The chronicle=news., 1913-01-07
Humphrey Found
& His neari
Ihe, NM. ~ Associated ,I.i,srsr,
BY VIRGINIA BLAIR

bis father died. Now that the Young
Or children were wage earnets. ana
his mother had married again. Hum
phrey wss free for the hrst time In
bis life.
He intended TO get married! Ills
choice lay bs,Nesn :wo village beau
ties. A. yet he had not paid marked
attention to either Of them. but a.
he rsmmsd his hat down on bis head
one rusty September night and start
Cd for . walk. he knew that he nhh
make bis decision.
He did not ask himself whether he
loved Rose or Mary. They were Sooo
girls. and would make good wives. Ills
mother had married his father In her
younE years Of romance. and the mar,
rtass had turned out badly. She haa
iinprssssd II on Humphrey that love
was an unstable thing. and that ne
would bs happier without II.
Yet somsshing stirred In Humphrey
- be LETT the village street and came
out upon long stretch Of road. wh'cn
showed white for = little way anu
was then hidden by the blacknsss OF
The grove beyond. Overhead the moon
racsd through The ragged clouds.
Humphrey brought his min5 hack
sfsrnIy 10 the subject In hand. Which
should II bs. Rose or Mary! The fa'r
ono or the dark. the abort one or the
tall:
The wind blew strongly. and as
Humphrey entered the shadows OF tue
wood q thousand voicss seemed to
mock him. but above all the MmuH
came q human note. . little cry. ON.
pleass-bslp!"
Humphrey stopped. "Who 10 u"
hs asked sharply.
A white shape seemed TO dssaeh
itself from the sable background.
II havs--losi my way" quivsred =
woman's voice. ''and--and am
afrajd.-
Humphrey struck = match. A face
appeared within the circle Of light
. chiidis face. except for the mstur''y
Of the troubled brow.
Hunphrsy struck another match.
"You are wet he said. abruptly.
Were you In the storm this after
ucon:-
Yea" The match had gone out
and they we're aGsia In darkness.
"Yss." I walked from the car. am
from tAs city. heard they needed
girls up here to pick grapes and so-r
cane"
He could read sxsrsass fatigue In
The drag1ing voice.
Come" hs sai1. suddssly. you
Dust 90 10 tAs village. You seed
ooussthing 10 eAt-a hot dfink."
Il can't walk another step" She
was cryisS softly. i've hurt ny
foot"
Are you afraid to stay hsrs?"
Humphrey asked. "l'li 20 back and
get my horse"
II hate 10 hear the owls she
sobbsd. when they hoos-and the
fsuGs."
In the. darkness Humphrey smiled.
What . child she was-with = won.
ans eyes. They can't hurt you." b
said. good naturediy. I'll b back
In . minute"
When be returned to the girl be
found her curlsd up against fallen
log. I've brought . robs." hs sai1.
Wrap yourssif In t..
WAsn Phe was safe IN The seat be
began to thisk where he should take
her. There was no hotel and the
squAlid boarding house where the
e.aps-handa boarded was no place for
this Httls slsndsr thing. His own
home was presided over By bis mar
risd sists5. grim young woman who
would look askanes at the city stray.
A. they reached the crossroads. be
tsrnsd bis horses head away from
Ais own house. II am going to take
you." hS said. TO my great aunt's.
she's seventy and she lives By her.
sslf. and she's ~ sood-as gold"
But can't 90 on to ths farm
where they want hs'p:" sAs cues.
toned.
'You can rest At my aunts TO-
night" he said. avasivsly.
When = few minutes later be had
made his explanations to Aunt Bet.
ssy. and bad ushsrsd his little stray
Into her presence. be was silent for =
moment before the revelation Of the
girls beauty.
BY the light Of the match be had
seen only her face. But now all the
grace and charm Of her delicate
frame were revealed. ',t
-I've got some cold baked BEANS
said Aunt Betsey. bustlinE. "and ri
warm them up. and you shall have q
cup OF tea"
Humphrey blushed As she spoke Of
baked beans. He could not have ds.
fnsd his feelings. but this divinity
Wna vopthv of-nmhrNain
But a. she ate the good food set
down before her. daiutily but with
appetite. she seemed somehow 10
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. II am
afraid" &
The next morning he went at once
IN Amt petsAy's The Ripl ~.s