Motion Picture Story Magazine (Aug 1911-Jan 1912)

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ON THE THRESHOLD OF LIFE 67 solved in tears, his cherished kitten at the mercy of older boys, thought an angel had suddenly come to his assistance when Helen bent over him. "Oh, boys," she exclaimed, reaching for the much-mauled kitten, "haven't you anything better to do than tease a poor, helpless animal and make a little crippled boy cry ? ' ' ' ' We wasn 't hurtin ' it, miss. ' ' Injured innocence was personified in the speaker. His companion interrupted. "Aw, there ain't nothin' doin' around here. No place to go — no fun nor nothin' 'less we make up a gang. Then th' cops '11 haul us to court an' send us out to th' farm. That's better'n hangin' around here.'' Helen could not stop to discuss the matter. She knew only too well causes and effects of the boyish plaint of "nothin' doin'." How she longed to direct them to a nearby playground and take little Mike with her to the Kindergarten, but alas! every one with which she was familiar was already overcrowded. Hewett, taking a short cut to his office, saw her there, surrounded by children, and paused in surprise. "So this was your 'previous engagement,' was it?" he queried. Helen blushed and lifted her eyes appealingly to her stern-looking lover. "I love it so, Roger," she said. ' ' Wont you come and see the Kindergarten some day? You dont realize the good it does." ' ' These surroundings are not fit for you," he answered. "Come home with me. ' ' "I cant do it, Roger," was all she could say. "I am needed here today." She returned to the Kindergarten, but she did not see the little crippled boy with the forlorn cat in his arms haltingly following her. The conversation between the young teachers first attracted her attention to his presence in the room. " It is too bad ! I hate to send him away. ' ' "But it cannot be helped. We have too many now." "He looks so in need " "I know it. They all do. That is the pity of it. If only we had more money and more room " The voices died away as the speakers turned to break the news to the child that his brief vision of happiness at the Kindergarten could not be realized. It was only the old Biblical story of "no room," and the childone of the least of the little ones — was turned away. To Helen it seemed heartbreaking. Why could there not be room for all, when so much money was lavished upon useless luxuries ? Only a few blocks distant Roger Hewett, the prosperous young business man, recently heir to all his father's fortune, frowned and shook his head as he carelessly read a neatly stereotyped business letter : National Association for the Promotion of Kindergarten Education. 1 Madison Ave., New York. Mr. Roger Hewett, New York City. Dear Sir: Thousands of little children begin life in the midst of degradation and squalor. Additional free Kindergartens would give them a fair start toward better things and take them away from ignorance and crime. Will you send us a subscription toward the work? Very truly yours, National Kindergarten Association. "That's the trouble with these charitable organizations," he muttered, tossing the unwelcome letter into the waste basket. "Always begging for something. I should think they'd get tired of it some time." Helen's picture stood on the desk before him. The large brown eyes seemed to read his thoughts. He winced inwardly as he realized that he was far from being all that he imagined she thought he was. He sighed that there should be any division of interests between them. He was not a philanthropist, but he might at least encourage Helen in her charitable undertakings. It seemed very selfish to have driven off and left her there alone in those wretched streets. Now that he knew the nature