The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-11-06

that the pretty silver jug and the cream
all fell together. Lance laughed aloud.
why, Frances" he cried; Il have
never seen you do such clumsy thing
before"
She was deadly pale, her hand shak-
RI have frightened myself, - she said,
land no wonder with such q noise"
A servant came, who made every
thing right.
Then Lance continued, "You inter
rupted me, Frances. was just saying
that child-murder is one of the greatest
6lots on the civilization Of the present
day
1T is such a horrible thing to speak
Of she said, feebly.
1T wants some speaking about, said
Lance. II never take up paper with
out reading one or two cases. / won
der that Government does not take il
up and issue some decree or other. II
is blot on the face of the land"
Il do not suppose that any decree of
Government would change it, ;" / said,
''the evil lies too deeply for that; the
law should be made equal as it is the
whole blame, shame, and punishment
fall on the woman, while the man goes
free; there will be no change for the
better, while that is the case. l have
no patience to think of the irregularity
of the law"
You are right, John" said my old
friend. still, cruelty in a woman is
30 horrible, and the woman must be as
cruel as demon who deserts or slaYs
her own child. II had my own way
would hang everyone who does It !;
there would soon be an end of 1t
then"
There was low, startled cry and the
paper fell TO the ground. Mrs. Fleming
rose from her chair with a ghastly
face.
Frances, cried her husband, what
is the matter?"
You will talk of such horrible
things she replied, vehemently, .and
you know that l cannot bear them"
Sweetheart" he whispered, as he
kissed her, Il will be more careful 1
know sensitive heart like yours can
not bear the knowledge of such things
\ Hou must forgive me, Frances, but to
me there is something far more loath-
ing in the woman who kills child than
In the woman who slays y man. Do
not look so pale and grieved, my dar-
ling John, we must be more careful
what we say"
Il must beg you to remember that
you began the subject, Lance"
Il am ashamed Of making such a
fuss" she continued, but there are
some subjects too horrible even to dwell
upon or speak OF, and that is one. am
going into the garden, Lance; perhaps
you and Mr.. Ford would like your
cigars there ? / am going to prune a
favorite rose tree that Is growing
wild"
DO you understand pruning, Mrs.
FlemingY" l asked.
such small things as rose trees, " she
replied.
I've will follow you, Frances" said
her husband. MY case is empty;
must get some more cigars
| fancied that she was unwilling to
leave us together. She fingered few
minutes. then went out. Then simple.
honest Lance turned to me with his
face full of animation.
John. did you ever see such a ten
der-hearted woman in your life She
is almost too sensitive"
Ny suspicious were certainties now.
and my mind was more than ever tossed
and vhirled in tortured doubt and
dread. shall never forget one evening
that came soon afterwards. We went
TO dine with a friend Of Lance's, a
Squire Peyton, who lived not far away,
and he was the pOssesSOr of some very
tine pictures OF which be was very
proud. He took us through his prettily-
arranged gallery.
This IS my last purchase, =" he said.
We all three stopped to look at a large
square picture representing the mother
of the little Moses placing his cradle Of
rushes amongst the tall reeds in the
water.
| saw Mrs. Fleming look at it with
eyes that were wet with tears.
Does it sadden you ?" asked Lance
1T need not do; the little one looks
young and tender to be left alone, but
the water is silent and the mother is
near. She never left him. What a
pretty story OF mother-love it is
The beautiful face paled, the lips
trembled slightly.
1T is a beautiful picture" she said,
Ito come from that land of darkness !;
It makes something Of the poetry of the
Nile"
Watching her, said to myself, that
woman has not deadened her con-
science; she has tried and failed.
There is more good than evil in her"
All night long there sounded in my
ears those words, "A life for life "
And | wondered what would, what
could be the punishment of a mother
who took the life of her own child