The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-08-21
KEEPING A
SECRET
By F. A. Mitchell
"Harker. there's kid up in the Of
flee wants to see you"
"A xii to 500 10. 90

ton was unavoidable. and Harker had
taken position in a hardware store.
his work being In the cellar. 1t was
from there he was called to the Office.
ASK him If he's my boy Harry, and.
II he is, bring him down here"
The messenger went upstairs and
soon brought down a boy of seven. On
seeing Harker he bounded into his
arms.
"Papaw
The father Rugged him again and
again, then said. Come for money
ngain, Harry?'
mo; not this time" -
'sThen what is ft?'
Mamma has sent me for you"
.Sent you for me? Does she wish
me to come and see her about any,
thing2 If so, tell her to write me.
There'll only be more trouble If we
try to talk"
''She wants you to come home and
stay home"
That's impossible. Harry. 1t would.
not do at ALL"
she told me to tell yon she wouldn't
do so any more"
'.Oh, yes, she will. She's said she
wouldn't before. She can't help it
when she sees you children ragged and
hungry and needing lot of things.
don't blame her."
"She won't do 1t any more. l know
she won't"
How do you know itY'
Because somepn's happened"
whats hapenedY
Mamma said | wasn't to tell you"
Harker looked even graver than be-
fore. When things happen in famf
lies going downhil It's generally a
! notch lower. The husband and IA
theY feared one Of his children had
succumbed to bad nourishment or cold
or heat or the thousand and one things
that carry off the children of the poor.
He didn't question the boy further.
Instead he said:
Its half an hour to closing time.
Go home and tell mamma I'll come as
soon as / leave here"
mo; I'm to wait for you."
WHY"
ITO show you the way. We've
moved"
Harker groaned. He felt sure what
that meant--they had been evicted
again for nonpayment Of rent.
q well. Harry, you go and sit up. on
that stool, and when 6 o'clock comes
you may show me the way home"
~ al ckr oh To lxnr 1n%e
the store. his little boy walking beside |
him, holding on to his hand. Harry |
led his father down a broad avenue.
Are you sure you're on the right
track. Harry, dear?"
yes, papa"
ri don't know of any houses you
and the children and mamma can live
In hereabout."
well turn out Of this street pretty
soon"
1T must be long walk"
mot very; only about ten minutes
more"
They walked on till they came to the
street they were to turn into.
I'm sorry it's SO FAR" said Harker.
"I'm tired after a long days work,
and I'm not as strong as l was. I'll
have a long way back to my dinner"
You're not to go back to dinner.
papa"
The father walked on musing. Pres
entity he asked: Anything very bad
happened, HarryT
II wasn't TO answer any questions
about what's happened. mamma told
me-"
You're very good little messenger
to carry a secret"
I'm doing the best can to keep It.
but It's mighty hard"
For the first time the father smiled. !,
He knew how hard 1t was for Marry
to keep secret, for he had known him
to try before and make bad failure. !
Then. too. he had an idea that IT some
new misfortune had happened the boy
wouldn't have had so much difficulty
in keeping it to himself. While he was
weighing these matters, Harry sudden
~ let go of his fathers hand and ran
up on to the stoop of brick dwelling !
about which everything was spick and
span. And there in the windows, !
laughing at their father and bobbing
their heads and clapping their hands.
were the other children. Harker stood
for moment puzzled. then followed
his boy up the steps. The door open
ed, and his wife sprang into bis arms.
What's happenedT IL
AUNT Sarah has died and left me
her house and the little income on
which she lived"
1t was hard for Harker to realize :
the change with FIVE children strug-
Cling to climb up on him for kiss. i,
But the news didn't stop them or the =
kisses. AS soon as each and every v
one had been Rugged and kissed they I
all went into the sitting room. and 5
Harry. taking his fathers hand, said: '
Nov. papa. tell mamma II 1 didn't
keep the secret mighty WELL" r
"Splendidly" And taking the boy
sp In his arms, be covered his face +
with kisses.
Automobile for hire, by the day or t
Jour; fine, new Buick car, can carry a