The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-23
My Klngling.


vi DaDynOod'S royal dignitieS,
Lay on my neck thy tiny handl
am thine-Esther-to command"
Philip, my King
We never called him Philip, although
that was his name. We lust called
him pet and Rose bud" and ..Prec-
ious' and Baby" or any other sweet
diminutive that our fond and foolish
love for him prompted. and he answered
to them with a sweet trembling OF
his baby lips, and a questioning look on
his beautiful serious face.
He was still baby, with heavens
blue in his limpid eyes, and heavens
sunshine on his golden hair, when one
day rap came to my door, and there
stood . woman without who was
swarthy with the sun of Egyptian cen
turtles, tall, strong, sinewy. with coarse
black hair and tawny skin, woman
Stunned and feared as a sorceress-a
gypsy fortunc-teller and vagrant.
1 was about to shut the door in
haste, and exclude her unwelcome face
and form, when the baby gave little
cry as of recognition and held out his
tiny, dimpled hands with a caressing
motion to the strange, wierd woman.
And she-her whole face was trans
figured with that look of mOther-love,
which comes from a heart bereft of its
young. Tears were in the fierce black
eyes. She devoured my child with her
burning glance, and well | pitied
her and babe her come in.
Then the baby laughed and cooed and
pattcd her with his precious hands,
and laid his golden head on her hard
breast, and while | watched her mar
rowly, jealousy, as | trod the hospi-
table round OF kitchen and sitting
room, he fell asleep in her lean, dark
arms, with a sweet smile on his con-
tented face.
0, strange democracy Of a child's
nature! AS she laid him down his
arms sought her neck; he would have
nestled again on her alien breast. She
held one little hand in hers, and he
smiled in his sleep.
fed the woman and clothed her for
baby's sake, but then | babe her bcgone.
She wanted to stay, to work for me
assured me she was wise in woman'S
| way > NOulNA lulhiStti " bItG SlChs IC1tN
the stars, knew the secret values of the
herbs of the fields-but no, | felt that
could not breathe the same air witt
that Egyptian sorceress, and | sent hel
away
But before she went she leaned ovcl
the baby, took his little hand, soft anC
| relaxed in sleep, and spread it open il
| bar dark vi: bprp1 nalu whore II lax
~ ~, o''- n * - lih ~,
lLNe d W my tGso le"l' iioi' 'i'' "''''
"o 'lHt1ii. 11 I'sI ~ nv -, la.
GU leelel Depo' tal you IecIi'
bebe tahchUne, propah good
mo . no y | cried, hastily. II vii
not have my babyS fortune told, q
least not by-you.
The woman was smiling to herself
the baby smiled, too. and nestled his
hand in hers. hated her and longcc
to thrust her away.
$50 Ieetel, she murlaured, vague
! ly, $50 leetel lines in Ieetei bebc's han
lcctel short line, but so good. Missee
| tai Won lectcl bcbc's past?"
IAN tell his past2" 7 answered
| scornfully; his past is in Heaven"
''Ya, va; Get is true. Missee HEAVIER
my bebe there too
| wanted to cry at is notn' an,
snatch NV baby away from her: bu
there was something in her weird fac
that checked me.
II tal tbis Ioofel beha,s fnchah ..
| ebo oslnd
- .. L.. .,........l -
ioohe'. ~ mn my pta"'liul 10y
h his ioTag' and o rn 'ao~G r 'A' p'' 10
mn, " 'l N.Y., ~ roIi hn, 81 n,, oro 10,
y P Sll M nv King" VI '''''''' >'''' '''''
| said briefly: Yes. YES: tell me. "
III ess not mooch.1 she answered !
/ low and solemn tones-tricks of he
trade. I believed then. "He css
lcetel kinglinr: here ess 4 lifeline i
pity han. an on both ends lifeline
Get eSs-Hcaycn He lcctcI kinglina
an have crown in fuchah.
She went away reluctantly. and keel