The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-28

She lifted her head aad stared into his eager
eyes.
3" Yes ell-what of him, what of little
Frank ?"
He is deformed or blind. perhaps"
" Not blind" she said. biting her lips. Not
Deformed, then?"
As those words were spoken a step sounded in
one OF The dooIways. Frank and Adela both
turned. IL was the nurse, Margaret. with her
charge. Adela al once dismissed her, taking
little Franks haud aud leading him toward his
father.
'My Godr' fatered Frank, sinking into
chair and gazing al the child with mortified eyes.
"That-ihat staggering waIk-Adela, what does
II mean?"
The child In his movement. OF body, limbs and
head suggested an almost imb ellie state OF
drunkenness. His face was not mi shapeu, but
. Its expression seemed completely bereft OF ill.,
telligenee. The affection was nervous one.
and had already provoked the wonder OF several
medical men. Her night Of vigil Their on the
hotel grounds had dealt to Adea friehtfW a
shock Thai its sesulis had manifested themselves
thus .grotesquely and piteously when her child
was born.
"oh, have suffered so % she aobbed. kneelug
at her husbands feet ION. i have so dreaded
this hour, The tiuth had 10 be told you.
and yet there seemed such brutality in telling
mr.
Frank had begun TO realize just how nideou,
that truth was. He STONED down and
clasped tile child to his heart, while tears OF ILL.,
speakabe Temorse choked him.
Fate had been merciless. There continued no
change for the better. Frank peTpetually saw in
the blighted little being Adela had born stern
and implacable repruAeh. The child remained
IN apparent semi-idiOt and preserved that
same unique aspect OF rebuke and reminder.
He made his father vow never taste wine
again and keep his oath. In this way Frank 5
atfilciion was fraught with a certain agency Of
blessing. But FranN often told himself that his
punishment had been undeservedly bitter. And
perhaps he was right. sin IL would be hard TO
state what worse clouds OF calamity might have
drifIed over the fortunes OF Adela and her hus-
band If even this darksome visitation had not
occurred. Nature sometimes is a Nemesis TO US,
but by no means always. In certain way
Frank defeated her seeming sternn css OF re-
venge; for the love which grew up in his heart
toward his little unfortunate son took the form
OF gem lie consolation. II became so passion
aely attached to The child that its infrmities no
longer shocked him. And yet, one day, when he
heard OF a famous physician who had wrought
wonde full cures of nervous diseases. he eagerly
sought what helpful change science might effect
The physician al first seemed doubtful OF MS
own curative powers. But later he consented 10
attempt course of treatment which proved
drastic and yet was crowned, after three good
years, with perfect success.
In this was Franks bitter punishment turned
out TO be a more lenient one than lie had
dreamed OF believing ii. His boy is now strong,
| healthy and clear-mIud lad, who's parents
| never gaze upon him except with either con
| seous or instructive gratitude. And yet Adela
thankfulness has always been keener than
| Franks. This may scarcely be wondered al.
mothers love is always the harder, as 1t Is al
ways the holler.