Mr. Achilles eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 158 pages of information about Mr. Achilles.

Mr. Achilles eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 158 pages of information about Mr. Achilles.

They stood looking down—­at the brown face and the little, tired lip and sleeping lids....  Their eyes met, and they smiled....  They knew—­these two, out of all the world—­they knew what it meant—­that the child was safe.

And out in the glowing dawn, the great car thundered home, and Betty Harris’s mother looked out with swift eyes.

“See, Phil—­the sun is up!” She reached out her hand.

“Sit still, Louie—­don’t tremble so—­” he said gently.  “She is safe now—­They have brought her home.  She’s there, you know, asleep.”  He spoke slowly—­as if to a child....  He was gathering up the morning in his heart—­this big, harsh, master of men—­his little girl was safe—­and a common Greek—­a man out of the streets—­peddling bananas and calling up and down—­had made his life worth living.  His big, tense mind gripped the fact—­and held it.  Something seemed speaking to him—­out of the east, over there, past the rushing car....  A common Greek....  He had flung his wealth and hammered hard—­but somehow this man had loved her—­his little girl!

“Phil—?” she said softly.

“Yes, dear?”

“Are we almost home?”

He looked out.  “Half an hour yet—­sit still, Louie—!” He held her hand close.  “Sit still!” he said—­and the miles slipped past.

“She is there—­Phil!  Yes?  They wouldn’t lie to me.  All these weeks!” she said softly.  “I don’t think I could bear it much longer, Phil!” The tears were on her cheeks, raining down and he put his rough face against her, adrift in a new world.

And over the great lake the sun burst out, on a flashing car—­and the door flung wide to Betty Harris’s mother, flying with swift, sure foot up the great, stone steps....  “This way, ma’am—­she’s in here—­her own room—­this way, ma’am.”

She was kneeling by the great canopied bed, her head bent very low.  The brown face trembled a breath... the child put up a hand in her dream, “Mother-dear!” she said—­and dreamed on....

THE END

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Project Gutenberg
Mr. Achilles from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.