The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-01
JUST JOHNS STORY
(By the Survey Press Association)

wiped his eyes, and turned to the wis itor. Don't mind me- he muttered, ain't just right these last few days I know you've got to do this. it's best for the boy. But love that boy just as if he was my own-so did she. We was going to send him to school--a.nd to college" His voice broke again, and he turned his back abruptly on them.
 John did not seem to understand, even when he kissed his father, and was strained in his arms for the last time, not during the ride back. to the city, not in his first few days in the Shelter. But when his question, at first indifferent, then eager, then in- tie but final answer. he did at last realize that he had lost his father for ever. Then came days when he sat. silent and with a. dreadful look in his brown eyes, all day long in a corner, and cried himself to sleep every night with agoniztng, unchildlike sobs.
 sI can't stand it!'' said Bertha Yorke to Miss Delmar. "He looks why, if he were a grown person I should say he looked as if he were going to kill himse1f!'
 When John had been back in the Shelter about two weeks. Mrs Win cent came Mrs Vincent was we'll known, a club-woman, a reformer, with ideas and theories of her own.
 My little boy is seven years old, . she said, tand do not think it is good for him to grow up an only child I want a quiet boy about the same age, who will teach Charles gent1eness and nsideration for others. I can give l him every advnatage; Charles has been brought up scientifically. and so I would this boy be "
 1 John seemed to fit the case, and he I l Vincent looked askance at the shouI- l der and limp, but at last she agreed to take him, and John was sent to her l beautiful house. At Mrs. Yorke's first visit, she found I that John was being scientifically T brought up, indeed. Mrs. Vincent de- I scribed with great comp1acency his l daily regimen-eyery minute account | ed for, it seemed, with instructors and
 overseers to do properly the work 1 which Nature would doubtless have 1 bungled John seemed to have stiff
 fened, sonehow-but perhaps it was only his rather strange hygienic cloth l ing, and his appearance of having jus
 that minute stepped from the hand:
 of a, hairdresser and a. nanicurist.
 Miss orIe remembered the. heal
 thy, dirt-grubbing days at the Ritch
 ies' where love and simple life wen1
 hand in hand. Her pity increased 1 at each visit especially after a few
 interviews with the Vincent child haC
 convinced her that tgentleness and | onsideration for others were not ir
 that youths makeup.
 One afternoon, just before the office
 closed, a telephone message cam. ; from Mrs. Vincent. John had rul
 away!
 Immediately Bertha Yorke went t,
 Brookton. With the help of the. DO
 lice she secured the town and it | in
 boy. She even went as far as tn
 Ritchie farm, but knowing what
 shock the information would be, sail
 nothing of it to Henry Ritchie. How
 she had made sure that the boy ha,
 not been near the old house.
 After sIeepIess night, she dragge,
 herself into the office. "No news,
 she said, wearily, to Miss Delnar, an,
 dropped into an empty chair.
 Suddenly the door opened. Mis-
 Delnar gasped. and Miss Yorle sa up straight. For there stood Henr-
 Ritchie. and in his arms, fast asIeer lay John.
 : found him at my. doorstep a , Ritchie huski1y, standing still in tn doorway. He'd walked and htddel ;, and tramped again since three in tn afternoon, poor little fellow. All h
 said was Father, I've been trying S
 long to get home to- you 7 '' Henr. choked, but he went on bravely, s'
 brought him to you first thing. } knew I had no right to keep him Miss Delmar looked at John. Hi hair was unused, one shoe was badl laced, and if his face had been washe it had ended at a dusty ring aroun
 his neck; but there was the faintes | touch of color in his cheeks, and a
 he slept, he smiled Cts agains , all our rules and regulations, but , think we're going to let you kee 7 John. Do you want us to send hi
 clothes and things to your" "No, am, I don't want any ] thing A great and unima gined jo
 shone in Henry Ritchie's face, as h } bent over the child. ttOnly.'' h }, nnurmured, his lips the boys hai1 . .'only-just John