The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-05
CARTWRIGHTS TWINS.
BY MRS. NJ. A. KIDDER.

II was a low, rambling, sned OF mousse nauei
II is tine, TO look picturesque by The wealth Oh
green vines and japanese climbing roses that
completely covered the low caves and even crept
across the roof and peeped over on the other
side The flowers and vines were twlned ana IN
,errwned till the cottage l1Oked ike floral
bower, and I'll for fairy princess.
But this was all outside show, ike many an
other dwelling-plaee, both oil soul ana Douy, IN
this strange, deceiylnG world.
Utook Tie winds of autumn and the wild, rude
storms OF winter 10 strip 1t of its glory.
inside IL was cheerless bare place, consist
ing OF sitliug-room, bedroom ana Kitchen, With
a loft or galret where lie pigeons and The rats
The sitIine-room was parlor and dinlng-room
as well. except when James Cartwright, the
haTd-wOrk Ing tenant, was 100 Dusy 10 lamp
haf-mile 10 eat his frugal dinner at his own num-
bic board: then IL was that little Susie put up
leaf In The knchen table set against tile wall.
placed Two plates aud corresponding NUMBER
OF knives and tWg-tiued forks, cup and 4
ssprer. q plate Of sweet butter and home made
loaf with some simple relish thereon, viii cup
of tea always Tor mother. Go.
a head taller Than lie table she was as Hahuy as
many grown maiden IN cutting the oIead, pour
iDg uut lie tea and, better than all, In washing
The disles-ine dread OF all hUusekeepeTs-and
tiGying up HE room I'll sEone
There were no ottomanS, velvet tapestry or
stuffed furniture TO arrange and Keep Cream. Inc
welI-wGIu Iag-c1Tpet, the hait-doZrn caue-east
chairs aud oid.lsshioned mahogany table, ina:
had oRce belonged 10 Granny Cartwright"
with The wellhiled workbGsket on Tie VIDE
window ledge, comprised the appointments oil
Mrs. Cartwright was an invalid, but she
s.tuuutued not as those without hope" When
The sweet Nay flowers should blossom ana the
bills be clad IN green, she prayed that her
hope might blossom also IN strength ana
beaufy-in short. that the little one they eN'
d. cled would be perfect and c0lnely
II susie (NhO was 10 years Old bad been more
of Inc hopes and aspirations OF her patents, ana
h2n had a
would have expressed Der lOuglngS lor 4 little
sister" but, as it was, there were deyoul inward
pTayrIs going uu from tile hearts OF The humble
paif hat the baby might be boy!
Our prayers are answered, Martha" said
plain James Cartwright as he kissed lis wife
aud glanced at the bouT-old, red-faeed baby IN
the muses. arms; two months later than Wheh
our story opens. II would remain WIN You
longer but an Important job Is waiting. and line
work must be attended TO now more Than ever
for We have another mouth TO fill. Heaven bless
Won both - and The sIalwsTt blacksmith started
with long strides for his smilhy.
Tue foundry b ii sounded lis SIX measured
strokes and at the last stroke the blacksmith
lett his anvil upon lie forge ana hurrledly creep
ing out of his oyeralis started for home.
"KIss the baby. father" cried the delighted
Susie. as soon as lie had entered the room, hold
ing up lie little mite for the paternal salute.
Cartwright did as his daughter requested MIN,
though IN rather an awkward manner
Did you KISS the baby al noon, father !"
Eyes, Susie"
"W eli This isn't the same one you kissed then,
father" and Susie laughed TIL the tears ran
down her cheeks al the choice BIT Of news she
had 10 tell him.
~ hat 90 you mean Sue?"
"Why, we've got twins-didn't you know H.
father? Tie sweetest ittle boy and gal That you
ever saw. The doctor brought the girl after you
went 10 work"
This was poser.
james Cartwright loved bis wife and children;
bur another girl, aud twin at that, was more
than he could exactly be thankful for, in his
sIraitened circumstances. Martha could not
nurse both, so a nurse had 10 be kept, and that
would take the little lie trying every week to
.ay by against the rainy day." that was sure TO
come som time.
softly INTO The poorly furnished little bedroom
aud kissed The cheek Of lis patient wife his
Martha, WHO mad borne win MN the neat and
burden OF MES battle, and been to lin at all !
times a Aelpmate In the fullest sense OF tie |
Woid;
pale lips murmured, as tie nurse uncovered the
Tiny twain, nestled In each others arms.
They arc pretty enough. Martha but little
more than We prayed for or wished; don't you
think so. dear, with our small resources?"
No., On. James; you are nor pleased OF you would
love and he Will provide"
lie twins grew apace, and were the talk and
wonder OF The neghboIhood for their int5lli-
Eence and beauty, ana " was, 100, Tie wonder OF
me neigh borhuCd that James Cartwright never
seemed as fond of his baby girl as OF his other
..Sue came TWO years too soon," he would say,
Iauahngly, and cost me all my spare money"
SIX years passed away, aud Susie Cartwright |
" no lau grown 10 Ut 4 uciCdkc, plCltl ulluCu VI
1t, seemed bound up In the Twins. Whatever |
Iove ana attention was lacking on the fathers |
part for lille Pauline was fully made up by the |
mother and daughter.
Strange as il seemed, though the little girl |
idOzed her father, and was never happy out of |
his sight. She and little Paul would oltentlines
wander down TO the blacksmitb's shop, and |
linger around until time for dinner or supper. |
Then James Cartwright would issue from the
shop, clasp bis boy In his arms, perch him upon
his shoulder and start for home, leaving Pauline
10 tIudge along as she could.
Tie little thing was old enough now 10 feel the
slight (haying arrived al the age OF years. and
resent II.
won't you take me up, papa?"
NO. Papa must carry his own darling boy.
You run home TO mother"
mo / shan't. If you wont carry me shan't |
90 home" said the Hllllul little Pauline. III |
60 see grandma"
Pauline turned short and went In the opposite |
direction down the road.
James Cartwright had been so busy frolickIng |
with his boy that This proud little speech was lost
upon HIM. and when be reached his cottage tie |
child was nowhere TO be seen.
(Which way DID she 60, father 2" cried Susie.
"she's gone TO grandma'.." cried Paul, the
spoiled child.
Grandma" wa, none other than an old half.
civilized Indian woman, who lived a mile from |
the Cartwrights In hut standing back among |
The dense woods short distance from the road. |
In this direction susie ran with ali her sDeed
her father quickly following; but Pauline was
not In sght. She arrived at the old womans
hut only to ind II boiled and barred, with no
SiEu VI iilc
''She has gone of on one OF her tramps," said
Cartwright, wlpDg The peTspiratiOn from his
face. " What shall we do now. Susie 2"
1" Hunt Till We Ind our darllng-what else
father ?'
"She may have fallen In the creek and been
drowned. IL so, l shall never forgive myself for
not taking care Of her as should"
The night passed; The village was aroused; the
creek and river were dragged, but the child was
not found, nor anything belonging to her, except
doll which she had dropped on the high road
Years passed and James Cartwright still
worked at the smithy, but not a smile was ever
seen on MS lace and not joke ever passed his
lips. He was a changed man,
murmured when she was born" he would
say, and God has taken her, but my punish
ment seems greater than can bear"
Ten years passed. Susie had married and set