The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-04-25

that lay between her own happy life
and this miserable one to which even
pity came as cruelty, not n solace.
For minute the woman lay notion
less, then, like startled animal that
turns with shy gaze to see If 1t be still
pursued. she half looked up, making
screen of her hands, and caught that
lovely look of pity bent on her. WHO
are your" she said. in a whisper. You
are not one of those that shrieked at me
by the pool?"
"A woman and sister, said Mad
cap. with all her heart, as she spoke.
Hester leaned "a little forward, as one
who listens, yet thinks her ears have
played her false, then slowly looked up
10 see what manner of woman was this
who claimed ssterhood with such as
she.
For minute the two faces gaZed in
tently at each other--the one, beautiful
through all its haggardness and an
guish, of olive tint framed III masses of
blue-black hair, with eyes
Deeper than the depth
or waters still'd mt even:
the other so young, so pitiful. so pure.
| think that new world opened to each
as she looked, and the contrast of their
lives was brought more keenly home
than it could have been by a lifetime of
words or familiar knowledge.
Il wanted to be alone said Hester,
with that certainty Of her story being
known to her nearer that is one of the
strongest signs of absorbing misery. II
could not breathe in my little room, and
so l came out. I'm trying to forgive
her, but ! can't. I can't-the little
baby comes between, and it cries, and
browns her voice i'll my ears; but l.
must get used to ito what she had
done-before kSee her again."
Some one ms hurt your child?" said
Madcap gently.
Hester looked up. SpaSm convulsed
her throat, for a moment she could not
speak, then, Its dead" she said, alb
ruptly.
"Oh. poor soul. poor soul.n cried Mad
cap. all the motherhearJ in her crying
out i'll passionate pity, and drew that
miserable head - her breast, and held
it there-pure woman and SHINING one
meeting on the ground OF common
motherhood. with tut one pulse Of Sor-
row between them.
"But it has been yours. said Mad
cap, as for moment the woman clung
to her as one to whom such clinging is
new and sweet. Nothing can take
that JOY from you; it has lain in YOUR
arms; it has loved you; you have loved
it."
II did love it, said the woman, al
most in whisper: "its little ways laid
fast hold on my heart though did not
know it; rs Janet said. they came back
on me afterward like tune of music,
that you don't heed much ut the time,
but just drops into your mind bit by bit
affarunrI / |
wouldn't let her see that | loved it. I'd
send her away for hours together that
might take care of it myself; and 1t got
to know me, and would smile up in my
face just as if | was as good as any
other mother: but when Janet asked II
she might take it To her home for bit,
let it CO.
She paused u moment, shuddered
away from Madcap. then went on again:
Il wrote to her that very night to come
back; but the days passed and she didn't
come, and was too proud to go after
her TO fetch it, especially when any day
or hour now | might hear Janet's step
on the path. and one night at dark L
heard it and ran out.
Think of it," she cried. her eyes
seeking Madcap's with despairing
hunger in their depths. 'One moment
W HdNc yOuI CIilItt III NOut luiIu N@cc, as
you have always known it: for your
heart to leap up as at the sound of its
coming--to feel it but a hands breadth
away, to run to il, and to be met with
empty arms and one little word-tleod.
Nothing warm, living. real, that you
could clasp to your breast. but a name,
a nothing--a word behind which his
living body is hid-de1d! She took me
to grave and said 1t was his; dead
dead--but never went there again; 1t
was my living child that ! remembered
that wanted-n0t my dead one!'
She covered her face with her hands
as mt that moment bird overhead COM
menced To sing-and there are moments
when snatch Of song will paint to q
poor wretch her misery in such colors
rs neither feeling nor thought have ever
had power to paint it for her yet.
And was there 10 one to be kind to
your" cried Madcap. the mOther-heart
in her throbbing in passionate response
to this bereft woman = misery. Your
husband. even if he did not love it
some men do not love children--cOuld
not he comfort you?'
My husband!'' repeated Hester.
shrinking away. scarlet flush over
spreading her pale face. Il thought
YOU knew have no husband" A
hard look overspread her features, and
the shame in her eyes seemed to draw
"a momentary veil between the two
hearts that pity had so closely drawn
together.
a moment-no mOre-and Madcap,
remembering only that here was one
who had been mother and was child
less, leaned forward, and, stealing a
gentle arm round that bowed neck, kiss
ed the poor lost woman on the cheek
with kiss as warm--aS real, as though
i'm blood, heart, and life they had been
sisters indeed.
For moment Hester did not speak;
then, seizing Madcap's hand, she bowed
her head upon IL, and burst into the
first tears she had shed for years--such
tears as spring from that fountain
whose home and source is the bosom
Of God"
''Are there many in the world like
your" she said, looking up. If so, it
is no wonder men leave women like
me-
Try to tell me. said Madcap gently;
you have suffered so much. God will
forgive you"
~ loved him. said Hesterin awhis-