The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1919-05-07
HER KINDLY DEED
BY JESSIE ETHEL SHERWIN.

Tbs tennis group dropped bat and
ball and ran to the high garden hedge
and peered through ii. Coming down
the road, leading a sleek. comfortable
looking cow, was Raymond Worth.
He had the manly stride ana whole
some. healthy face of young farmer.
He was not such. hut his father had
been one and early rural training had
left its Impress.
He colored slightly as he Loted the
group beyond their leafy shelter. Their
twitterings hurt and embarrassed him
He hurried his steps and WINGED us the
echo of suppressed laughter reached
him, for he was oversensiiiye and he
had made out Celia Willis beyond the
hedge. She had not Joined In the ridi
Guile. but Raymond did not know that.
He sighed heavily. He was neither nm
couth nor ignorant but he was con.
scious that he did not exactly line up
10 the standard of the average young
man OF the town as to the finer social
entities.
Not that he WAS not Invited to their
various gatherings, but he WAS plain
In manner and speech; he did not
shine he WIS practical and did not
enter Into idle folly. His parents were
dead and had left him quite an estate.
but he wasted no time at the village
billiard hall. visited the property he
owned daily and did not dlsdain to
wear his working suit and lend help
full hand where hard work pressed
Raymond led rather lonely life.
With the exception of Mary Dorr. an
old-time family servant. he had no
company. She made things neat and
comfortable. hut she was now on the
shady side OF life and he felt the lack
OF companionship OF his own age.
When he led the COW into the barn
Mary came out and Joined him.
"Oh. dear! what handsome. fine
looking animal" she commented. IL
dimmed eyes frightened. But why In
the world did you buy her?'
Il didn't" answered Raymond. MIR.
Lane. the farmer. is closing out. He
owed me a bill and | had TO take the
COW In payment"
what are you going 10 do with
herr"
Sell her to some other farmer"
Yes, l guess that is best. although
she'd make 1t seem more homellke and
natural to have her around" said
Mary. longingly. ''Shs's beauty. good
for six quarts morning and night. But
what would one do with the extra milk.
I'm getting too old TO attend to all
that. Wen have some rare sweet
cream over tomorrow. though"
Raymond loaded some boards into .
light wagon next morning. Amongst
his holdings was a large tenement
house In q poor quarter OF the town.
A porch needed some repairs. and he
planned to attend TO this. get home at
noon and take the COW across country
TO q farmer to whom he knew he could
sell IT. He had just completed his
work on the porch when he noticed an
acquaintance, a young doctor. leaving
the house.
Somebody sick. Doctor Allenr' he
inquired.
More than one. Worth" came the
reply. gravely spoken. tits the
babies. There's nine little ones cooped
up in those close. crowded rooms. You
do your duty In the way OF keeping up
good sanitary conditions. and the ven
rilation Isn't bad. hut it's the diet.
Those children are just wasting away
for the need OF fresh. wholesome milk.
It's pretty near chalk and water. the
second rate stuff these people buy. But
they have TO. with milk doubled In
price. The nine will he i've before the
summer is over II the babies don't get
better nourishment."
Raymond stood for some moments
absorbed In deep thought. Then he
went TO one OF the lower flats. Here
lived Mrs. Wood. widow. who sup
ported herself by sewing. She had
son, Hardy. who was lame In one limb
and who helped the family income by
TO u newspaper stand morn
ings.
Mrs. Wood" spaks Raymond. .you
can help me out with n certain prob
lem. and Hardy can earn q couple Of
dollars a week extra. wish TO pre-
sent a mich COW TO the tenement for
the benefit of the babies. you TO take
charge of milk distribution and Hardy
to take care Of the animal and milk
her. an art can soon teach him"
Mother and son were enraptured