Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-08

MAUD, MAUD is 1T REALLY your"
! cloak and pinned a fur trimmed hat on
! her brown hair.
Il am going out, Mary. You need
not sit up for me-" she said to her
maid as she swept down the stairs.
Around the nearest corner, through
! the brilliantly lighted avenue. among
the Christmas shoppers streaming up
town, evading the motorcars that
| snorted through the snow that by
morning would be impossible, through
another cross street. and on and on
until all Mt once she found herself In a
different neighborhood. an avenue as
thickly populated as that other high
way of wealth and fashion. but the
shoppers here were of another class.
The women did not scorn to carry
home n basket Of groceries among the
other Christmas purchases, and many
man carried a turkey or a chicken.
duck or maybe plain loin Of pork for
the Christmas dinner. Many others
carried smaller bundles. the best that
their means might afford. and still 9th
ers, and of these there was a pitifully
large number. carried nothing.
Men turned and looked at the richly
gowned woman standing there on tina
corner She wore no jewels, but there
was hint of wealth in the soft furs
and in the elegance of her figure. She
did not belong here.
Jean felt the rude scrutiny OF strange
eyes, and she turned into a little bak-
eyy to think connectedly for a moment.
Her heart was swelling with desire to
do some personal service at this sea
son. She was about to speak to the
woman behind the counter of the
stuffy little shop when something hap
pened that stilled the question on her
lips.
little boy came In. poorly dressed
little lad of ten years. with Redeemed
fingers and thin, eager face, and blue
eyes that looked bungrily at the loaves
OF bread and the piles OF cookies and
cakes behind the glass cases.
please" he said timidiy-"please
would you let me have a loaf Of bread
If / paid you tomorrow"
The woman shook her head impa-
tiently.
Run along. now; faint right to
beg she said sharply.
The boy turned away with hopeless
look in his face that struck to Jeans
heart She stepped forward and took
his hand in her warm gloved one.
Come with me-" she said softly.
Let us go to another shop and buy
some bread and other things"
"Oh. il you only would"' he cried
happily. II could pay you tomorrow.
I'm quite a big boy. and l could do
some errands for you, maybe. and pay
you that way
THAT will be lovely" said Jean.
Now. tell me where you live anu
what else you want to buy"
81 ought to tell you that we're
poor" he faltered. we couldn't at
ford to pay back very much. But
mother would feel better IL we had
some tea. and bread is very nice and
sweet, you know. even IL there isn't
any butter on it. Cherry cries for but
Ter. but she's only a girl. Boys can
get along without it,
Jeans eyes were thick with tears.
Let us go in here and buy the
things you need and then you can pay
me back If 1t takes all the year" she
said practically. What is your nameT'
Leon" be said.
Here Is nice shop. Leon. See.
they have cooked thinss TO eat as well
as bread and butter" Jean spoke to
the proprietor of the delicatessen
shop. and at her order the man pro-
duced large basket, which he pro-
ceeded 10 I'll with the things that Jean
ordered. while Leon watched the pro-
ceeding with amazed eyes that grew
frightened when he saw a roasted
chicken added 10 the precious con-
tents.