The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-08-09
OH AFTER XIX.
Carl Suffers.

On the day ~ the arrival Of the baby.
and after :Spar5Ie had finished her sup
per with her mother, she returned to The
room to end carl Brandon sufferin@
both physically AMI mentally. His
broken limb was giving him trouble.
which the doctor was sent for t. relieve:
his mind was giving more trouble. how
ever. from the even S Of the day.
While waiting for the physician. he
frankly told Sparkle the whole story.
part Of which he had related. arc upon
finishing, before awaiting her answer.
he said:
Il know I have no right to expect any
further favors from YOU and your moth
er. / know I am very burdensome to
you, and this second burden IS more
than you are likely n assume. and
have. therefore, concluded. if the doctor
will permit me 10 20 so. to take This
unfortunate little being and 90 away
with it,"
This news was shock to the siIl,
and for a moment overthrow her usual
self-pOssession. ThosSn she had talked
very plainly to Carl Brandon. and had
called him many cruel names. accused
him Of much that was bad and ali her
allegations were true, but not in a harsh
way, it was rather in addressing the
baby that she delivered this rebuke
Sparkle having fully set her heart up
on the little stranger, and taken posses
sion Of him entirely. now to think of
losing him 50 soon was the last thing
she would give her consent to- Then
Carl Brandon, with all of his wicked
ness, was the only man she had eN er
loved, and ne was trying to do better
She felt that her criticism was driving
him back to mis- former paths. Finally
raising her declining head, her blue
eyes swimming in tears, as Carl had
every expression was translated by him
as a plea TO retain possession OF the
baby. The first she could say. was:
What on earth can cripple do with
a poor little midget like this? Your
clumsy hands can't dress it, you can't
wash it's little face; you do not even
know how 10 put pin into its clothes. -
But l will get some one to take care
of it, Sparkle
NO you won't replied the girl. 81
know more about this baby, and love
il more than anybody you will ever
keep it,
SO saying, she gently gathered up the
little creature without awakening it
holding il in her arms, and kissing it
many times with a tenderness that was
touching, repeating
''It would be cruel and wicked for a
man like you TO take this little, innocent
thing away from me-" and boldly walked
out of the room to her own apartment
where she tenderly laid it on her own
bed and went back in the presence of
Carl Brandon with an air OF defiant vie
tory. informing him. Baby has moNc1
and is now living with me, it's mother
and, with the slightest laugh, eff any
big man comes after it he will have two
legs broken instead of one"
The crippled man was delighted with
the girls defiance Extending his hand
for hers. which was reluctantly given
he kissed her fingers. saying
Sparkle, you are ever so good and
kind, but you do not know what a bur-
den you assume. / will go anyhow, If
you will keep the baby
You go? How on earth can you get
away? You poor miserable fellow; you
are all broken to pieces-morally even
worse than physically. and / have just
heard you say that you have nothing to
go on, that through some affairs L do
not understand, you have lost all your
wealth"
For a moment the man was too much
agitated to speak. Not that this was