The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-02-01
GRACE HORIZONS TRIAL.

A FACE fresh and bright as a new blown
IA rose picked before the sun has shown on
it; eyes soft and dewy, and tender red lips
that quivered with feeling as Grace Horton
hung upon the shoulder of that happy fellow,
her husband, and called him all sorts of fond
Names emphasizing with a earess which,
having been three years Mario d, he received
with proper resignation. He had Just re-
turned from the store and was seated in one
OF the most comfortable easy chairs that
ever welcomed mans worried limbs
''Wel, puss, he soid at last, ''what is it?
Why am SO unusually favored this even
ing?"
She laughed softly.
You naughty boy-how sharp you arel |
suppose you have not forgotten that next
Monday is my birthday"
'Aha-and you want present, / suppose.
Well, don't always give you one?''
Eyes, Charlie" with another kiss "But /
want something special this yeaI-something
you will not give me"
Try me and see"
Grace stole her arms around his neck before
she spoke.
81 want to take IA little child in Georgie's
place"
ooh, Graee'
"You know, dear, Doctor Hall said that il
George had lived she would always he lame
There's II little girl next door who is hurt lust
as my poor baby was, and she hasn't any
mother. They are to send her to the aims
house tomorrow. o Charlie! IL want her
She looks like Georgie-let me he II mother
to the poor little thingl"
1T is impossible-quite impossible Grace
ask me any thing but that. | couldn't bean
to see another child in Georges place. Don't
ask mel
The two were silent for time. Presently
Charlie began to talk of other things. and
having succse ded in drawing Grace into an
interesting chat, congratulated himself upor
having so easily induced her to relinquish hel
whim. He was deceived, however, in SUP
posing that she had relinquished it. Tn,
next morning, as he was leaving the house
she stood on tiptoe to kiss him, and with he,
tender eyes upon his face, said;
George would have been a cripple too i
she had lived, Charles, and if you and had
died inst FAD of her"
Charles looked uneasy.
IL should have left money enough to have
taken care OF her, thank Godl" he said.
But something might have happened ia
the money, too
Horton stopped, hastily kissed his wife
and went away without reply.
Grace watched him depart with a heavy
heart. She knew his preiudices on this point
and had not expected him to Weld them
readily. Still, she was gricvously disap
pointed.
Two months before they lost baby Girl
Charles Horton had suffered acutely through
her death; but he had his business cares ID
distract him, while Grace sat at home. amono
constant reminders of her vanished DARLING
In some OF the charities which she took
upon herself, she CHANGED upon this mother.
less ana crippled child OF which she had
spoken to her husband 1t reminded her nj
her own little one, and gradually there grew
up in her an eager desire to adopt it. Ii her
husband would only CONSENT But he 70.
garded the idea as almost u saerilege.
She found time in the course OF the morn.
ing to go out To see the orphan, but to he,
Keen disappointment found that she had al.
ready been taken away.
TITS been adopted out" the woman said
and that was all Grace could learn.
Gone without even "A good-byl She had
grown to love the child so much that to loss
her was almost like losing Georgia over
again. Dropping her veil she turned awnv.
weeping as she went.
CHARLES Horton was tenderer than usual
TO his wife that night, and all through the
ensuing week; but neither made anv ollusiop
TO the little orphan.
Her birthday awned finally, and Charles
loaded his wide with gifts. Always lavish he
had never before contrived for her Al man,,
pleasant surprises. There was a new niono
ana a set oil fnrs, iewelry and bric-a-broc
and all through the day Charles watched his
wife with half remorseiul look of inouir,,
as though he were asking if these things did
not atone for his denial of her plea of a week
before
She understood him. and tried TO appear
satisfied; but her arms were empty. and her
heart longed for the child.
As evening approached he grew restless
and presently drew her away from the parlar
up to Georgie's nursery. Grace shrapk n If
tie, and the tears came into her eyes as tbev
approached il; but Charles, with his arm
around her, drew her on. They entered tho
room with slow steps, and hushed breath
Grace kept it as nearly as possible ms IL had
been when her darling lived. There WINS tbe
lace covered crib with Georges plavtb;nrs
besideit; there stood the low rocking chair
which Georgie's form had often pressed and
across the room was chid's burenu. and -
carriage with Georgie's hat aud cloak across
i, Charles Horizons eyes went reverentI,.
over each trifie, and then he turned to Grace.
Could you bear, my love, to see another
'hild in our darling's place."
"She would not be in her place. dear >,
trace said gently.
Charles drew long breath.
"Would it make youso very happy TO boy.
hat poor orphan, Grace? Would you rather