The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-10-06


Better Alphonse had taken it." Ia
mented Henrietta.
what shall we do now" asked
Bartlett. II was Saturday and Batche-
Tor would not be able to reach New
York now no matter what happened.
He had won, the ring was safe, but
he turned sadly to the general, and
laid his hand kindly on his old friends
shoulder. Hard luck, man." said he.
Hard luck"
I'VE will have to go home" said
Henrietta duly.
1--WE have no money" replied the
general quietly, unmoved BY his penni-
less condition. thinking only of the mo-
tor-car that was no more.
Il have a little" said Henrietta.
About six dollars"
I'VE owe at least all of that here for
supper and rooms,Y said Bartlett.
Henrietta glanced from one to the
other, then laughed, gay little bubble
of mirth. They had no money, but
what did that matter? What did any,
thing matter when one loved and is
loved? She felt guilty because she was
not sorrier over the loss of the car,
and she patted the general lovingly on
the shoulder.
"Cheer up, daddy. We haven't cent,
none of u.s. she crooned.
We can telegraph" suggested Billy.
From where?' asked Bartlett
shortly.
"Why we can drive somewhere where
We ean," returned Billy desperately,
under her fathers calm scrutiny OF
amusement.
Drive WHAT" asked Bartlett.
"A horse" said Henrietta mildly.
What horse?' questioned Bartlett.
There are two. The farmer wants
them both to help clear up and to 90
to neighbours for assistance. What
shall We driver"
''Shank's mare" said Henrietta. AT
the nearest farm, we can get a team
and drive to some town where we can
telegraph"
Bartlett and Billy agreed. The gen.
eral said nothing. There was nothing
to say. The dream of his heart. the
occupation of his days, was gone What
was there to say?
The Watermelon also Was silent. He
felt that he could not leave them, now
that they were again in trouble. When
they reached the town and had tele-
graphed, he would go-back to the
road. He was chewing a straw, hands
IN his pockets, gazing with the others
in dull apathy at the remains of the
car, and he raised his head instinctively
to read the sky for approaching storms.
There would be moon that night and
a good breeze, which would make walk
ing easy.
Hungry" asked Billy gaily, smiling
at him, her eyes asking what the mat
ter was Had she done anything to
offend him since the evening before
when they had climbed the railroad cut
togetherf
Pm always hungry. Billy" said he,
and joined the general on the way to
the house.
Billy stood a moment, hurt and flush
ed, then she followed the others in to
breakfast.
The farmers wife had made some
hot coffee, strong and black, and fried
some bacon, and with thick slices of
bread and butter, they all ate raven
ously at the bare deal table in the kitch-
eli, with no pretense whatever of table
cloth or napkins. The Watermelon and
the farmers wife stood alone in the
kitchen after the others had left and
he looked down kindly at her with the
camaraderie felt only by one unfortu-
nate in trouble for another in a like
place.
It's damn hard on you" he said.
And on him." said the woman. "All
the hay was just in"
Lay not up for yourselves treas
ures-" murmured the Watermelon la
conically, instnctively turning to the
Bible on every occasion. PITY YOU
aren't man. They you could chuck |
the whole show and hit the road with |
me. I'm stony broke, too"
He patted her shoulder gently and !
tears leaped into the woman's tired |
eyes. She cried a bit and he soothed |
her softly as one would soothe a tired !
child.
Those Others" said she, wiping her
eyes on her coarse apron, they are
kind, but they don't understand"
They mean WELL" said the Water
melon, 'but you have to 90 through |
the mill yourself, to do well. l know
what poverty means Its ways amt
ways of pleasantness by a dog gone
sight
"Beggars all, beggars all,"I cried Hen
rietta, as they started UP the road, in
the dewy freshness of early morning.
1t was still early and quite cool. with
the breeze of the night following them,
aden with the depressing odor of
charred tirnbers and burning leather.
The road wound around a hill. sloping
now and again into the valley and ris-
ing again to the heights. The view
swept fields and hills and woods, all OF
he deep green of mid June, and over
al bent the blue sky of a summer day.
The air was like ozone. 1t was a
physical joy simply to walk. to breathe
he odor of fields and woods and open
places and to lei ones eyes dwell on
he beauty and the glory of the land.
Il am glad it pleases you, Henrietta"
aid the general tartly
Henrietta sobered. Father, feel as
,adly as you do about the car. But
can't go into mourning for it."