The Meeker herald., 1913-11-29

j
two or three times In the week We
would 70 sither to the opera or the the
ster. The other evenings would spend
mostly with Arthur or with any one I
happened to nnd to 60 about with me-.
Besides this gave theater parties.
dinners. suppers-in short, took In 1af
more ways Of diverting my mind from
my trouble than could catalogue.
But, despite all could do. ny doom
hung heavy over me. Ono afternoon
when was with Adele gave way 70
tho gloom within me and confessed
that was not gaining much from the
money I was spending There was Q
real sympathy in her face when she re-
piled:
There d another way Of getting out
Of yourself which You have not tried"
"What Il itT I asked eagerly.
.Iptsrest yourself in the welfare OF
others"
II never thought Of that. Do you
suppose It would work In my cassr'
II think 1t would help you"
We were riding In my car. and boy
stood on the sidewalk with newspapers
under his arm he was trying to sell.
His feet were bare; bis shirt was open
In front for want Of buttons and for
profusion Of tatters; his coat and trou-
sers were thin. drew mp near him
and bought paper. handing him nvo
dollar bill. He looked at 1t Respondent
~, thinking that he would lose the sale
of a paper. for he could not change 1t.
Never mind the change" said,
and az we moved away saw him
look at the bill. at mo and at the
bill again. while the expression on his
face was a delight to me-.
"By lover l exclaimed. ut works
nrst rate. I'm going back to get the
poor little chap and do some more
of it,
l returned to the boy. took him into
my car, and we drove to store. where
l spent money for clothes for him a.
lavishIy a. I had been spending It ON
myself. couldn't keep my eyes Oh
the expression Of wonder. Of delight,
that perpetually lowered on his fea-
lures. / didn't know what he needed.
but Adele did and thought Of many
things that would add to his comfort
"Now we must take him home" she
said when he was warmly dressed.
and, loaded down with packages. We
went to the car and presently drew up
ut a tenement house. where We aston
ished bis mother and his brothers and
sisters by presenting him to them In
his new habiliments. had a roll OF
bills in my pocket, which distributed
among the children. left = check for
the mother. and Adele and drove
away. followed BY the blessings Of the
family. s0
l had often returned to my room at
midnight to feel the doom that hung
over me by contrast with the gayety
! had experienced more keenly than
before going. The evening Of my new
departure spent with Adsls. listen
Ing to plans she psspared for more
giving the nsxf d6y. and WHEN went
to bsd felt greater relief than At any
time since ! had learned that must
die within the year. For the f3rst time
since heard the announcement went
to sleep with no room for 1t In my
mind for thinking of the happiness I
had created
need not repeat the details Of my
charities. of which this was the be-
ginning. gained something In
strength as well as spirits. could not
see that the lump that was to kill me
was increasing. and l hoped that !
might be permitted to live the full
time the doctor had allowed me. One
thing noticed-I had less use for Ar
thur Anterior and more for Adele
Sturgis. spent my mornings recall
ing the pleased expressions Of those
had benefited and my afternoons 60
ing about getting rid Of my money
with Adele. The evenings usually
spent with her. talking over our char
table work for the next day.
One night when l was going to bed !
looked at my lump. II was appreciabiy
smaller. felt Of 1t, and. whereas II
had been hard. 1t was now soft. won.
dered If after all the great specialist
had not been mistaken In my case. The
next morning ] went to him again. He
examined my symptom, and saw al
once by his expression that It was not
as he had expected. saw also that
what he was thinking about was how
he should admit to me that he had
been mistaken without injury to his
professional dignity.
This lump" he said at last, "is what
l told you in the first place. But" be
waited moment before going on to
give me time to be impressed-"but It
II variety that II harmless. think II
will subside"
had 500 check in my pocket
ready for him and, handing 1t to him.
got out as quickly AZ possible, fearing
that he would change his opinion again
before could make an exit dew to
Adele to announce the good news, and
when did 30 met with the astonish-