Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-10

self came running wildly, a young hag-
gard thing in rag of gown.
Here he Isl I've got him. He's all
right" Harriet responded.
"Oh, he's been in the brook!" the
Girl cried with q sob. I've told him
and told him not to go near the brook,
but he's possessed. He ran away, tool"
Where do you hve?" Harriet asked.
She had known of no such woman as
this In her locality.
We're Just squatters," the girl an
swered. I'VE are In that old house
where the windows are all OUT We've
been there O week. We had to 20 some
where. She offered an apology.
You see, we were burned out in the
city without any insurance, and my
husband is sick anyway. / think he
he isn't going to stay with me long.
She was crying now. Come, Davy'
we'll go home"
I'm going with you" Harriet said.
How did you get out OF the city,"
she asked
I'VE rode some Of the way and
walked some of the way. We walked
one whole night. had to carry the
baby, for David wasn't strong enough.
He thought maybe he'd find work, but
he gave out when we got to the old
house and we went in. We saved a
little money we had and so we got
some food in the last village we went
through. We've had q lovely campfire
every night"
for wears. It was ready to fall down.
Harriet scarcely considered 1t safe to
walk across the floor, but she entered
unhesitatingly. There vas q pile OF
hemIock boughs in one corner of the
room and upon 1t lay man who
turned a white face upon them and
tried to rise when he saw the strange
LOOK here" Harriet said shortly.
"you folks pick up right now and come
home with me. Can you Walk" she
demanded Of the man.
"I--I guess so" He smiled falntly.
Harriet reached down and helped him
to his feet.
It was hard work getting him down
10 her home, but she did it. The girl
carried the baby. On the way she
learned all about then-how David
Horton had fallen ill., had to give up
work and now the final disaster haG
overta,sen them.
Julia and 1 both worked in the
factory. That is where we met" Davic
explained. Il suppose oughtnt to
have married her, but I loved her.
didn't know it was going to be like
this" He choked Shes. been keeping
us going by working. She's scrubbed
stairs" lie cholSed again.
I'D scrub all the stairs IN the cit
lust for the sake of being with you
David" Julia said.
Harriet had a family on her hands.
She put David to bed and doctoreC
and fed him herself Julia proved to
be eagerly helpful; the. baoy's race
grew round on milk and home-madc
bread. The poor young father had some
comfortable weeks before he died. And
he left Dayy and Julia to the klnc
friend that had been raised up to pro-
tect them.
Bear up, my dear. You've got TO see
YOUR boy raised to be grown man,
Harriet said over and over again. Its
going to be big job for both Of US"
During those weeks of acute sorrow
Julia loTed to sit beside the brook,
gazing wistfully into its chattering
current. As for Davy, he loved the
stream and found his greatest amuSe-
ment in 1t.
II was a happy day for the house,
hold when Harriet helped Davy pull
his first fish out of the deep pool.
That was the time he flung his arms
about her neck and kissed her.
It love you, Aunt Hatty," he cried.
That night Harriet stole out to the
brook alone. The moonlight lay upon
1t and danced with sparkleS.
How different It looks and sounds.
Harriet said wonderingly to herself.
"It makes me think of Davy-bOy, all
life and JOY and innocence. Davy must
have a chance. college, maybe. I've got
money enough. praise be-"
Her thoughts began to carry her into
the pleasant future. AT her feet the
water leaped and glistened and muir
INJURED.
The tired little brook was tired no
longer.
THE END.
fCopyrisht. 1927