The morning call., 1890-09-18
IN ONE SHORT YEAR.
BY JENNIE R. wUNsCH.


farewell. Then slid quietly to the floor In my
first fainting fit
More than three months had passed since my
dear husband SO remOrsefully and anxously left
me; three mouths which held much loneliness,
much suffering, aud in the end much Joy.
l was Unfortunately proud OF my baby boy; but
my pride was as nothing compared 10 that of
Mrs. Nlcholl and Christie. They worshiped
in hand hanging over the cradle In speechess
admiration when she was supposed TO be polish
Ing an already shining room. Mrs. Nicholl "un-
dersto0d babies" and was invaluable 10 me in
my ignorance, and happy III impai thug motherly
advice.
For some time my heart had been strangely
stirred toward my own father l used 10 sit sew
ing, after DICK left home, pondering on the won
derful feelings that move fathers and mothers
love toward their helpless little ones. Had my
father felt thus toward NE? Had my lovely
mother-whose portrait hung in my room in my
old home, but whose living face had, alas
never looked upon-felt those yearnings TO clasp
me in her arms, Which, Tor her, were never grail
fed? An how cruel and healtess ii must seem
when your baby grows up f0f II 10 desert you as
/ had deserted my father.
Influenced by these feelings wrote him let
ter, begging him TO come and see me, or even TO
send me word OF forgiveness But my letter
was returned to me unopened. Some mutual
friend Of ours in Edinburgh told me that my
father never mentioned my name; that lie Sc
clnded himself In his house and grounds; never
paid or received visits, and snubbed persistently
the many gallant attempts or Aunt Betty TO
plant one, or ALL Of her ugly daughters upon his
hearth. They told me also that lie was changed
looked old aid gtay-and took life VITA list
less indifference strange in such an active man.
After an interval of some months l wrote again
to him, telling HIM, with all young molhef's
pride, of my baby. The boy was remarkably
like my father, having great dark eyes and
stubble OF black hair that looked odd on his tiny
baby head My letter was not returned this
time, but no answer came.
Dick had written TO me from every port they
touched at on their way out We mad tele-
graphed our good news from Edinburgh, and now
lie was on his way nome. Any hour might get
a telegram saying The ship had arrived. Then L
knew no train could bring him fast enough to
nv side. My heart beat fast, and my color rose
as thought of his joy when lie should clasp 'us"
in his arms. | ran 10 the mirror 10 see II his
pretty Nancy" mad lost any Of her good looks.
/ cared only Tor his sake-he was 50 proud OF
my beauty. My face looked thinner, but my
dark eyes shone bright with mother love, and
certainly line color adorned my checks as Mrs.
Nicholl came Into the room IN time 10 catch me
smiling al lHy own reflection.
She had come TO advise me " to look over MIR.
Gordon's clothes and air them bit at the fire,
for no doubt the sea air would have sp0ilt all his
things ana lie would want a change when lie
came home"
TO This delightful task set myself with aac-
rity, hanging various blue flannel garments with
brass buttons on row OF CHAIRS near the ire.
AS | turned out dear Dicks coats and neckties,
which had not had The heart 10 look At since he
left felt as If his presence was very near To me
now. One great PILOT coat looked SO Ike DICK
himself that, after hugglng II warmly, con
ceived the brilliant idea of spreading IT ON the
bed and lay Ing my baby on it-just TO see how he
looked. lie boy fought with me maniully and
refused to have his fat mOttled hand thrust under
the rough sleeve, but catching sight of the bright
gold buttons lie laughed and cooed charmlngiy
10 them.
As hung in admiration over this enchanting
picture Christie entered tie room She held i'll
her hand wonderful pair OF socks at which she
had been working l0r many evenings 10 present
to "the captain" as she would insist upon call
ing Dick. They were knitted in wooden loZenges
aud checks ana stripes, Till they looked like crib:
bage boards or anything but SOCKS. She iaid
them with pride beside the slippers, and then
noticed The baby, now fallen asleep In DICKS
coat
'Ehi mem, Guild bless the innocent wee lamb!
His father'll be prood man TO see sic sight
l wish lie would Just step hen"
My heart echoed tile wish as Christie lett the
room huiriedly, saying: ~ must LOOK after y9 on
lassie-she's breaking every dish in the noose!"
" Yon lassie," was little red.haiIed glrl,
whom had engaged 10 help me with my baby;
but Christie threatened her with such AWFUL pun
isbments II she ever Gaured 10 lay finger on
him. that she had turned into Il small nom
descrpt kind of general helper, only permitted
TO worship the baby at n distance In leisure
moments. l heard her now stumping up The
passage TO open the front door III answer TO
ring that had made my heart leap. Every ring
might mean telegram from DICK.
My bedroom opened of our small sitting room,
aud as heard the door softly open and close
again l looked up, with my lap full OF DICKS
stockings, and saw-what made my heart bound
once with incredible JOY, and then seem TO cease
beating entirely.
saw a mans tall, slim figure clad In naval
blue, exactly like my husband's-but lie face
was not Dicks face, and though young and kind,
was very, very grave
"Are you-are you-oh! who are you?'' cried
In an agony of suspense. He looked like one
tongue tied with Ill news.
Ill am Dick Gordons friend" he stam-
mered ''and l have come to-to call on Mrs
Gordon"
Then as his dismayed glance lighted upon the
blue uniform coat, the baby asleep inside IT, and
my Questioning eyes, this strange young man
muttered, "Oh, Lordi" aud turned as II 10 es-
cape from the room.
"Slay!' l called In voice that sounded to
myself thin and weak. STAY, and tell me what
you mean! l am Mrs. Gordon. Where Is my
husband2"
ION, on board bis ship of course. Isn't there
any one else here butyou Can't ling for some
one ?'' he said his eyes searching round the room
for bell and deteTminedly avoiding my face
Beads OF Precipitation started TO his brow, aud
he seemed once more TO be trying to get away.
l grew sick, sick at heart
" He Is III, or lie would have been here before
any onei" | cried.
Then, as lie reluctantly caught my beseechiug
look, Dicks friend suddenly turned his back
upon me. But not before | had seen his eyes,
and they were full OF tears.
dick is DEAD" 1 said, in curious voice that
seemed 10 belong 10 some poor woman stricken
cold with grief, but not to me.
Dicks friend had found the bell now and was
ringing so vigorously that Mrs. Nicho, Christie
and lyon lassie' all appeared 1T once, filling The
little room with questions and agitation. Mrs.
Nicholl gave one look at my face and then ran
to catch me in her arms. pushed her back,
and said again In that dull. cold voice:
dick Is dead ~
She looked at the young man. aud saw him
bend his head in mournful assent.
did not lose consciousness but all at once my
very life seemed 10 be ebbng away from my
heart and limbs. When Mrs. Nicholl led me TO
the sofa aud sat with her kind arms pressing my
head TO her breast, l simply lay helpless
powerless 10 look or feel-but hearing every
WORD.
Dicks friend, now treasured of the presence
Of 1,
narrative.
Dick had come on board at Bombay with the
beginning OF rheumatic fever upon llini-had
been very ill-had struggled back to life nursed
by this good friend-and then-and then-just as
home was nearing. had been found dead In his
Sleep OF heart disease.
and Child He made him promise that IF any
thing happened" he would go to my father fest
to implore his protection for me and my little
one, and then come 10 break IT. gently 10 me!
'He thought of nothing but them all the voy-
age" SAID the young man, huskiiy. "And lie
said was TO bring his watch for his little SON."
looked UP at this and saw him laying Dicks
old watch-tliat looked like familiar face
softly upon the table. AS he did so two great
tears dropped beside it, How strange that lie
could cry! His Tears must be warm and felt
so cold-so cold that no warmth could ever come
into my frozen veins again.
" Is there nothing Tor me?" l asked.
Dicks friend looked for moment at me aud
then said, unevenly:
ID" He told me.if he died. was to give his
love 10 his pretty Nancy"
The poor young fellow had turned his eyes to
the door while speaking. lie now rushed out
mutterng that he would come again
But though lie wrote 10 me, / never saw him
more.
TOrpor took possession Of me again. 1 thought
this chill creeping through my veins must mean
death; and was glad in dull way that 1t was
so easy TO join my Dick
My gallant, handsome Dick! How thin and
pale and cold he must be now! But was coming
10 him-and surely he would unclose those pale
lips and smile at bis "pretty NaDcyn still
could hear the faint rustic OF the women busy
about me-; could smell the brandy they were
rubbing on my lips. But did not want to be
roused-l wanted TO lie thus Till l saw Dicks
spirit meeting mine.
Suddenly tiny cry-growng even louder and
clearer-pierccd through the stupor in my brain.
tried TO shut 1t out but 1t rang In my unwilling
ears, and sOmethng-c0uld 1t be my dead heart?
-nuttered In answer. 1 staggered to my feet
and walked swiftly straight to the bed where my
baby lay, Just waking from sleep aud calling for
me. AS his soft lace touched mine the Ice I'M INV
veins melted and rush OF warm tears made me
feel that still lived-lived TO suffer and be lonely
indeed, but to guard Dicks boy.
lyon lassie' had stolen from the room To nj.
tend the door once more; but warned by her late
indisCretiOn. she called Chrisfie ouf 10 ,nta.