The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1917-01-11
pencil pad and pushed 1t toward HIN,

| Written bn TIE pau.
Very happy, indeed, to be with YOU"
wrote back lie Moyne-and realized
with sort of shock that he meant it.
The kindly greeting had touched him.
| The greeting and the breakfast cheered
him also he had evidently made some
Roadway with Tillie.
Don't you want toothpick?" she
asked. as he went out.
| In KS previous walk of life there
had been no toothpicks; or, If there
were any, they We're kept, along with
the family scandals, in a closet. But
nearly n year of buffeting about had
taught him many things. He took one.
and placed IL nonchalantly in his waist
coat pocket, rs he had seen the others
do.
Change was in the very air of the
Street that June morning. 1t was In
Harriet, asserting her right to live;
in Sidney, planning with eager eyes a
| life of service which did not include
joe; in X lie Moyne. who had built
up wall between himself and the
world. and was seeing ii demolished by
II deaf-and-dum book agent whose
weapon was Il lead pencil pad
And yet. for week nothing hap
pened. Joe came in the evenings and
sat on the steps with Sidney, his hon
est heart in his eyes. Anna. no longer
sulky, accepted with childlike faith
Sidney's statement that they'd get
along: she had splendid scheme
and took to helping Harriet in her
preparations for leaving. And X. lie
Moync. finding his little room not in
the evenings and hot wishing TO IN
trude on the two on the doorstep. took
Ia reading his paper in the park, and
after twilight 10 long. rapid walks out
into the country The walks satisfied
the craving of his active body for ex-
ereiSc. and tired him So he could sleep
When X. was sure that the boy had
gone. he would turn back toward the
Street. Some of the heavineSS of his
spirit always left him ut sight of the
little house. Its kindly atmosphere
seemed to reach out and envelop
Within was order and quiet. the fresh
hess III HIS lht iIti-d'Ah i'i, thN
ness of his ordered garments.
Life, that had seemed so simple, had
grown very complicated for Sidney.
There was her mother To break the
news 10. and Joe. Harriet would ap-
prove. she felt but these others! To
assure Anna that she must manage
alone for three years, in order 10 be
happy and comfortable afterward-
that was hard enough. But to tell
Joe that she was planning future
without him, 10 destroy the light in his
blue eyes-that hurt.
After all, she told X. first. One Fri
day evening, coming home late as
usual he found her on the doorstep.
and Joe gone SIZE moved over hospi.
tably. The moon had waxed and wnued.
and the Street was dark. The colored
man who drove Doctor Ed In TIE old
buggy on his daily rounds had brought
out the hose aud sprinked the street.
Within thia zone of freshness, of wet
asphalt and dripping cutters. Sidney
sat, cold and silent.
PLEASE sit down. II is cool now
Ny idea of luxury is to have the Street
Sprinldcd on Il hot night.
X. disposed Of his long legs on the
steps. He WAS trying To lit his own
ideas OF luxury To n garden hose and
n city street.
I'm afraid you're working too hard"
I a., a ,+tfpEt=4,,,, 81 la fnr 4,
minimum of wage"
But you work nj night. don't you?"
X, was nntiNely honest. He hesitate
ed. Then:
No. Miss Page"
But you 20 out every evening 7"
suddenly the truth burst on her
"Oh, dear" She said Il do be-
lieve-why, how silly of you"
X. was most uncomfortable.
Really, l like It," he protested ~
hang over desk all day. and in the
evening | want to walk. | ramhle
around the park and see lovers on
hencheS-itS rather thrilling"
Quite suddenly 81 lney laughed.
How very nice yuu are ." she said
and how absurd Don't You know
that, If You insist ON walking the
streets and parks ut night because joe
Drummond is here. shall have 10 tell
hlm not 10 Gomez
This did not follow. to KS mind
They had rather heated argumen,
over II, and became much better ac-
quaiated.
III | were engaged to him." Sidney
ended. her checks very pink. II
might understand. But. rs | am not
"Ah 80 said X. n trihe unsteadily.
$50 you are not ?"
IL What do you make OF X. 10
Moyne by this time! And sup