The Southern herald., 1910-10-28
CATCHING STEP
By JENNIE o. LOIZEAUX


went home and managed the tu-
neral. made the few distant relar
ttves who could come as comfortable
as he could. wrote letters. faced an
empty house. Then he knew that
trying as the half-insane, peevish
unloVing old woman had been, her
absence was a terrible thing. His
heart was empty. He faced the fact.
which was not the worst thing he
did; he accepted it, which was fatal
He not only recognized loneliness and
failure and imitation-he accepted
them. He had ceased to fight
When the two weeks we're over be
went back to the office. He gave up
the little rented house and moved to
cheap boarding place. It was not
comfortable. but neither was debt.
He settled down to work and the
stoop in his shoulders was most
marked and his hair thinned a bit
more; but his smile grew very gentle
and fine quality crept into his
voice. He slept and began to be
really rested. and some of the daze
passed.
After a few months he began to
read again magazine stories-fool.
ism things, but they reminded him
that there was somewhere, youth and
love and laughter in the world.
And then there was Ninette. She
was the landlady's little girl, curly.
headed, warm-hearted. With the
confidence of her four years the
baby-Woman walked into his heart
and took possession. She would
come up to his room, creep into his
arms, and demand a story. Unable
to deny her anything, he bestirred
his memory, his imagination, and
the stories became an escape from
reality.
1t was his first step up from the
depths Of apathy. He would think
things out to tell the baby and he
took to buying her candy and cheap
toys. 1t was the first time in years
that he had practiced self-lndul-
gence. He did it as a lover wastes
gifts on the lady of his dreams. One
night the child, over-tired, fell
asleep, her yellow little head on his
breast; and he held her awhile be.
fore carrying her down to her
mother, who was none too sorry to
have the care of the child fall some.
times upon this big, kind man.
He became lighter of heart and
brighter, and his work had a tinge
of his boyish energy in It. 1t oc.
Cured to him one morning Just as
the senior partner came up, to speak
to him to ask for a raise. Without
giving himself time to weigh and
ponder, somewhat to his own sur.
prise, he did it confidently on the
spot The request was granted; he
had forgotten that a man was valued
by himself and that others rated
him with some dependence on this
valuation.
That night he bought a new gray
suit and took the band from his hat.
1t was early summer, and he took
Ninette out for a walk in the little
park.
Sitting in a red swing in the twi.
light, with the sleepy child in his
arms, all of a sudden his heart was
full of Amy Bartlett. Where was
she! He longed to see her, to hear
her gentle voice and see the won.
anly, motherly, comforting smile.
Being fair himself, he liked dark
women; there was to him something
deep and sweet about them. He re-
membered that Amy had a dimple
in her plump cheek. Then he car
ried the little one home and went to
his room with his mind full of Amy
Bartlett.
The next day he asked Mrs. Farley,
who had been years in the office,
what had become Of her. The elder
woman looked at him with a sort Of
pity, before she replied
We'll, you actually want to know?
She's at Woodly's-two whole blocks
away, John Akers! And while we're
talking about her, let me tell you
something-you're the most awful
idiot. Well, it's time you were
catching step!"
That night he walked out of the
Office thinking What had Mrs.
Farley meant?-what? He did not go
home. He went for a walk passing
out of the hot streets to a quieter
way, one that led to the little park
1t was early evening. He went along,
and then suddenly he turned his head
to glance at a woman sitting on
bench He met her dark eyes.
1t was Amy Bartlett, and he went
straight to her-it was as If she might
disappear before he could tell her
something. She held out her hand
and gave him a smile, but there was
a pathetic look in her eyes. A great
light came to him.
Amy" he said low and breathless-
ly, do you know how have starved
for you? how have loved you? Do
you know? | wanted you to know
1t will be easier then to go on alone.
She choked a little and he saw
that her eyes were brimming with
tears.
"Alone? WHY should II be alone.