You'll like m!
mother and she'll like you. Will you go?'
The boy turned a radiant face her way
but words failed him. He easped and hi
leyes diated with excitement.
"Oh. gee.' he cried rapturously at last
Twill I go. Oh. gee. Sure III co.