San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-02

some, light haired Kentuckian, the man
most abundant in vitality and the best
horseman in Bourbon county. A culprit
waiting to be shot, he looked his death
in the face, erect, but blighted through
every outline. He had carried this guilt
a long time, trying to shape it into some
disclosure, while day after day further
separated him from the past Ross Carr
and made harder his inheritance from
that wretch.
When you or stand on our day of
Judgment to be looked at through the
dark medium of our basest moments
may some eye among our containers see
the angel shape trembling in anguish be-
hind the bar. .".'
us this child yours" America demand
ed of him, pointing it out for his identifi-
cation.
The baby, oppressed by the jaunt, I'M
der arm or on lap according to its mothers
convenience in riding, was covered over
all its visible surface by that prickly
rash which nurses call ''heat." It was
gowned in pink calico and diffused a sour
odor.
Ross Carr looked at it with the slight
ing masculine eye which since the time
of Saturn has seen little to admire in ex-
tremely young offspring, and he con-
trolled the muscles of his lips 10 reply:
Il reckon it is. ;
ANSWER me on your word as man.
Is this your child?"
YES: it is"
"He knows it's his, and he's got to
take care of it and support tits his
place to take care of it, not mine"
sobbed Becky, her head waving with her
grievance.
America directed her face to Becky.
"Do you intend to turn it off your hands
entirely?"
Eyes, do. Its his and he ought to
keep it."
But you are its mother"
Il won't be its mother" exploded
Becky, finging the i'll kept and wretched
baby about on her knees with a vicious
grip. I'll give it away or leave it ON
some doorstep if he don't keep it,"
The child put up piteous lip and ut
tered those cries by which bruised in
fancy protests against bruisers whom it
feels but does not know.
America stared at the girl her ala
baster face was suddenly drained OF
horror at the wrong which had been
done to a woman, and filled with pas
sionate contempt
"Then I'll be its mother. Give it to
me-"
She gathered it off Becky's lap and
laid its heat blotched face against her
shoulder. The tiny creature discharged
a mouthful of its wretChedness there,
America stanching the spot and making
a softer rest for its cheek with her rose
scented handkerchief.
Her unconscious sweep of figure in
taking the child and standing up pub
licly with it thrilled beholders like
piercing music or the sight of great
works of art The mother spirit which
has brooded over this world for centuries
that passion for fostering, and train
ing, and protecting-shone white and
large in her face She was that fair i'm
personation men call the goddess Of
liberty holding the Outcast to her
breast She was Mother Mary with
reminder of the heavenly infant in her
arms.
No one demonstrated or spoke word
to her as she moved from the room.
Becky Inchbald, pulling her shaker over
her face, went out and mounted her
horse.
Ross Carr followed America as far as
the foot of the stairs. She was already
at the top, but when she heard him
speak hoarsely. Zone word, America"
she turned and stood looking at him over
the balustrade. The baby was quiet.
America, is all er-between us?"
He could hear his watch ticking and
outdoor sounds buzzing in his ears.
NO" said America. 1T is not all
over between US"
Ross Carr dropped his cropping hand ON
the stair newell, his next sentence com
ing also in fragments.
There won't be any use Shall l
come here-for the ceremony-next
Thursday"
Thursday" spoke the low, slow voice
above him, lat 2 o'clock was the time
we set"
The culprit lifted his eyes to her and
exclaimed:
America, tell me what you want me
to dor'
81 want YOU" she said, ''to be a father
TO your child!' Her mouth struggled.
She flung out the rest in a wail-"and