Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-02-15

"It mnst have it's own name," said l one
III entirely forgot to ask the mother-I
mean the wOman-what it's name is" an
swered my wife. "She intended to come
again. But she does not come; she is GER
tainly sick Now l call it Max. Max is Il
pretty short name, is not:'
"H'm" returned l, between two draughts
Ofmy cigar, "Frltz would also DE quite a
pretty name."
zone cannot change the name now on ac-
count of domestics" answered she, shortly,
and~then called out loudly, "Is Max up al
ready"
Never mind, was it not our child:
Once, though, | played my justitiable part
toward the child. At dinner it was always
served at a little table in an nadjoining room.
At such times we could hear, between the
scantily dropping phrases of conversation,
its merry prattling, accompanied by the
Gathering of its spoon. My wife had no
rest there was a continual coming and GO
ing between us and him, the soup might be
too hot, and he might eat too much! "Wife,"
said I very quietly, but very decidedly,
"from tomorrow it shall eat with us at our
table. 1t is old enough now, with its two
years."
From that time on at" ate with us. He
sat there in his high chair like Il prince,
close to my wife-both opposite to me like
declared enemies, as it were. The yellow
ish paleness of poverty had yielded to an
aristocratic pink in his little cheeks, which
now, becoming quite chubby, sat 'comtorta-
bly, on the stiff folds of the napkin. 1t
worked powerfully at its soup and, now
that it had finished, set up the spoon like a
sceptre in its little round fist on the table.
NV wife and l had exchanged few words,
and now we sat silent. Apparently on ac-
count of this silence its large eyes began to
open wider and wider. They stared on me,
stared at my wife, with a surprised, almost
frightened, expression, as if they had pre-
sentiment that all was not right between us.
l confess that those eyes embarrassed me,
and that had feeling of relief when Fred
erick entered with dish. And L think
that my wife felt the same.
And the following days there were the
same large, wondering eyes, like an appeal
ing question, staring into the pauses OF our
conversation. ltsounds ridiculous, but IL Is
nevertheless true, we were culprltS before
the child, we two grown persons! And by
degrees our conversation became more ami
mated. The occasional prattlings OF the lit
tie one were noticed and spoken about; in
deed, sometimes there was a mutual laugh
ter at his attempts to speak.
All how light, how bell-like pure, sound
ed her laughter! Had never, then, heard
that bef0re?' And what was the matter
with me that I sometimes bent over my
writing-desk listening, as, though l heard
from'a distance these same silver tones:
With the first sunny spring "lt'' began
to play in the garden, which 1 could over
look from my seat in the office. She was
generally with him. Icould hear the sound
of his little feet on the pebbles, and then her
footsteps. Now she would playfully chase
him, and chorus of twittering sparrows
would ioin in their notes with the merry
laughter. Now she would catch him and
kiss his cheeks over and over. Once
opened my window; a warm, DalS;lmlc alr
streamed around me- and butterfly 1iut-
tered in and lit on my inkstand. Just then
she came out of green, Nine-grOWn bower;
she was dressed in dazzling white neglige,
trimmed with a costly lace; all over her
streamed the golden sunshine, except that
her face was overshadowed by the pink of
her parasOl.
How slim she appeared How graceful
in her movement! Had | been blind?
Truly the aunts and cousins were right;
She was in reality beautiful a sweet smile
transformed her features, she was happy
and her happiness came from her child.
Then il voice made itself heard in my breast,
which said very plainly: "lou are mon
stern' got up and walked to the window.
"It is beautiful day." called |. | know
how cold and prosaic it must have sounded
to her. 1t came like heavy cloud-shadow
over a sunny landscape. She answered
something / did not understand; but the
brightness was gone from her little face.
Then she took up the child, who was
stretching out his arms to her, and kissed
and careSSed him before my eyes.
Then it was when the first feeling of jeal-
ousy was aroused in me-a jealousy, truly;
but what Strange jealousy which could not
make clear to itself who was its object, If
"It" said "mamma," there came pain to
my heart; and the caresses with which she
overwhelmed him almost drove me Wild.
was jealous of both! 1t panied me that !
had no part in this weaving of love, that l
was not the third in the union. | exert
ed myself to gain part of their love. !
did it very clumsily. The child persevered
in certain slyness, and she-had not kept
myself forciby away from her during these
long, long years?
One day at the dinner table, after skirm-
ish of words, came a great stiffness between
US, a stiffness more painful than had ever
been. | glanced down at the flowers on my
plate of Saxon porcelain, my displeasUre
showing in my face; but felt plainly that
"It" had its eyes on me, and also her eyes.
1t was as if those four eyes burned ON my
forhcad. Then sounded suddenly in the
stiffness: "Papau' and again louder and
more courageous "Papa!' l shuddered.
at" sat there and stared, now very much
frightened, over ut me, wondering, perhaps,
whether a storm would be raised by It's
"papa" But her face was sufused with
glowing redness, and her half-opened lips
trembled slightly.
There came a flood of gladness over my
heart. Certainly no one but her had taught
him this 'papa" Why did I not spring
up, bound toward her, and, with one word,
embrace, strike out the Loneliness of these
last six years: One light word in this mo-
ment and all would have been well. 1t re-
manned unspoken l seemed to have lost
all power to act but Oh certain page OF
my ledger are still traces of the tears | shed
in anger at my own stupidity.
There was no doubt about it; another
spirit had stepped in with its little curly
head-the spirit of love; and that made Inc
stranger in my own house. y precious
sunshine frightened the rooms, even when
the one in the heavens was hidden by clouds.
| The faces Of the servants and even mani-
mate objects streamed back this radiance.
But me, only, the sunshine did not touch.
| | felt myself always more and more un-
happy in my loneliness. Jealousy grew in
me it gave me all sorts of foolish thoughts.
wanted to rebel against the little leautocrat-
| that would be ridiculous. | wanted to give
her the choice between him and me. |, au-
dacious one, | knew very well which side
her heart would choose. At another time
was ready to take steps in order to find the
mother, and with the power of gold force
her to take buck her child-behind my
wife's back That would be cOwardly.