Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1889-01-03

and the deacon--waS Jest hghting Tor
that baby's life. And, at last, whom she
come to herself, there warn't nothin' but
q dead baby to show her.
Dear, dear! did she take on much?" said
Fidelia, dropping her knitting in her lap
Take on? Well, not like some folks. She
didn't screech nor cry, but she jest turned
awful white, and her eyes got big and
bad lookin'. 1t was enough to liant you
to see 'em-jest moaned and caught ahold
of the deacon's coat-sleeve as ii she
needed something to comfort her. 1t did,
seem g if her heart was broke sure. She
never had no more children.
II guess that's why they've been SO set
en- each other" unused Fidelia.
Well, as to that, there amt no tellin'.
Some few folks are so-considerate and
feelin'-but mighty few. Most married
folk get tired of Twin together, or, at any
rate, they appear SO at home. The deacon
and Mis- True they's been like they was
a-courtin' all these years. He's done all
the chores for her that mortal man could
do, and she's been as sweet to him-well,
as sweet as one of them doves a-cooing
away out there on the barn..
@Harkl What's that?" said Fidelia,
holding up one hand warningly.
1t was only the sound of weak voice
above and deeper voice trying to answer
soothingly.
While the two women had talked the
afternoon waned. The rain seemed like
fast falling tears. The flowers, some Of
them, were closing drowsily. The shad-
ows were deepening The light-green
foliage of birch tree near the house
looked gray in the twilight. Through the
open chamber window above sounded the
sleepy trill of bird, safely Struggled in
his nest under the young leaves.
Curiously enough this tender note alone
had the power to rouse the dying woman.
She had always been in close sympathy
with all fair, helpless things, flowers,
young birds and infants. Now, in her
extremity, this pierced to her heart and
woke her.
where's the baby?" she whispered.
"Why don't they bring the baby to me2"
She was living over again her only sick
ness. She fancied herself young once
more, young and filled with strange
great happiness
The years between had vanished. They
were happy years, too, happier than most
people enjoy, for her desires had been
easily gratifed, her ambitions we're of the
| simplest kind. To live within their small
means; to lay aside little each year; to
keep the house immaculate and the flowers
| thriving; to know peaceful nights and
quiet, uneventful days; to help neighbor
in trouble; to sit in the village church
| regularly on Sundays, and to be sure that
the grass grew green and the white yiolets
| 1ourished over a certain small mound in
| the graveyard; these were the utmost
limits of her hopes. Her one great grief
| had been tender memory, and all the days
since had been prosperous and serene,
| ~ lnI Ixvn loo1y
Now, suddenly, she was young again,
young wife in her new home, with all her
| humble household treasures new about her
| and this thrill of expectation in her breast.
| where's the baby? Why don't they
bring the baby to me?" she repeated, eager
| ly. Her husband leaned forward, press
ing her hand in both of his.
"The baby?" he said; what baby?'
For him the sad present had swallowed
up the past.
sour baby" she whispered, with look
of rapture in her faded eyes.
@Oh, Lois!"
| He bent his head still lower. That
shadowy child Of theirs seemed hardly
more than dream to him. He had never
held it or played with it, or talked to it in
| imagination, as she had.
His name is Josiah, for you, continued
the dying woman, trying to tighten her
clasp of the md holding hers, and look
in" up earnestly at him.
| aHe will be little 10. Perhaps his eyes
are like yours; and he will be good man
like you, hope. We will teach him to be
good, won't WEI"
| yes, yes, Lois"
But why don't they bring him to me?
1 want so much to hold him, only once,
| for little while want to feel his little
hand on my face and kiss his little cheek.
Please tell them to bring him.
| Hush, hush, Lois, dear"
perhaps they don't know where his
clothes are. 1 laid them all ready in the
| top drawer of the bureau in the spare room,
| his little blue socks, and his shirt, and the
| white slip-they said he must wear slips
at first, not dresses. Everythings ready.
A boy, you said. Oh, do let me hold him
now sSsss 4. a, ,..,..,.-.,
| quiet her, but without success. Outdoors
| wind was rising, soft wind, fragrant
| with the bitter-sweet breath of blossom
| ing peach trees 1t sighed at the open
| window, and swept branch of the birch
tree against the upper panes. The deacon
| tried to rise to close the glass, but she
moved uneasily as if to sit up in bed. He
| put his arms out to support her. She
hardly seemed to see Or feel them. Slowly
her face grew radiant with surprise and
| delight
| "Ah, you have brought him to me at
| last" she cried, with hands outstretched.
Quick, give him to me here, close to my
heart. Oh how dear, how beautiful he
is. l had not thought he would be half SO
beautiful"
She held her arms as if they encircled a
little form, and bent her face over them in
tenderest mother fashion.
MY baby! my baby!" she whispered;
then, with sigh of utter content, sank
back upon her pillows.
The women down stairs listened for the
sound of voices to begin again, expecting
to be summoned, but no such summons
| came.
Night and darkness fell in the garden
| and closed about the house. Fidelia put
a lamp outside the chamber door and shut
| the door quietly. She glanced toward the
| bed where Mrs. True seemed to be asleep,
her husband, with his face buried in the
pillow, near her. She left all the necessary
articles for the night and moved away with
noiseless step The hours went on slowly
and silently. The stars shone out in the
sky at last, while the flowers slept down in
the shadows, and the little bird was gently
rocked in its soft or IDLE. All was still in
| the house where childrens feet had never
battered up and down nor children's voices
echoed.
When morning, calm and sunny, bright
ened the quiet room it showed the woman
a face elorifed with a smile of absolute
peace Who knows? Perhaps, indeed,
her baby had been brought to her