The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-11
THR QUALITY OF MERCY
A Story Of Contemporary
American Life.
Bv WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS.
copyright, 1891. By ". D. Hewsiis1
PART TWO.
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI

said. carelessy. 10 you LINK tho ooi's So-
ing to be lame r.
wall Thorn shoes have got to como on" e.
hrides stood at the corner OF the desk. and
Sisnscd a strong smell Of stable through the
hot room.
.rm song away in tho morning. and I don't
.nov lust how long shall be gone" North.
vIct satisfied his mechanical scruple against
falling lie BY this formula: and In it's shelter
h. went on to give Elbridee instructions about
tha management OF the place In his absence
IA took some money from his pocketbook and
handed It to him for certain expenses. and
then he ead: "Iwant to take tho O'Clock
train, that reaches Ponkwasset ats. You can
drive me UP with the black mare"
All right" said Elbridge: but his tone ex-
pressed shadow Of reluctance that did not
escape Northwick.
Anything the matter r he asked.
Il dunno Our little boy don't Seem 10 be
very we'll"
what ails him :" asked Northwick. with tho
sympathy It was relief for him to feel
"woll. DR.. Morrell's just been there and he's
afraid it's the membrnnous orou-" The
last ettor stuck In Elbridges throat; he gulped
tdown.
"Oh hopo not" said Northwok.
Hes comm back again-he had to 60 on TO
another place-but could see want no use"
said Elbridge with patient despair; he had got
himself In hand again. and spoke clearly.
Northwick shrank back from the SHADOW
sweeping 30 near him: shadow thrown from
the Skies no doubt, but terrible In It's oiack-
ness on the earth. why. Of course. you
mustn't think Of leaving your wife, You must
fpn np,n
"All right" Elbridge took himself away.
Northwick watched him across the icy stable
yard, going to the coachman's quarters in that
cosey corner OF the spreading barn: the win
dows we're still as cheerily bright with lamp
light as when they struck pang Of dumb envy
to Northwicks heart The child's sickness
must have been very sudden for his daughters
not to have known Of It He thought he ought
to call Adeline. and send her there to those
poor people: but he reflected that she could
do no good. and he spared her the useless
pain: she would soon need oil her strength for
herself. His thought returned to his own
cares from which the trouble Of another had
lured it for a moment But when he heard the
Doctors sleigh bells clash into the stable yard.
he decided to 60 himself and show the interest
his family ought to feel in the matter.
No one answered his knock at Elbridgs's
door. and he opened It and found his way into
tho room where Elbridge and his vito were
with the doctor. The little boy had started up
tn his cnb, and was struggling. with his arms
thrown wildly about.
,'Therel There. he's got another Of them
ehokin spellsp screamed the mother. IS FL
bridge Newton. Amt you goin' TO do anything2
Oh. help him. save him. DR.. Morrelll Oh.
should think you'd be ashamed to let him
snfYar app Cha aprann ,,pop tina child and
caught him from tho DOCTORS hands. and
turned him this way and that trying to
ease him. He was suddenly quiet, and she
said: There. I just knew I could do It'll
What are you big. strong men good for.
any" She looked down at the childs face
In her arms. and then UP at the doctors. and
she gave wild screech. like the cry OF one In
piercing torment
1t turned Northwick heartsick. He felt him
self worse than helpless there: but he went to
the farmers house and told tho farmers vito
to 60 over to the Ncwtons': their little boy had
Just died. He heard her coming before he
reached his own door. and when he reached
his room he heard the bells OF the doctors
sleigh clashing out Of the avenue.
The voice and the look Of that childless
mother haunted him. She had been one Of tho
hat shop hands. u fighty. nervous thing. madly
In love with Elbridge. whom she ruled with
sort OF frantic devotion since their marriage.
eompensatinG MS COOL quiet with perpetual
Eutter OF Exaggerated sensibilities In every
direction. But somohow she mad put North
WICK IN mind OF MS own mother ana no
Moaghtof tho chance or the VIII TINT mad be-
reaved one and spared the other. and ne On
We'd tho little boy who had just died.
no considered the case OF the parents. who
would want to mako iuli outward show OF their
eriel. and no wrote Elbridge note. to DO given
MN IN the morning. and enclosed ono OF tho
puis ne was taking from the COMPANY: he
hopcd Elbridge would accept 1t from him TO-
aafd the expenses he must meet at such
ume'
Ihen no wheeled his chair about to tho fire
ana stretched his legs out to get what rest he
could before the hour Of starting. He would
havo liked to 60 to bod. but he was afraid of
ove,sieeplns himself In case Elbridge had
neglected TO telephone Simpson. But he
ala not believe this possible. and he
aAa smoothly oonhded himself to his
ssAponenoe OF Elbrdge's infallibility. when
ne s'afteo awake at the sound OF bells
oeiofe tho front door. and then the tittor
~ mo electric bell over his bed In the next