Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-08-27
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HARRIET LENDS A HAND
BY CHARLES A. WILLIAMS.

o"SpL 6CltAJ INV paw hS eAAASN - 49,
the window disconsolately. Something
of the desolation outside seemed to
have erept into his heart. The streets
were blanched with snow, which came
whirling from a lowering sky. The
wind blew sibilantly with vindictive
Kisses, as though determined to defeat
those who dared venture out.
1t seemed SO typical of his life
There had been so little In 1t to cheer
and warm his heart. His disadvan
tagos were many and stretched back
farther than memory. And when Har
riet had come into his life it had inten
sified the pang Of knowing that. after
all, he had not succeeded in raising
his head above those Of his class
the toilers.
He glanced about the plainly fur
nished room, then his eyes turned to
the girl seated at the little table be-
fore the fire.
Her soft glance met his In fash
of understanding.
Showing hard, Jimmy?" she asked
YES" he answered in a tone that
revealed his mood.
He crossed to her and laid his hand
gently on her glowing black hair.
You're such princess. Harriet.
how can l ever give you what you
should have?" he said.
She raised her face and reached up.
io hor cb nracca1 n
her lips. He WINGED.
1T is so hard, DEAR" he burst out.
1T seems as II we will never know
the happiness Of life together. How
can we on what am earning?'
lie swept the room with gesture.
Nothing elegant about it, he said,
but it's comfortable, and there's some
joy here, and no care. | couldn't give
you as good, and thered be the strug-
gle to make ends meet, with never
anything for rainy day. And the
rainy days do come, dear"
He sat down gloomily and leaned
forward, buried his face In his hands.
Jimmy" she demonstrated softly.
you mustn't feel that way"
He dropped his hands and stared
despairingly at the floor.
but can't help it, Harriet. Is
there anything in the world for me?
| am man without education or train
ing. must drift. I'm doing what l
can to get on and improve myself.
but it's such a gamble and 1t almost
kills me to think that your comfort
and happiness are the stakes"
She Strengthened in her chair, and
shook warning finger.
Stop it, Jimmy" she commanded.
Stimulating severity. Jimmy" her
tone softened, do you know what I'm
going to do? I'm going to give you
great surprise. Walt. | won't tell
you until the time comes. And then,
how Jimmy will stare and wonder!'
She broke into infectious laughter.
1t injected a momentary cheer into
his being, But soon his depression
rushed back and submerged him.
They had come through the years
together, hand in hand. AS children
they had romped through the careless
days side by side.
What a glorious picture the future
was then, when their knowledge OF
the world and its ways had not dimmed
the bright colors.
He had a few trying moments when
he parted from her In the hall.
Her arms crept up and linked about
his neck. Her fair, girlish face up,
turned and velvet-perfumed lips clung
to his.
He would have given her up for her
own sake and borne In solitude the
grief of It; but she loved him, and
her soul was In his keeping. A part
go on, on, and try and hope.
Out of the crucible of torment came
something-a new spirit, a more te'
nacious determination. He plunged
into his work as a bookkeeper in the
railroad offices with more feeling than
he had known since the great fact
had been haunting him.
Harriet noticed the temperamental
uplft, and reminded him several times
of the great surprise that was to be
his.
One morning che manager sent in
a boy with a request for Jim.
Jim's hope rose with bound that
made his heart hammer In his throat,
No doubt the boss had noticed the i'm,
provement, too. Perhaps he was to
receive the long-deferred increase In
wages.
When he came into the managers
presence he halted, wild-eyed. on the
threshold,
Harriet was in the room.
"Jim," the manager snapped, things
haven't been going well with US.
We've got to cut expenses all around.
This young lady has applied for po-
sition. I'm going to give her your
place"
Jim saw the color die In the girls
cheeks as she clutched at a chair for
support.
Hot tears flooded his eyes, and he
tried to voice a reply. but he choked
on words that would not come.
"And wanted to help, ! wanted to
help" he heard her murmur brokenly.
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Entitled to II.