Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-03-14

broken"
Goodness! how did l get in rs
deep rs thisP" reflects Gladys. Sut
aloud she only says swectly: 1T is so
chilly l must go to my statc-room.
Would you mind finding Mr. Cabot
for mc?"
The Captain regrets to lose his at
ten'ivo listener, but protests it is no
trouble to obey her commands When
John comes strolling in. he finds
Gladys not so engaged in the mys-
teries OF the toilette, but that she can
rohcarsc the Captain tender looks and
gestures for her husbands editica-
ton. Her recital is accompanied by
much laughter, notwiths landing
which Mr.. Clbot sits gloomily
Juggling Mt his prizod moustache,
without q smile; and he presently falls
upon the fascinating Captain and
metaphorically smitcs him hip and
thigh. giving most untlattering &C.
counts of his past and present life
Gladys only replies: Il shouldn't
think you would introduce such Il man
to nc. Even your mother would know
better than that" and goes to sleep
shortly. quite satisfied with herself
But later she wakes from troubled
dream, so real that her face is wet, her
pillow is wet. and the tears still
streaming. The wind and the waves
outside tumultously call TO each other
and tho boat is rocking. Her baby,
the round, soft creature that always
sleeps next her heart, where is he and
how fares he? Has she not Just seen
him. a piteous. woeful sight, with
blackened garments and bleeding
flesh? Did she not hear his piercing
cry, ''Mamma!' prolonged and re.
peatcd again and again? She rises
and walks the narrow floor and sobs
unrestrainedly as her vivid dream re-
turns to her. with her face pressed
into her hands.
II say-what's up?' comes in a
startled voice from John, who. sud-
denly awakened, rises on his elbow
and anxiously gazes at her distressed
demeanor
Il dreamed the baby was dreadfully
burned and was crying tor me-" is all
that Gladys can answer, with gasps
and sobs interrupting.
Having impaired her grief causes it
to loose some OF its keenncss. John
quietly soothes her and endcavors to
induce her to rest and sleep again; but
no more sleep for Gladys. Her dream
has quite unnervcd her.
Il am a faithless. unworthy moth
er!' sobs she. "Oh. why did you ask
me to come with you and leave him?"
because l am miserable sinner,
the chiefest among ten thousand" &C.
knowledges John, promptly: Now.
have a little common sense, GLADYS.
You flirted last evening-vour con-
science reproached you'-(Gladys
losses her head) -"you missed the baby
and tried to make yourself think you
had neglected him-wcnt to bed very
tire d-and your nightmare WAS the
inevitable consequence. See?''~
mo, I don't see," stubbornly says
Gladys. 1T was not dream" it was
a vision. saw him-saw my baby,
John! And I am going straight back
to him as fast as my feet can carry
mer'
Il think you had better not try to
walk it." says John. If you will
wait till the boat gets in. I will pay
your fare back on the fast train. But
perhaps you will change your mind
by morning."
Deluded man! He can no more keep
his Gladys from flying to her baby
than he can drain off Long Island
Sound; and with many protests he
seats her in the parlor car, gives her
new book and basket of fruit, tips
the porter-who thereafter hovers
about Gladys. becoming quite nui-
sance with his bencficcnt attentions
and finally leaves her. for business is
business. and John can not return
with his pretty little wife, much rs he
would like to.
How slowly pass the hours! How
the train drags and delays! Gladys
hears one gentleman say complacent-
ly to another: There is but one faster
train than this in the world!' and feels
like answering him wildly: "That is a
falsehood-there are none slower!"
When her patience is quite exhausted
and she feels that an hysterical burst
of tears is imminent the car rolls
slowly into the depot, and she bounds
from her seat, dropping her novel and
tossing back her soft curls which have
escaped from their fastening even rs
she now escapes from her prison. car.
She foots It ever fair and young;
Her locks are tied in haste,
And one is DER her shoulder flung
And hangs below her waist.
Little cares she for discarded liter
ature or dishevelcd tresses. She takes
the first carriage she sees. and tells
the driver impatiently to hurry. But
he is evidently in league with tho rail-
road. for time lags and eternity has
commemorate seems to Gladys-be-
fore she reaches home