The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-07

more?' he stammcred.
NO" she answered.
do YOU think mothers often do?"
Perhaps"
Il s'pose when they begin to care
again they come back?"
Sometimes. no doubt"
There was u little pause. My son
ndSctcd rrstlcssly with the fringe OF
her rug
And your people never go away,
and are never cross. and always love
each other" he murmured. as though
he were carefully taking down inn
portant evidence.
That's IT. Why do YOU ask all
these questions, you funny little fell
low?' II. drew back instantly. and
she apologi2cd for her tactlessncss.
You sec. you had asked so many
questions that felt perhaps might
be allowed just one" she explained.
It's only cause I'm such a curious
little boy he said forSivingly. offer
Ing another OF his nurses cxplana-
tons. Another pause followed. My
sons eyes wandered out to the calm
sea, so that she had opportunity to
study his grave profile Perhaps, be-
cause she had been so long suffering
and III. her perception had grown
brighter than that OF ordinary NOR
tails. At any rate. sho had some
dawning OF tho truth. and her heart
went out 10 the other heart that
ached, though it couldn't tell why.
no
things haven't always been SO
smooth and beautiful In my life
Long. long ago there were times when
father and mother were cross-very
cross indeed; times. too. when I used
to wonder whether they really could
love either each other or me. That is
al passed now, but 1t was So
He looked round with a new and
sudden eagcrncss.
What made 1t all go dinerent?"
he asked
She pointed with ono white. trans
parent hand to the rocks that rose
abruptly TO their right. You sec Up
there she said. "Onc day ] was
walking just where that sharp peak
stands above the rest. was very
unhappy and forgot in my trouble
What was doing. l slipped ana fell"
She paused and took a long. shudder-
Ing breath when they picked me
up they found tina; something had
been broken and that L should never
be able TO run or walk or play any
more"
And then--!t was all d!ffcrent?"'
Yes. then II was all different.
There were no more cross words. and
] began to understand how much
hsN In l,..ir
they began 20 love each other again.
Can YOU understand all that
He shook his head. NO" he said.
She s;roked the rufflcd hair from
his forehead. You Will one day. dear
little fellow. It's the way grown up
people he"e. When they are healthy.
wcll-io-do and have everything the
world can offer them. then they are
disconnected. 1t IS then they say
ana do tn" cruel careless, foolish
thinSs to those they love. which
afterwards they would give their
lives to take back. When sorrow
comes--or--or death they are sorry.
Their hearts warm towards each
other; all that is best and iendcrest
and trucst in them awakcs. They
cannot understand how they could
ever have been so cold and cruel and
thoughtlcss. That's why there Is
pain ana sorrow In the world-just
To teach people TO love each other
and he good and patient I'm afraid
! have talked too big for you, haven't
~
oh. no." ne said. II understand
sort Of" He stopped ana picked up
mo woolly bear. which had fallen
neglected on the pebbles He had
seen :hc man and the lady come out
Of IN" house. and something made
him wish 10 get away. II must go
home" ne said. Good by" lie put
his face l;ravely and she kissed him.
Come and talk 10 me sometimes"
she said I'm sure We shall be good
friends"
Yes" he answered. II am glad to
have mot You. think YOU are an
understanding person."
lie walked scdately away. but not
homcwards When he was we'll out
OF sight nc turned quickly to the
up to the Great Rocks. The path
was a stony. winding one. At every
turn another turn revealed itself, so
that It seemed as though the summit
would never be reached. His breath
cane in short. broken gasps. his
knees shook under him. and the
woolly bear became a monster in
weight and size. But he clung tcnac-
iously both 10 his friend and to his
purpose. lie wanted 10 see the magic
stop where everything had been
made different" Pain. suffering and
death were for him only vague
shadows, not realities. Somewhere at
the back OF his mind the idea was
forming itself that they were fairics
who with wave of their wands
could change cross unloving world
into place OF sunshine and gentle
ness. He believed that their abode
was on the peak which rose cold and
gray against the Sky, and that If he
begged very hard they would holm
him. At last the spot was reached
y bare. unprotected plateau which
shelved dangerously down TO the edge
OF the rrccipicc.
surely no fairies would live here.
lie looked about him. Before him