Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-09-25
A LITTLE CHILD
SHALL LEAD Them
Two Loving Hearts That Were
|. Revealed to Each Other.
BY LOUISE HUBERT oUYoL.

7 Allyn Hardin was uldn Who'
though but thirty-seven, had Travelled
till be was well wearied with the
world. Without family or ties. no one
cared when he came nor where he
went, so that whenever he did think OF
settling down it was with very de-
cided picture In his mind-a picture OF
q home that was home Ia the fullest
sense of the word. where there reign
ed a wife whose life would be bound
ND In that home. where there romped
little children who would welcome him
with smiles and with dropping faces
see him 90. And 1t was this feeling
but DULY realized that made him look
upon Miss Ellison with something or
doubt, albeit much Of admiration.
Life was joyous to Alice Ellison.
Her blood ran high. and nothing had
crossed her path that tended to make
her feel aught but the Joy Of living. 1t
was natural, therefore, that she should
laugh and dance and sing. Sometimes,
though, 1t pulled on her, and she would
sit within the silence OF her room.
wondering why she could not fall In
love really and truly and deeply"
And always at this wonder the picture
of ALLYN Hardin rose before her and
her heart grew tender. And then
something would crop up, like the
weeds in the parable. choking out
these tiny seeds Of love. And that
something was pitifully like the vision
that had but just caused her momen-
tary gladness. But the clear blue eyes
were so cold. the fine mouth SO firmly
set with determination. the chin so
square. that she would rise impatient
ly, crying out:
"Ah. no. he would never be tender
nor sweet nor-nor"-
For she. too. had her picture OF what
a home should be. and. while she
scarcely dared dwell on 1t. as be could
do. II was there, In the clouds above
her head-a home in which there was
a woman whose life's one aim was to
keep the tired lines from her husbands
face, the worrying cares from his
heart. to maintain forever the smiles
on those little upturned faces at her
knee. But the husband must be one
with a heart warm enough to take and
profit by the sympathy she held out to
him in such good abundance. a man
who could understand the hearts OF
those little children in the arms OF that
woman.
So. thinking much but understand
ing little of each ether. they went their
separate ways until one morning early.
when a train drew out from the depot.
Alice seated In the chair car. Allyn
swinging on TO the step Of the last
coach.
He was or on his vacation. and in
the curlings OF the smoke be saw not
the face of Alice Ellison. but cool, green
hooks by running streams he heard
the crunch OF the dried leaves beneath
his feet and felt the Juggling OF the
trout upon his line.
He had bid Alice goodby two even
ings before. expecting to leave the city
then. and he recalled her look of good.
frank friendship as she bad put her
hand in his. What pity there Is not
more to her," he unused. she Is SO at
tractiye, but she lacks weight"
The train was coming TO stop. and
Allyn rose and went out on the plat
form. They were slowing into a pic
suresoue little town with green trees In
sight of the depot and big. sprawly
southern homes. whites and green In
the sunlight.
Was that Alice?
Yes. there on the lower step Of the
coach ahead Of him she stood. with an
ampatierce barely hidden by her quiet
manner, waiting for the train to stop.
She was smiling. oh, so brightly. and
the train had scarcely come to stand
still before she had sprung down and
was running across the platform to
meet
Allyn Hardin could not believe his
own eyes
A little girl with brown legs flashing
bare above low socks and face. left
bare by the bonnet that hung about
her neck. rejecting the brightness he
had seen on AlIce's. came rushing
down the platform too. With shrek
of Joy she threw herself into Alice's
open arms.
tn, whistle blew again Alice was
moving Of with a young man and wo-
man who had joiued her,
Miss Ellison. How do you dor
Alice turned about qu:csiy.
ooh" she casped. Il thought you
were in Wisconsin, She moved to
ward the train. not losing hold Of the
little inDd that lay in hers.
Il could not get OF. Wish 1 had
known you were aboard" The train
was moving. -Goodby. goodhy."
Bon voyage" called Alice Then
bending toward the child. Wave by
by to Mr.. Hardin"
A sunburned little hand claved the