Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-28
Evening Star $
Daily Story
HIS MITE
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

GREETED the great mental power that
had seemingly robbed his body of
strength. But now, when his COM
rades were all answering the call to
battle. he was flung back from the
rank and file and could only stay at
home with the women and children.
Ills big, brave friends had gone off
TO 1url themselves before the enemys
shot and bayonet, to fight for the
honor of their country, yet he must
remain at home in his snug cottage
like some pampered Dresden doll.
MOT q Dresden doll, either" he
laughed, cynically. IT might be for
tnnate enough in that case to have
my bally head knocked off, and that
would be preferable to sitting back
home with heart valves that don't
work properly" He sighed with
heartfelt pity for himself and fell to
wondering in just what capacity a
weakling like himself could be of any
service to his country.
David Grieg was a novelist of no
mean ability, and while his books
were not exactly numbered among
first sellers. they were to be found in
most good libraries He had sent a
good sized check to the hospital fund,
but that seemed so frightfully made
quate in view of the fact that his
comrades were on the firing line and
his very servants fighting with the
enemy. Grieg had employed three
Germans and one and all had gone
back to the fatherland
1t was his lack of servants that
suggested to David another way of
Offering his mite to the country's
needs. He read In his morning paper
that wives and children of soldiers
were being housed by generous indi-
viduals. David saw no reason why
he should not offer q home to some
one who would act as housekeeper
He would not mind IL she had one
or two children whom he could clothe
and feed as we'll In fact, David de-
cided to stipuiate that he wanted q
soldiers wife and children.
He sent his offer to the government
committee for the prevention and re-
lief of distress. Before two days had
passed Mrs. Wade and her two chill
dren had come to him. She was a
slim little creature, but as brave in
her own way as the big husband who
had gone with his regiment, the Sec
ond Dragons. David fell immediate
ly to wondering how SO delicate and
dainty a little woman was going to
stand the exigencies of war, the har-
rowing suspense alternating with fear
and hope and the constant brooding
over horrors through which her hus-
band was even then passing. She
seemed frightfully frail for so heavy
a burden, yet David realized that she
was only one of many thousands in
like position.
Mrs. Wade proved very efficient and
even CHEEKY about his household, and
the two children were continual
source of interest to David. He found
himself lonely when their laughter
had ceased for the night. and he
thought of their father far off on the
battle grounds with only memory to
cheer him on. David marveled at the
strength ofathe man who could tear
himself away from those two sunny
BARNS and their gentle mother He
himself could not have left her. OF
that he was certain, and with the
realization came the unwelcome
thought that some day he, too, would
have to lose her from his life.
Mrs. Wade had become essential to
his comfort as we'll as his happiness,
although David did not admit that
even to himself. In the short time
sho had been a part of his house.
hold she had crept completely into
his nature, supplying each and every
need, and David fell to wondering
how he had ever lived in q house
void of women and children. Never
again would he so rob his happiness
by such lack. Perhaps he would
decide to- marry, or maybe another
hDusekeeper, such as Mrs. Wade
could be found.
II Mrs. Wade found her new sur
roundings and duties more or less
pleasant change from a none too
happy existence she did not say so to
David. If the expression of her soft
eyes became a shade more hopeful
no one knew it. She was brave in
having given up her brawny husband
10 the war, and she was grateful for
the compensation Of a good home
where David Grieg surrounded her
with every comfort and considera-
ton.
do you think we could take in a
few more of those left behind?
David asked her half laughinglXaand
half seriously. "You manage so well
that feel we could shelter some Bel
gian refugees. l see q great number
have arrived on English soil today"
He glanced askance at her. as if
wanting to know what she thought Of
the idea. You see, / would like to
help all I can in this crisis, since
may not enter the firing line
"Oh, If we could only shelter SOME
of those poor destitute Belgians,"
Mrs Wade responded with q great
light in her eyes and David knew for
the first time in his life how wonder
full soul could exist in q small body.
She set to work after that to care for
one or two refugees whom David
sent for.
1T is marvellous" he told himself,
"how some women can shoulder their
own burdens and those of others as
WE'LL And David did not realize that
he had fallen in love with the SOL
lier's wife. He was only happy to
have contributed his mite to the ma
hon, and he would have knocked his
own head off had he suspected his
real emotions in the case of Mrs.
Wade.
When the telegram came for her it
I was David himself who took it from
the boy. He knew before opening it
Just, what 1t contained. War was
reaping its CHASTITY harvest and David
knew that Mrs. Wade's brave hus-
band had fallen. There would be
many such missives on their fright
full mission of enlightenment, and
+ David felt an overpowering weakness
when he realized that 1t must be he
who would give this one to Mrs.
Wade.
She was down at the foot OF the
garden with her two sunny-haired
children and the little Belgian refugee
to whom she was pointing out the
beauty of great winged butterfly.
David felt his throat stiffen with a
horrible ache and he swallowed deS-
perately. He wanted to be strong that
) he might comfort her and he mas
tered himself 1t seemed as If she
must surely have known. Her step
! fo.zza I'd him did NOT faItaI. hut her