The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1915-11-27
sy GARFIELD MAC NEAL.

Tue UIu CuduuGiB tu0
consequences. Her work had seemed
to go on as usual. She was a success
full miniature painter-at least nne car
riages often stopped at the doorway
Of the big studio building. and her
room rang with feminine voices. That
was the maddening part Of 1t. She
lived Just across the hall. 30 he must
see her many times day. He had
made up his mind to move. But. then.
he had such beastly lot Of traps. or
perhaps II was some lingering hope
that kept him there.
Some familiar chords on the organ
startled him. Was 1t the ofertory al
ready7 Yes, and the ideal choir boy
was singing alone. His handsome face
was flushed. and In his earnestness he
waved his sheet Of music gently tn and
fro.
"Oh. rest in the Lord" he sang.
Hastings leaned forward. The words
were apparently for him. The abso-
lutte certainty Of the boys tones car
ried conviction.
"And he shall give thee thy hearts
desire"
The tender voice went straight to
the mans heart and comforted him.
Yes. be. too, would wait patiently, and
perhaps some day he, too, would have
his hearts desire Till then ha would
visit and work. '2
The next two 4Haaks went BY very
differently. Under the press Of new
enthusiasm the book seemed to write
itself. The Inst sheet had gone In to
the Publisher and he had always worn
smile when he met the girl on the
stairA Her bow was still as freezing.
but he only smiled again and hummed
the few bars from "Elijah," And be
shall give thee thy hearts DESIRE
Again Hastings sat in the little
church. Perhaps his choir boy would
sing for him. But the figure of the
small leader dropped. In the glare Of
the choir lights his face showed white
and haggard. while his eyes were
swollen from weeping. A wave Of pity
went over the watching man. 1t might
now be bis turn to comfort The sweet
soprano voice was low and broken.
Hastings determined to lind the
meaning Of the change. 70 he fingered
after the service, and q kind faced Gu.
rate told him the sad little story.
-You mean Jack Hainesf he has
Just lost his mother-consumptio
the poor little fellow 10 left all alone
He h being cared for BY neighbors.
but we must and him a place In some
charity school,"
That delicate child in q charity
school! Hastings could not bear the
thought Of It. The face Of the child
and bis own loneliness helped him to
come to sudden resolution. His voice
was very eager ~ he said. Let me
have him.
And 70 Jack came to live in the big
studio building. Slowly the roses came
hack to his cheeka He did not forget
the pretty mother. who had gone to
sieep 70 quietly. but he haunted this
new big brother like . shadow and
crept into his arms to cry away The
grief that time was trying to heal.
But It worried Hastings that the lad
should b 20 solemn. When be came
in and found the boy porting over some
Dig book be would half laughingiy
scold him for turning into such little
book worm. "You need some one t.
play with. Jack" be would say. I'll
b bad for you to be always cooped ur
With an old fellow like me-" Tom was
only thirty. but somehow he had felt
very old and settled since that night.
But Jack always declared that hi
didn't want to be with any one else
and be was such q shy child thai
Hastins1 forbore to press the point.
He was therefore much surprised
one afternoon on coming in to ind thu
rooms empty. Where could Jack bel
Al the minutes went BY. bringing nc
boy. be became really anxious. The
janitof had not seen him. He was
returning from fruitless inquiries wher
he stopped short at u burst Of child
ish laughter. Could 1t be Jackf HI
sever laughed like that. But. yes. II
was his voice. and 1t came from TIN
girls rooms.
Hastinss hesitated. And now thu
girl laughed. It was the same sauc.
little laugh he had loved 30 much II
tAe days gone BY. 1t decided him. sht
bad stolen his property and shoult
ansWer for the theft. He knocked
boldly On the door.