Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-09-27
Humphrey Found
His Heart
By VIRGINIA BLAIR

Press.)
Humphrey Dodd was a plain man.
He had been the eldest son and nao
assumed heavy responsibilities Wnen
his father died. Now that the young
er children were wage earners. anu
his mother had married again, HUM
phrey was free for the first time III
his life.
He intended to get married! his
choice lay between two village peau.
ties. AS yet he had not paid marked
attention to either Of them, but as
he rammed his hat down on his heaa
one gusty September night and start
ed for q walk, he knew that he must
make his decision.
He did not ask himself whether ne
loved Rose or Mary. They were sooc
girls, and would make good wives. his
mother had married his father In ner
young years of romance, and the mar
rage had turned out badly. She naai
impressed it on Humphrey that love,
was an unstable thing, and that he
would be happier without 1t.
Yet something stirred in Humphrey
rs he left the village street and came
out upon long stretch of road, wnlcn:
showed white for a little way ana
was then hidden by the blackness Oh
the grove beyond. Overhead the mooh
raced through the ragged clouds.
Humphrey brought his mind PACK
sternly to the subject in hand. "nlch
should It be, Rose or Mary? The lar
one or the dark the short one or tne
tall?
; The wind blew strongly, and as
Humphrey entered the shadows OF the
wood thousand voices seemed 10
mock him, but above all the tumui1
came a human note, little cry oh'
please-help!"
, Humphrey stopped. WHO IS IL:
he asked sharply.
A white shape seemed to detacn
itself from the sable background. i
Il have-lost my way" quivered
woman's voice, "and-and l am
afraid"
Humphrey struck match. A race
appeared within the circle OF hgnt-
a child's face, except for the maturity
of the troubled brow.
Humphrey struck another match.
"You are wet" he said, abruptly.
Were you in the storm this AFTER
noon?"
Yes" The match had gone out
and they were again in darkness
Eyes" I walked from the car. l am
from the city. I heard they needed
girls up here to pick grapes and So
came" :;
He could read extreme fatigue I'M
the dragging voice.
Come" he said, suddenly, you
must 60 to the village. You need
something to eat-a hot drink"
ST can't walk another step" She
was crying softly. 1--WE hurt my
foot"
Are you afraid to stay here?"
Humphrey asked. "Pn go back and
get my horse"
"I hate to hear the owls" she
sobbed, when they hoot-and the
frogs"
In the darkness Humphrey smiled.
What a child she was-with a wonn-
ans eyes. They can't hurt YOU" he
said. good naturedly. 'fll be back
in a minute"
When he returned to the girl he
found her curled up against a fallen
log. 1--WE brought robe" he said.
Wrap yourself in It,"
When she was safe in the seat he
began to think where he should take
her. There was no hotel and the
soualid boarding house where the
grape-hands boarded was no place for
this little slender thing. His own
home was presided over by his mar
ried sister, a grim young woman who
would look askance at the city stray.
AS they reached the crossroads, he
turned his horses head away from
his own house. Il am going to take
YOU" he said. ito my great aunt's.
She's seventy and she lives by her
self. and she'ssas good-as gold"
But can't go on to the farm
where they want help?" she ques-
toned.
"You can rest at my aunt's to-
night" he said, evasively
! When a few minutes later he had
made his explanations to Aunt Bet
sey, and had ushered his little stray
into her presence. he was silent for
moment before the revelation of the
girls beauty.
By the light of the match he had
seen only her face. But now all the
grace and charm Of her delicate
frame were revealed.
1--WE got some cold baked BEANS"
said Aunt Betsey, bustling, land I'll
warm them up, and you shall have
cup Of tea"
Humphrey blushed as she spoke Of
baked beans. He could not have de-
fined his feelings, but this divinity
was worthy of-ambr osia.
But as she ate the good food set
down before her, daintily but with
appetite, she seemed somehow to
glorify the act.
Humphrey said Good night" pres.
emily and went home. All along the
way that tender face appealed to him.
and the trembling lips said. 81 am
afraid"
The next morning be went at once
to Aunt Betsey's The girl was
asleep.
Pm going to take q tray up to her."