Evening star., 1914-12-13

man. oh, never mind she repeated.
And then she got out of the house and
went home. On the way she passed
Charley. He was stunted boy of pos
sbly eleven, with hair Of an ugly brown
shade, eyes Of a mixed. repelling hazel.
a snub nose, a sullen mouth and abso-
lutely the most disagreeable expression
that boy could wear.
Mrs Brelly shook her head at him.
You better turn over a new leaf, young
man., she warned, severely, "or it'll be
the worse for you. Amt you ashamed
of yourself, worriting that poor little
tired ma of yours
Nav said Charley, uglily Il wish
could worry her more.
Charley" called Mrs Hale. detected
Iy. from her gate.
"yes'm," called Charley. surlily, and
went inside.
He was muscular little imp. and his
mother was weak. And he looked the
kind to use his fist. II hope his, father
tends to him. she thought, Urathfully
Then she went around into her own back
yard and found a geranium uprooted and
whitening in the sun. THE little wretch ="
walled Mrs. Brelly. IF his father doesn't
punish him III have him sent to a re-
form school,.
Which was distinctly an untruth Mrs
Brelly did not believe in reform schools
She did not see Charley for week
School had commenced, and she noticed
that he was working after school hours
for the coal yard, doing errands and
taking care of the office. She passed him
twice. though, and he made a face at
her-not a mischevous face, but such an
evil, inimical scowl that it almost fright
ened her. He showed terrible capacity
for evil, she reflected HIS father came
in for day. then went out of town
directly.
Mrs Brelly went over several times
to see Mrs. Hale. She felt sorry for the
frail little thing. She discovered that
she was very pretty woman. The
baby look She wondered where Charley
got his looks. Not from this pretty,
dainty mother, nor from his tall, dark
father
Mrs. Hale sighed often over "her boy. :.
Il don't know what to do. He is beyond
me. am not able to whip him. He
knows it and defies me. / hate to tattle
to his father she said.
Yes replied Mrs. Brelly II don't
believe in tattling on children. 1t
hardeiis 'en | was always able" with
Il good -natured laugh) ito wallop mine
myself And they got it. too"
prefer not to employ corporal
punishment, said Mrs. Hale rather
Mrs sreliy looked at her sharply \
only inability kept her from whipping
him Did she know what she was talk
ing about?
Charley came home then. lie stopped
short in the doorway in sight of Mrs
Brelly. turned red and would have
backed out. but Mrs. Hale called
Charley. Come here
Yes M. he replied sullenly. He
sidlcd in and sat down on the edge of
a chair.
But Mrs. Brelly had to get up and
hurry home. She remembered that she
had left beans simmering on the stove.
She found her front porch spattered or
trampled with yellow mud. And she
had scrubbed it that morning. And
her SNOWFALL bush was torn and one
branch broken. the leaves strew-n over
the ground. This was not mischief
Brelly's lips tightened' grimly. If no
one else could attend to that young
man she could.
Then she decided to go right over to
Mrs. Hale while the boy was there and
tell him plainly that she wasn't too
Old to thrash him if his parents
couldn't attend to the duty.
Heretofore. Mrs. Brelly had gone to
Mrs. Halc's front door. but now Mrs
Brellv was in a hurry and not il a
humor to consider etiquette. She cut
past the dividing screen of lilacs and
hastcned up the steps. The door stood
partly open. She heard Charley say
about her front porch But, YOU see.
the dog will follow me home. and
cant make him go back. And I was
trying to catch him. Won't you please
let me keep him.?
NO" coldly. Mrs. Brclly stood stu.
She had not known that her neish-
bor's sweet voice could carry that cold.
Are you going to tell my father"
Il don't know what good it would