The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-02-19
BY V. A. HUNGERFORD.

0nE STOOD hesitating moment,
then with an odd shuffling gait
made for the nearest bench. 1t
was isolated from the rest OF the
park by a bit of hedge. Directly be-
hind the bench was a rose bush in
full, heavy bloom. From the other
side of the hedge came childish
voices and laughter, and the chatter
of nurse maids. From farther away
came the steady drone of a lawn
mower.
The youth-he was but 22-
slouched down upon the bench and
pulled his cap over his eyes. His
cheap suit was badly wrinkled as
though he had slept in it. His face
was unshaven and of a peculiar pal
lor. His expression was bitter. He
was tired and hungry and heart
sick. He had been unable to get
single days work since he had
started life all over again two weeks
beforehand his S. was gone.
The merriment about him, the
warm sun flooding him, he sat wrapt
in brooding meditation. What had
happened to him in that one long
year? sPoignantly sorry for what he
had done, anxious to redeem himself,
he had looked forward to the day
when his punishment should be over,
and he could start again-with a
clean slate. He had faced the world
again with squared shoulders, clear
eyed, a cheap suit, Sand the
stigma. He hadn't figured on the
stigma. Full of good resolves, he
had started out, first in the business
section of the city, then in the lower
districts, and now in final despera-
tion he had tried the fashionable
avenues, begging for odd jobs in
payment of a meal And it had al
ways been the same. An appraising
glance, narrowed to stare of COM
prehension, refusal and the closing
of the door.
He had had nothing to eat since
the day before yesterday, and all day
thoughts kept cropping up in his
mind, thoughts that preyed through
his weakened body upon the good
resolves he had made only two weeks
before. A row of pies cooling on a
convenient window ledge, easily
within reach, had caused him agony
that brought the cold perspiraton
out all over him Nothing but the
sudden vision of gray stone walls
and tall, iron gate saved him. He
turned and fled from temptation.
But now his eyes were furtive, his
shoulders dropped, and his step was
dead and hopeless.
A short distance away he glimpsed
a blue uniform, and drew farther
back into seclusion on his bench. The
park policeman passed by on the
other side of the hedge. The ex-
convict relaxed, and resumed his
brooding again.
He told himself there was none to
care whether he made good or not
And there always must be somebody
20 care-if it's nothing but a starved
cur from the cutters to lick your
hand apologetically and wag a
friendly tail and look at you with
sympathetic eyes He suddenly
bowed his face in his hands.
After a while he became conscious
that someone was watching him. He
raised his eyes slowly and then
stared. She stood on the grass be-
fore him, dazzle of blue silk and
brown curls and deep, gray eyes.
She was a well-trained child, but with
fine carelessness tossed aside con-
ventionality to be human. She
recognized misery when she saw it..
Are you sick?" She looked
straight at him and there was no
fear nor shrinking in her eyes.
NO" he said slowly, I'm not
that is-no-Im mott" That sick
ening hunger was gnawing at his
stomach again, and it was impossible
to keep his gaze off the apple she
held. He was unconscious of the
sudden greed that lit his eyes.
She was only 8, but she had heard
of such things. Her eyes widened
in incredulous amazement.
You're hungry"
The youth flushed, dropped his
eyes ashamed, and fingered his cap
nervously.
She thrust the apple into his hand.
Eat it," she commanded. And
wait here. Nurse brought lunch
with us-I'll get you some"
She flashed away and he had
barely devoured the apple before she
returned, her hands full of dainty