The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-08-09
CHAPTER XVII.
EnrHnken In nv.

wife Of Carl Brandon welcome. and in
no way hold her responsible for the
crimes of her husband. Upon seeing no
one present but her patient and the
diminutive bit Of humanity that lay
sound asleep unconscious Of its Inflated
existence, and the misery its presence
in this world would bring to others. IT
seemed a little idealism of all that was
innocent. good and pure. which truly 1t
was, and yet its very existence was an
poutgrowth from all that was dishonor-
able. false and vicious.
AS the purest white lily springs from
the Shiny mud at the bottom of the
1stagnant pool, so this little being had
come into the world like a ray of sun
fehine from the darkest depths of par
sental depravity. It's only appeal to hu-
smanity was for mercy and patience. and
t4hese its mother had denied. Where
would II find them If not in mother?
Looking steadily. first at Carl Bran
edon then at the baby, then at the va
cant. lonesome room. Sparkle Brooke
stood speechless and mOtionless for
some moments. Finally gaining pos
session of herself again, for she was
truly bewiIdered, she ventured to speak.
"And so, Mr.. Brandon she kindly
said, your wife has come and beaut-
full woman indeed she is, with whom
any honorable man ought TO be happy
and remain at home in peace, rather
than use all the wiles known to the
dishonest and cunning of our kind, to
accomplish the ruin and bring misery
upon innocent simple-minded girls who
are so unfortunate as TO really want to
better the condition Of the depraved."
These cutting and fOrcibIe words were
more than Carl Brandon expected, or
WAS prepared TO meet. from the child
like creature that had done so much for
him.
The sting of a wrong sharpens re
Sentiment and gives the tongue an edge
1t otherwise never finds. To be accused
of what we are really guilty of gives
conscience a force that humilia ties the
most stubborn heart. Carl was in
meditatiye mood for some seconds be-
fore he could sum up courage to an
6wer the kind, little accuser, and though
at late hour in life to commence, he
resolved TO try the use of truth, mostly
from the fact that nothing else would
do half so well. Looking at the face of
the girl, now marked with both pity and
BcCrn, said:
Sparkle. have no wife"
The pallOr Of her face deepened into
scarlet. With disdain, she replied:
"Oh. it's just another creature you
have murdered, and yet unkindly per-
mitted to live, and who has cast out
upon the world a poor little waif 10
sleep on thOrns. to make a little bed
for itself out of the thiStles of moth
er's shame, and sip the gall OF fathers
curses
NO. dear girl. 1 have not murdered
her; she has murdered me-
And really are you 50 vile that even
a betrayed girl forsakes your"
Not that either, Sparkle am just
so simple that a cunning, designing,
vicious woman black-mailed me out OF
my money and leaves me with this help
less, little charge. This may seem very
strange to you, country girl. but il is
no uncommon thing in the great cities,
where man VINO has wealth. is always
a target for thieves and harlOts. But
Sparkle, what is distressing me most is,
what shall | do with this poor little
thing You see he is little. young
and so helpless, is but month old"
Nature has kindly planted in the
breast of womankind a deep motherly
feeling that she may fold infantile
helplessness TO her breast and give it
peaceful slumbers. Sparkle had more
of this than falls to the lot of most
women. As the absolute helpless con-
ditiOn and perfect surrender of the baby
throws itself so strongly upon the SYM
patty and pity of the behOlder siIenc-
ing every criticism, disarming every at
tack, it always gains a victory and finds
a corner in some kind heart. This the
baby was doing in its peaceful. uncon-
sciOus Slumber. Its father. in his Grip
pied condition. almost as helpless as the
infant occupied similar position. Co
ing near the bed looking sympathetic
ally and pleadingly at the baby. talk
ing to herself in a low voice. Sparkle
said:
Poor, little, helpless thing! And so
am TO be your mother | am TO be
sponsor for your proper rearing. This
is duty l cannot shirk. Surely not
You little, weak angel. You are so pref
~; you are not responsible for the sins
of your parents. AS 1 abhor the bar
barous idea that we are all sinners be-
cause our mythical parents, Adam and
Eve, are said TO have tranSgressed so
my conscience will not let me believe
you should be blamed or held in disre-
pute because you were born to unnat-
ural parents. under a cloud For me TO
refuse TO help you and take care Of
you, would make me as wicked as they,
with a less excuse for being So After
ALL" continued the girl, talking in a
meditative tone humanity is only a
sea always agitated by storms. No one
knows what little shrimp will be thrown
upon the shore next. Just this morning,
when walking in the garden, I found a
nest Of young robins that the wind had
blown down, and the rain had drenched
and almost drowned. replaced the
nest as best 1 could. Now 1 find a
little lark here, blown out Of the nest
by another storm, and I truly say, ma
ture loves nothing, nature is a storm
that is continuously destroying her chill
dren'
The goodness of the girls heart, and
her logical way Of looking at the situa-
ton, was a great comfort to Carl Bran
don. Though he had learned to expect
nothing but goodness from Sparkle
Brooke, he had hardly prepared for this.
1t found most responsive chord in his
heart, as her words had often found be-
fore, and he began TO look at her as
scarcely human. she seemed so much
more than human To be so ready to
lay aside the remembrance of all his
deceit, all Of his cunning. all in him that
should not be. and undertake a most
arduOus task in the name of duty, was
more than he expected.
Had Carl Brandon been able, at that
moment, he would have jumped from
the bed and clasped her in his arms
and blessed her, but he contented him
self by saying:
Sparkle, you are not like other peo-
pie. You have a heart so much better
and kinder than have ever met in this
world, that 1 shall henceforth call you
divine"
The girl paid no attention whatever
TO these endearing words, but watched
eyes slowly opened TO the light, and
gazed about IL in that bewonderment
that looks at everything and sees moth
ing; beholds all. and never understands.
A waking baby is little dawn between
two nights All the mast fc hiapE opd