Evening journal., 1892-11-12

she's got to give her baby-that amt |
natur'-but when the world seems chocl |
full of nothin' but trouble it seems as
if there was sufferers enough already,
and a woman feels it cruel hard that
she's got to bring one Of her own to fight
his way, with the world all ag'in' him.
I've felt that way myself in the early
days, when things was hard. May the
Lord forgive mel l always seen my
blindness sooner or later But Mis-
Rogers-the poor thingl she can only
see the dark side now, and it's the time
for the neighbors to rally round and
help her along what little they can"
Il never admired her." said Anita
coldly, reaching to smell the great pink
rose. She drew back her head sharply,
with startled look; the soft, cool per-
fumed mass was like the touch of
baby's cheek. Anita had the true mother
| love for babyhood. How often, in the
heartstarved loneliness of her life, she
had envied other women TO whom had
been given the richest gift Of life, the
love of little child, marveling that some
could seem to hold it so lghtlyl And
now out from the shadows of the great
unknown little soul was blindly beat
ing its way to earth, inexorably
called to take up the curse of life, with
only sorrow and heart heaviness waiting
to bid it grewsome welcome. Poor little
babyl
wall, l know she's been kind Of up
pish, mebbe, and there's some that amt
liked her, and there's more that must be
pickin' on to somebody all the while. !
amt one to believe moren half hear,
anyway, leastways when it's ag'in some
body. And some of the yarns about Mis-
Rogers hev been too reedic'lous Why,
they even said once-'twas before you
was married-they said that Don Bartels
and her was in love with one another.
{ Everybody knows how much truth there
was in that"
Anita's glance might have scorched
her, but Mrs. Allen sat placidly I'M
moved, her shrewd eyes twinkling be-
hind their spectacles. Did she know
more than she assumed?
Il suppose to some the story seemed
by no means impossible" Anita tried
to speak lightly, but the words seemed
to choke her and her voice sounded
strange and forced.
mot to anybody that ever knew him
let alone her, with sturdy contempt
for the idea. "Why, after he was sick
that time, and took him to board
had said | wouldn't never take no more
boarders, but Don did look so thin and
peaked that jest had to take him in
and DO for him-and he had your photo
graph on his bureau, and he used to
show it TO me ana brag about his girl
the same as if was his ma. / never
soen man so proud of a girl Anybody
sould see he jest worshiped the ground
Tou trod on. And he used to watch for
;he mail to get a letter from you, and
sometimes when Mis- Rogers would
,ome bringin' him somethin' nice about
nail time-and she was awful good to
Don that time anyhow, Mis- Bartels-
out when he was loolin' for his letter
and longin to be let alone to read it,
1ev heard him Jest groan to see her
,omin' up the walk And then to talk
about his being in love with her at that
,-ry time! Jest shows what fools there
= Is in the word, that's all"
Anita looked up, her dark face illu-
mined What a friend you are, Mrs.
. Allenw she murmured gratefully,
"Wall. try to stand up for my
. friends at any rate" with her good ma
.ured laugh "And don't you be too
lard on Mis- Rogers. and don't you be-
:. ieve all you're told Mis- Bartels. There
Z. many story that grows and gets SC
- changed trav lin around that it wouldn't
. be recognized where it started from; and
\ .hcrcs many thing that looks blacl
hat might be explained white if we't
only give folks q chance"
Donald lorGed up surprised when Ami
, IN entered his Office late that afternoon.
=, 81 have come 10 ask you TO lend ln'
.. some moapy. she said, nervously glanc
=. lng around the room. She had not beer
+. there before since that day when she hat
found Mrs Rogers sitting there.
TO lend YOU some meaeyl Did no
"a, sndow you with all my worldly good
once upon a timer" with his old sum.
smile How much will you have?'
Two hundred dollars, and perhaps
", shall want more. want it, answering
d, the surprised expression on his face. "t
h, send to Mrs Rogers. You know that
have money OF iay own" Donalds fac
10 / clouded. but / have never made an
y arrangement about using it, You hay
i kept me SO well supplied had a lette
from Uncle John the other day asking
d. what ! would do with my dividends"
i But why should you send money .
! Mrs. Rogers. don't understand" pei
- plexedly
because the doctor has been unfortu
nate: Mvs. Rogers is sick. and they ar
=, fairly suffering for the comforts of life
~ Did You not know it, fixing him wit
n her direct gaze.
~ Know it how could know it.
=, have seen almost nothing Of them TIN
year" meeting her eyes with simpl
o., lirectness, while he looked surprised IN
~ shocked. 81 have played checkers wit
- the doctor once o. twice at the club, bu
~ be gave me no hint about his Attain
-. Oh. it cannot be as bad as you say. II
70 would have come to me about il"
." But he is too proud to so to anybod.
-. it appears; and things have gone q
from bad to worse; and now they al
T.. expecting "-hcsitating, her face soft