The Cecil Whig., 1883-01-20
g IT,
A GERMAN PRIZE STORY.

The original of the following is Il prz-
story written for the Wei%er AllUemeine
Zeitung There were 100 contributions
hlud.ni in, and of these Mr., Rub-rr>' " 1t -
took the first priL-, 3GD ti"rinS. The judges
wer" Som- nf the nn>r enlightened in-n at
German lr-rarure-B.nrrt-h, Larb", Gross
and several others The author Is Frei
herrn V. Roberts.
Returning from business trip, en-
tered my wite's boudoir, and found her
kueeling before Il low chair. on which
sat boy baby with lage, round aud
wondering eyes. She got ap and came
rustling in her robe de- chambre to me.
She reached out her hand aud greeted
me not more heartily nor yet more for
maly than we were accustomed to greet
each other i'll hose days.
There it is" said my wife, pointing
- the child.
What - asked |. But she stopped
down before the little stranger, held a
biscuit to its upturned face. and, half
turning toward me. replied:
We'll, you know-did we not read of
it in the newspaper? Don't you remem,
berthe day before yesterday? And is
it not beautiful
Now | did recollect that a few nights
before she held the Gn=cnc under the
light OF my student lamp, and. pointing
| with her finger to an advertisement. said
H.. l.. IL,
well-known appeal. the cry of despair
| from 4 bleeding heart addressed to good
! people. \ child was offered for adop
! tion to persons well off. What would
you think of our taking it?" my wife
! had said, and had returned the paper
to her with shrug Of my shoulders.
" But, Martha, what have you done ~
cried l. in tone vibrating with anger.
ION have realty
Certainly. as you see. And then ii
! belongs to me: | myself have settled
everything with the poor mother, who is
in reality to be pitied. have sworn to
take good care of il: and SO ! will ill.,
deed"
She took the little head. with its
blonde. silk curlS. between her white
hands, and iondled and caressed it. is
it not SO, little one :-yon will be loved:'
But the some hat sickly and delicate
little face showed no signs of understand
ing. except that out Of the heart shaped
II Il, 1.
hat soun, so strangely from children.
| at once gave up all serions objection
lad We not been accustomed for years
70 act independently of each other? Ou'
marriage was not 4 very happy one, al
h"uLh We had not married for love-
During the noise and hustle of the crowd
ed Exchange our fathers had contracted
this union. She had To tear her heart
i'rom a beloved one and in mine han
Glowed a passion not yet nutspoken
iiut parental wishes conquered. w,
chose to be obedient chldrcn: and SO i,
Aappensd.
Al the commencement we We're to caci'
other silent rtprnach; after which fol
lowed declared war, until. finally, VT
came to 4 polite but gloomy peace.
To &c sure. she was heantiful-she was
good and bright and sparkling. Others
called her an angel. Aud |? Well
believe | was no monster either. The
analysis showed the brightest colorS:
still the >un was missing. We were si>
years married and had no children. Per
maps had Heaven sent us them
Well, this child belonged entirely to
her. l heard later that she had given
$1,000, the price of a set Of jewels which
she had sold secretly.
Why did you not tell me of it ." |
said. half-angrily.
Because it wonld have been too late
if had waited for your return to the
city: and. besides, | wanted to have it
entirely for my self: | want to call it my
| own" she said, poutingly.
Ny horses, my dogs: her canaries, her
gold fiShes-I could endure that: bur
that she wanted to have her child foi
herself alone, that was too much for me-
The thought of it tormented me one.
TWO days only. On the third day my
| wife had gone out in her carriage. there
came veiled woman and demanded en-,
| trance. 1t was the mother. Like
shadow she glided into the room. and
with half-suppressed sob. begged t.
see her child once more. She could no,
part from him forever without imprint
ing one more kiss upon his cheek.
opened my safe quickly. Here, m,
good woman said |, take that; they
nave not given you enough" II II teals
fell dowl her wan cheeks; she begge"
me not to judge her too harshly: she har
mother child, a cripple and helpless: sh,
| herself was sick and would not liv
much longer. and what was to become -
| rhe children? Then she th"ught-I m,.
self had to finish the sentence, which
violent fit Of coughing had interrupted
Yes. she thought: II will sell IT,,
healthy o"e in order that the money ma
| help the cripple when | am dead an,
gone.
No. she must not be judged harsh',
We rich ones know but little of the triaIs
md temptations of the poor
When my wife returned gave he, ar
account ot the call | had had. ad.ii..
fhat had given the unfortunate "n.
exactly the same amount as she haH
And now, said I, you must see til,
the child belongs to both ul U.s.
She bit her lips with her little Whit
teeth.
at is all the same tc me" said she.
after Il moment reflection: and Will,
that she pressed Gender kiss on the liz
tie boy S mouth 1t sounded almost Ike
a challenge.
Our child"' scarcely ever saw it.
And the changes that were made IN our
household for his sake were made eu
tirely without me. Sometimes, after the
most important things Were decided, my
consent was then asked. We are
obliged to have a nurse: ! hired one
Anselm. | nodded silently. I'VE
must tit up nursery: that room is too
warm for the child | nodded silently,
but heard the sound of the workmen
who were already at work in the hall.
What could do bettero Was it not all
done for our child.
Ny wife and did not talk much about