Partners by Grace Livingston Hill Read Free Book Online

really cared what an unknown, unloved young girl felt about Him! Oh, that was a wonderful idea! God caring about her, wanting to be her Friend!
    And now, there was only one other thing she had asked for, a friend! Just someone to speak to, and smile to across the hard days. But, maybe that would come later!
    As she passed a fruit store she remembered that she would soon be almost out of oranges, and there were some lovely ones that seemed to be cheap. She would celebrate by getting a whole dozen. She had to work hard now, and must be well fed to keep herself in good condition to do her best.
    So she bought her oranges and started on, a happy smile on her face. Life wasn't going to be so terrible after all if God was caring, and little nice things could happen to her.
    But the oranges were heavy and the package was awkward to carry. The bag seemed to be made of very flimsy paper. Twice the package almost slipped from her arms, and she had to walk steadily to keep the oranges from brimming over the top and careening along the sidewalk. Well, it was only a half block more! She would soon be there!
    She eased one weary arm as she reached the steps, and the top edge of the bag ripped down five inches. Oh! She paused and tried to readjust the package. Someone was coming out of the house, but she could not look up. She had to walk very carefully lest that bag would give way and send her oranges all abroad. Then suddenly like a petulant child who wasn't getting its own way the bag tore relentlessly in three or four places and ripped halfway down one side. The oranges went catapulting out, bouncing on the steps and everywhere; one rolled out and down across the sidewalk to the gutter!
    In horror she clutched the rest of them in one arm and tried to reach for a couple that were on the step just before her, for that someone, whoever it was, was coming down the steps. A man. She must clear them out of his way!
    But then the rest of the oranges like naughty children who had got the upper hand, leaped out and went abroad in every direction, and Dale was left clutching a limp empty paper bag and looking foolishly up at the young man above her.
    It was the young man who occupied the third-story front, the one Mrs. Beck had called George Rand, and he had a nice grin on his face. His eyes were kind.
    "Hold everything!" he cried, and stooping over began to pick up oranges and stow them in the newspaper he had been carrying under his arm, spreading it handily on the second step.
    "Oh! Thank you!" said Dale breathlessly. "But please don't trouble. It was my awkwardness."
    "Oh, no!" said the young man with more grin. "It was the thinness of the paper bag. Too bad! I'm afraid some of these will need a bath after this." And he turned and picked two out of the gutter.
    She reached to take them from him, but he evaded her.
    "Oh, no," he said pleasantly. "I'm carrying them up for you. You can't be trusted with them, they're too wet and dirty. Besides they are full of mischief and will run away at the slightest provocation. Lead the way, will you?"
    "Oh, that's very kind of you," said Dale, "but really that's not necessary. Just lend me your newspaper till I dump them in my room and I'll bring it right down to you."
    "Don't worry about the paper," he said. "I was through with it anyway. But I'm carrying these oranges home, see? I claim it as my right."
    He held the door open for her, smiling, with a determined expression on his pleasant lips, and there was nothing for her to do but walk in.
    She made a decided stand on the top landing, but he only stepped up beside her, slipped one hand under her elbow to help her, and her pale cheeks flushed rosily.
    Downstairs she was suddenly aware of the front room door opening a crack, and a watching eye applied to the crack, so she hastened her steps and arrived a bit breathless at her own door, making as if to take the oranges, but he still held them.
    "Open your door," he said. "They'll go all abroad again if you