Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1919-12-09
a IN her wake.


stairs to the room where muteiy
posed the untouched food. Gathering
the articles In her arms she rapidly
retraced her steps. and as the young
| man came to consciousness he saw q
not unbeautiful girl standing on q
| chair holding a tiny pot above the gas
| let. She smiled down at him q gehu-
inc, comforting smile.
sHot milk In a minute Toasleu
crackers and mite of cheese. no"
does that sound?" Her voice sound
ed merrily In the room and the man
answered the smile with a wan eI-
fort.
1T smells better" came the WINS
per from the bed.
And it tasted equally good as Bet
sy held his head and fed him the
Drowned biscuit dipped In the warm
milk. The man slept and Betsy up
toed from the room. Mrs. Slattery
mounted guard in the hall with q
Dame Grundy vigilance.
"His room rent be behind" Evi-
IDENTIFY in Mrs. Slattery's makeup
there was no trace of that impeliing
force which had governed Befsy's
spontaneous act of loving Kindness.
She looked into her meager purse,
wearing out at the corners.
"Will dollar on account be salts
factory?' she asked. The bill was
rendered and accepted in silence ana
Betsy returned to her room. supper
less and happy. As she crept into
bed she shifted the alarm clock. IL
registered awakening at half past hye.
The hour thus gained next morn
ing was devoted to assisting her new
ly acquired ward. With promise TO
the man who lay weak and inert 10
stop in on her way home from work
In the evening, she turned to go.
"Why are you so good to mef' ne
questioned her.
"Why doubt the motive?' by in
terrogation she answered.
Preoccupied with her thoughts. Bet
sy failed to be annoyed as she was
jostled about on street and car by
throngs Fastening to work. Morning
duties were fulfilled In like subcon-
scious fashion, for mind was helping
the lad lying iii and helpless In the
hot bedroom. Noon was sounded by
sirens over the weltering city as Bet
sy passed the music counter of Til
den's, Inc, on her way out OF the
90 %, Inn IN tones
sang the song-booster through his bril-
lIantly colored megaphone, which he
turned alternately to right and left
so that all might hear:
when our Ship O. Dreams comes in.
dear,
When its cargo comes to shore,
With gold so fine, 1t win all be thine,
You alone / adore
Betsy smiled as she recalled the
| first occasion when she had heard the
words and sacrificed the precious min
utes of her luncheon period to hear
the end of the lyric.
"When our vessel comes sailing back,
dear,
Laden with wealth all for you,
Then we'll marry; no need to tarry,
When our Ship, our Ship . Dreams
comes true
She caught up the lifting, catchy
melody and the easy. rolling words,
and ate her luncheon with the tune
in her head. Anxious for six o'clock,
the afternoon flew quickly by and
closing time found her hurrying to-
ward her boarding house with thou
sands Of other souls, all closeted up In
their own little worlds of personal in
terest. Mechanically she bought the
evening paper and mechanically read
mechanically turned toward the CLASH
fed section in search for the always
possible, but never probable. "better
job" Her eye drifted to the adjoin-
ing column of Personals" attracted
possibly By the words, "Ship o.
Dreams" They seemed to pursue her
this day. The man seated to her right
hummed with heavy breath, when
our. Ship O. Dreams comes sailing in,
dear"
Betsy read:
Royalties awaiting Leonard SUIT
cliffo. Information wanted as to pres
ent whereabouts of composer of
Ship o. Dreams Phone Popular
Music Co."
Betsy gasped. Could it really be
so wonderfully romantic? 1t was
more than food she brought him.
"Are you Leonard Sutcliffe?" she
asked as she entered the room and
smiled to see him seated IN the chair.
He nodded with surprise and looked
at the newspaper she laid in his lap
Then your Ship o. Dreams has
come to port, Captain Singing Man."
Betsy announced and picked out the
stopper of the milk bottle with the
tine of fork.
A wonderful light danced in his
eyes. Good Samaritan, it's our Ship
o. Dreams, isn't it?"
And over the toasted crackers Bet
sy nodded assent.