The Springdale news., 1909-07-09

widow had objected. "Is it promiscu- ous to catch somebody?'
 Tt depends upon whom you catch he answered. with dry, whimsical smile
 Well, l don't catch anybody but the children" She looked up at him with serious. inquiring eyes.
 Never mind. Polly. Your games aren't promiseuous" She did not hear him She was searching for her book.
 ''ls this what you are looking for?" he asked. drawing the missing article from his pocket.
 "Ohr' cried Polly, with q flush of ern- barrassment Mandy told you"
 You've been working a long time on that
 .I thought might help you if I learned everything you told me- she answered timidly But I don't sup pose l could.
 T can never tell you how much you help me. Polly
 Do I?" she cried eagerly II can help more if you will only let me. I can teach bigger class in Sunday school now. 1 got to the book of Ruth today
 You did ?" He pretended to be as. tonished He was anxious to encour- age her enthusiasm
 "Em-hum," she answered solcmnly- A dreamy look came into her eyes. Do you remember the part that you read to me the first day I came|' He nodded He was thinking how care free they were that day. How impos sible such problems as the present one would have seemed then, "l know every bit of what you read by heart. It's our next Sunday school lesson"
 50 it is
 Do you think now that IL would be best for me to go away" She looked up into his troubled face.
 We'll see we'll sec" he murmured. then tried to turn her mind toward other things Come, now; let's find out whether you do know your Sunday schOol lesson. How does 1t begin 7" There was no answer. She had turned away with trembling lips. And Ruth said'- He took her two small hands and drew her face toward him, mean ing to prompt her.
 'Entreat ne not to leave thee, sh. pleaded. Her eyes met his His face was close to hers The small features before him were quivering with emo tion. She was so frail so helpless, SC easily within his grasp His muscles grew tense, and his lips closed firmly He was battling with an impulse to draw her toward him and comfort hel in the shelter of his strong, brave arms They shan't" he cried, start ing toward her
 Polly drew back, overa wed. Her soul had heard and seen the things re vealed to each of us only once. She would never again be child.
 Douglas braced himself against the back of the bench.
 What was the rest of the lesson? ?" he asked in firm. hard voice.
 tI can't say it now" Polly mur- mured Her face was averted her white lids futtered and closed.
 Nonsense, Of course you can. Come. come. III help you. Douglas spoke sharply. He was almost vexed with her and with himself for the weakness that was so near overeom- ing them. And Ruth said, 'Entreat ne not to leave thee -"
 "'Or to return from following after thee she was struggling to keep back the tears" for whither thou goest 1 will go. and where thou lodgest l will lodge Thy people shall be my people and thy God my - She stopped.
 That's right; go on said Douglas. striving to control the unsteadiness in his own voice.
 "Where thou diest will I die" Her arms went out blindly.
 "0h you won't send me away, will you?. she sohbed Il don't want to learn anything else just-except-from you She covered her face and slipped. little broken heap. at his feet.
 In an instant the pastors strong arms were about her; his stalwart body