The Washington herald., 1911-07-23
Charley
CONTINUED FROM PAGE FIVE

have been under water for two minutes-it
he had been under ten.
He gave shout. He had the boat by one
clutching hand. 1t must have wrenched his
shoulder some, for it hurt him. But the JOY
in his heart dulled him to everything else
He had never felt 80 strangely happy. He
believed he was crying-which was queer
thing to do. And meantime he was slowly
and painfully pulling in the boat.
He got it to the muddy bank. and pushed
it to safe lodgment. Then he deposited
his dripping krm on the grass, feeling dizzy,
Harold, he saw, was dazedly sitting up, and
he tried to speak to him. But the pain in his
shoulder was really terrific, and all at once
things melted together before his eyes, and
he knew nothing more.
Charley was in bed--his own bed-when
he came to himself. A soft wind famed
him from the open window. He smelled
ammonia and camphor. Mrs. Blount stood
watching him and holding one of his hands,
and Mr.. Blount was in the doorway; and
Harold stood by his pillow, with fan in one
hand AID cloth in the other, with which he
was wetting his face.
'Say,' Charley began, weakly. I'm aw-
full sorry hit you. was sorry soon as 1
did it,
"Oh, you ought to have!' said Harold,
heatrily. "Just as soon as you did that, l
ought to have known it before. don't know
what allied me-"
."You've had long faint, DEAR" said Mira
Mount. Harold came running home for
his grandfather. and he went and brought
you home and we got you in bed; and this
is the first time you have opened your eyes.
Sarah has gone for the doctor. We must
see where you are hurt"
"It's ny shoulder" said Charley.
He feN very contented somehow. Mrs.
Blount had said dear" just as she did to
Harold, and he found courage to add:
You're not going to send me away, are
you?"
+ "My dear boy!" exclaimed Mrs. Blount.
And she wiped her eyes on her apron.
well, 1 rather guess not" said Harold
Not much"
'.Send you awayY said Mr.. Blount. "Id
like to know how we could get along without
you. Why, since we've had you, we've won.
|iered how we ever did get along without
vou."
life" Mrs. Blount began.
But she could ssy no more. She turned
away, and Mr.. Blount coughed suspiciously.
When the doctor came, he pronounced
Charley's injury to be only severe wrench,
Il was not . disiocation. and few days
rest would make it all right again.
"Oh, it will take a week and half"
Harold pronounced, in his decisive way, "and
vou can have the hammock all you want
7, can read my History of Spain to you.
ioodW
That was very pleasant week and half.
The attack Of fever which Harolds grand
mother had feared for him, because Of his
'ainting spell in the boat, did not appear.
he sat out in the yard every afternoon by
he hammock, which he insisted that Charley
hould occupy, and read history to him to his
iearts content
Wind had blown it off his bureau, one bill
lnder the washstand and the other under the
,ed. And, altogether, sympathetic under
standing and warm friendship grew up
,etween the two boys.
le slipped something into Charley,s hand
when / wrote to father all about you
aying me from being drowned, he sent me
|, TO you then. though. 1 wanted to save it
ill now. It's hundred dollars. l wrote to
ather that you want to 60 to that academy
ONE time, and he aid he would help You do
t, and that this would be q starter, and I'm
'wfulg glad. Good-by:"
And he was of, in his grandfather's spring
wagon. laughing gleefully at the bewilder-
nent and the dawning joy in Charley's blue
yes.