The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-02-17
''IT.''
a GERMAN PRIZE STORY.

Returning from business trip, Icntcr
ed my wife's boudoir and found hel
kneeling before low chair on which sa
boy baby with large, round and won.
dering eyes. She got up and came rust
ling in her robe dc chambrc to me. Sh,
reached out her hand and greeted me
not more heartily nor yet more formal,
than we were accustomed TO greet cacl
other in those days.
"There it is" said my wife, pointing
to the child.
"What 2" asked I. But she stopped
down before the little stranger, held ;
biscuit to its upturned face, and hal
turning toward me replied:
"Well, you know-did we not read
OF il in the newspaper Don't you re,
membcr-the day before yesterday
And is it not beautiful ?"
snow did recollcct that few night.
ksfeEe she heldS,he Gazette under the
light Of my student lamp, and, pointing
with her finger TO an advertisement
said TO me, "Please read that" II wa.
the well-known appeal, the cry OF de
spair from bleeding heart addressed &c
"good people" a child was offered
for adoption to persons we'll Off
"What would you think OF our taking
it?" my wife had said, and | had re
turned the paper with shrug of my
shoulders.
"But, Martha, what have you done ?
cried |, in tone vibrating with anger
"You have really"
Certainly, as you see. And then i
belongs to me. | myself have settled
everything with the poor mother, who
is in reality to be piiied. | have sworr
to take good care Of it; and so will in
deed"
She took the little head, with il,
blonde, silk curls between her whit,
hands, and fondled and caressed il,
as it not so, little one? you will b,
dyed"
! rsSut the somewhat sickly and delicat,
little face showed no signs ofunderstand
ing except that out Of the heart-shapeC
little mouth came one of those signs tina
sound so strangely from children.
at once gave up all serious opposi
ton. Had We not been accustomed
for years to act independently of eacl
otheri Our marriage was not 4 yer,
happy one, although we had not married
for love. During the noise and bustl
Of the crowded Exchange our father
had contracted this union. She had I,
tear her heart from 4 beloved one, ant
in mine had glowcd passion not We
outspoken. But parental wishes con
quered. We chose to be obedient chill
dren and so il happened.
At the commencement We were
silent reproach to each other; ate
which followed a declared war, unit
finally We came to polite but gloom
peace.
To be sure she was beautiful-sh
was good and bright and sparkling
l-sSshers called her an angel. And
Well, believe was no monster either
The analysis showed the brightest colors
still the sun was missing. We were 81
years married and had no children
Perhaps had Heaven sent us them
Well, this child belonged entirely {
her. heard later that she had give
81, 900, the price Of 4 set Of jewels whic
she had sold. secretly.
"why did you not tell me OF it ?"
said, half angri!y.
"Because it would have been too In,
If had waited for your return TO III
city; and besides | wanted to have
entirely for myself; want to call il n.
own" she said, poutingly.
My horses, my dogs; her canarici
her goldhshes-l could endure that b,
that she wanted to have her child f
herself alone, that was too much for IN,
The thought Of it tormented me on,
two days only. On the third day, whil
my wife was out in her carriage, thel
came a yelled woman and demande
..en,rance. II was the mother. Like
shadow she glided into the room, an
with half.suppressed sob, begged I
see her child once more. She coul
not part from him forever without in
printing one more kiss upon his cheel
opened my safe quickly. "Here, m
good woman" said /, "take that the
have not given you enough" liz
tears fell down her wan checks 81
begged me not tojudge her too harshly
she had another child, a cripple an
helpless; she herself was sick and woul
not live much longer, and what was
become Of the childrenl Then sh
thought myself had to finish III
sentence, which violent fit Of coughin
had interrupted. EYES," she ha
thought; al will sell the healthy one j
order that the money may help ii
cripple when am dead and gone"
No, she must not be judged harshly
we rich ones know but little Of the tria
and temptations Of the poor.
When my wife returned l gave her a
account Of the call had had, addin
that had given the unfortunate on
exactly the same amount as she haS
"And now," said I, "you must see Il
child belongs to both Of us"
She bit her lips with her little whit
teeth.
ait is all the same to me-" said sh,
after a moments reflection and wit
that she pressed a tender kiss on Il
little boys mouth. II sounded like
challenge.
"Our child" / scarcely ever saw !
And the changes that were made in o,
household fsr his sake were made Ct
tiTeiy withou; me. Sometimes, after d
most important things were decided, m