The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-04-08
CHAPT Err ".

Esther Strom lived In one oi those
three-story. painted-brick buildings
fallen upon evil lodging house times,
which look as though they never were
new. For three dollars week Es-
ther rented basement room, with
light housekeeping privileges, the win
dow Of which came level with the
pavement. To reach this room with
greater facility one descended two
crumbling stone steps, passed under
the wooden stairway. and-if one were
person of average height-stOoped
to enter a misfit door found there.
AS the sun rose on the morning fol-
lowing Fitzhughs escape from the
asylum II found Esther standing out
side that misft door. She had been
there, internationally. since dawn.
Suddenly Fitzhugh turned the cor
ner. His appearance was not prepos-
sessing. His hat was gone. as was
his collar. His hair was tousled and
matted, his face covered with dark
growth Of beard; his shoes and trou-
SNEC WCiC NuhNu WIN iutt anu hS
carried his coat under his arm his
shirt was seen to be little more
than rag which clung to him damply.
For two days and nights he had
not known sleep, and In the past five
hours he had tramped three times as
many miles. Only constitution OF
steel could have stood up under this,
but Fitzhugh had one. AS he turned
the corner and swung down the street
with vigorous strides he seemed far
from exhaustion.
The moment the woman saw him
all the love and pity and tenderness
OF her emotional nature welled up
In her BOSOM and with a little low
cry Of my boy more maternal
than amorous--she ran to meet him.
He took her outstretched hands. aDS
holding them wide apart smiled at the
anxiety In her face.
Am | on time? was delayed
little at the start"
"And you walked all the way!" she
exclaimed pityingly,
NO ran part of the way--the
first part" He thought Of his empty
pockets. ~ couldn't very well ride"
he ended dryly.
"I'm sorry! should have given
you"
His smile vanished. "No. you
shouldn't" tie interrupted.
"You must be ready to drop. Your
breakfast has been waiting FOR an
hour, for expected you earlier, and
] know you're starving"
In her basement room which.
though cheaply furnished, was spot
lessly clean--she bade him sit down
while she warmed over his breakfast
on the coal-oll stove. When he had
finished the meal to the last drop and
crumb he sat back In his straight-back
chair and felt through his coat pock-
cts. His quest finished, he stared
ruefully at the moist lump Of tobacco
In his palm. She sprang up, ran to a
cupboard. and In second was back
with package of smoking tobacco
and book of cigarette papers.
II thought of II last night" she said
simply. II knew you would want to
smoke"
He rolled and lighted cigarette,
took heavy inhalation and sent the
smoke swirling cellingward. Then.
lowering his head. he looked steadily
from beneath his thick, jet-black brows
at the starry-eyed woman sitting op.
posite him. He felt no love for her.
but a gratitude too deep for words
tugged at his heart. he began to be
uncomfortable.
She walked to the sink with the
stack OF dishes. deposited them and
returned to where he was standing.
''I--I told the landlady." she sal-
tered without looking al him, shat l.
that you were my brother"
mo great harm In that, hope. Be-
sides there Is SORT Of family resem-
blance. And certainly have most
ccmmendable brotherly love For you
She became silent. Her dark
skinned hands relaxed her shoulder
dropped. After . few dumb moments
she turned away pnd opened Q door
I1oding into Z dark hall. "Would you
IKE TO - r. your room noYr HsF