Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-02-09
ON HIS OWN

By RUTH SONG

N y . " az
johnnie she demonstrated for the
third time, Il wish you'd sit straight
In your chair and stop finger-eombIng
your hair. You look fright"
Vaguely, like sleep-walker. John
ME smoothed his sandy locks. up
standing by twisting fingers.
His mother sighed, thinking OF his
two brothers. She never nagged
them. Trim and alert they we're, both
employed in a Boston bank Such
comfort AS for Johnnie--hopeless
What he did down town wneie he
worked, she couldn't imagine. Even
If he emptied waste-baskets or swept
floors, someone probably had to re-
mind him, as she was endlessly doing
at home.
These thoughts, audibly expressing
themselves. urged Johnnie finally to
90 nut. the parting injunction to take
the key ringing In his ears.
Mrs. Raymond's taut nerves
waited for the slam of the door, in
spite of her caution to close 1t soft
~, then she settled down to sewing,
a habit that had grown through color
less years of widowhood.
Later, the evening was frightened
by a neighbours visit. These friendly
chats under the sewing-lamp. were
welcome. They meant an unburten-
ing Of the days grievances.
do you have to nag your boys
endlessly, Mrs. Harstf'' She was
squirting toward the light in an. effort
to thread a fine needle with coarse
thread. My Elmer and Alfred never
bother, but johnnie" she paused,
signing. The subject engulfed her.
Your youngest?' the neighbor In
quired. bad company, maybe"
The mother bristled.
"Oh, no. Johnnie's good boy. It's
his habits. I'm always reminding
him--his rubbers, his handkerchief, to
wipe his feet--I don't know how he
gets on where he works. / don't see
him start for he goes early. Its
a marvel he wakes up. He'll never
nmount to shucks."
II haven't seen him lately" the
neighbor temporized where does he
WOrk?'
"At Jones, Allan & Company. Law
yers."
"What does he DOR
:.Offlce-boy; guess. It's all he's ct
for. Untidy. Shiftless. Never talks
about his work. It's Encouraging"
A day or so after, this same neigh
Dor had business in the building
where Jones, Allan & Company's
offices We're. No harla to peek at the
youngster for his mothers sake. She
didn't remember him, now that he
mad grown up.
Impressed by the emblazoned door
that confronted her from the elevator,
she hesitated, looking around in hopes
OF seeing tonseled-headed Johnnie
with waste-basket, or hiding in a
corner reading a paper novel.
+ Seeing no one, she timidly touched
the cali-bell on the outer door.
With, startling alacrity the door
swung open, causing her to retreat a
step or two, and a tail, straight, keen
eyed young man popped out to de-
mand her business with said Jones'
Allan & Company.
So brisk and not-to7be-trihcd-with
was he, that Mrs. Harst regretted the
errand which brought her.
She gasped, speeches., under the
disconcerting scrutiny Of this young
guardian Of the law Offices.
"I--Ibeg pardon for disturbing you,"'
she apologized, at aSloss how to begin,
sbut a nelghbor of mine has a boy
working here. Being In the building
thought I'd drop In and say Howdy-
7 do to him. He wouldn't remember mel
T'guess, now he's grown big enough to
work."
At her uncertain pause, the young
man stepped out, closing the door be-
hind him. He swung a chair under
The astonished woman before she had
timesto see from whence 1t came Hav-
ing thus deposited her safely away
from the business entrance, he in
quired;
"Can | help you? We; have a great
many employed here and not everyone
is always available. If the boy isn't
too busy or isn't needed for the mo-
ment, I'm sure he'll be glad to see
you. If you'll tell me his name, I'll
{ look him up for y0u.'
Having thus made the inquisltiye
neighhor feel that business hours were
no time for social calls, the formidable
medium between Mrs Harst and her
desire stood ready tcsreceise inforua-
tiOn.
Crushed and III at ease, she glanced
timidly up into the pleasing. although
unsmiling. eyes.
sIsm sorry bothered about It, but
now I'm here It can't be helped. II
he's busy. never mind His name Is
Johnnie Raymond. If its my
troubler--
For the first time the serious face Of
the young man broke into d charming
smile and bis hand went uncertainty
up to the sandy hair and came down
again without touching It. He bowed