Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-07
FATE OF TWO PETS.

FATE OF TWO PETS.
Robin was my first child, and my pa
'Sernal pride was such that occasionally
took charge Of him in the absence of his
nurse. One day was writing a review Of
story and was SO occupied that did not
notice tho lapse of time and when my wife
entered and asked what had done with
PoN'r etarod In netonishment
"Robinp' 1 roared. go away, woman,
and don't intrude -
"Ot Do'''- po1,'r' To - 7~~+ wh"+
shall dor 1t is all your fault, John. You
should have looked after him"
The boy was certainly not in the study,
and Maggies distress caused me some
anxiety. rose hastily. HE is not here
certainly, but he may be in the nursery.
Go and look for him there"
HE is not there, " Maggie sobbed. "The
rooms have all been thoroughly searched,
but the front door has been open the whole
morning. He must have crept into the
street. He is lost-run over-killedl" she
gasped, and at the last words the instinct
Of the father overcame that of the editor.
IL will find him." said hoarsely. HE
could not come to any harm; he can't have
gone very far away. Don't cry, Maggie.
1 will bring him back safely"
snatched up my hat and hurried down
the passage, nearly collidhg at the front
door with Roberts, the subeditor, and his
wife. Roberts himself was very pale.
'Is-have you-is Robin at homer" he
stammered.
NO." shouted, we've lost him. Do
you know
stopped then, for Mrs. Roberts had be-
gun to cry, and could not finish the SEN
tence.
Il think you will find him at the police
station, Roberts said quietly. My wife
will sit with Mrs. Hendry while we CO."
There was something in his tone which
kept me from running in to tell Maggie
that Robin was all right.
"You will go in and tell herr" I whisper
ed to Mrs Roberts, and then followed
my sub" down the street.
When we were out of sight of the house,
clutched his arm.
"What is it, Is he hurt2 Tell me the
worsti'
IL - ltplllllt llb CttlNI llDhICNlgs IllNg
sent to the Office just now for you. They
have taken him to the police station"
"Dead?" asked.
"He couldn't have felt anything, dear
little chap" Roberts said.
He was quite upset, but did not Won
der at this, for, having no child of his
own, he had always made much of Robin.
sit was carriage accident" he contin-
ued. II passed just after it happened.
They were picking him up. l saw yellow
curls, but had no thought of Robin, and
being in hurry l couldn't stop. They
told me he was dead, and just now Nc
Bride sent to say that they had taken him
to the station and that they thought it
was Mr.. Hendry's boy. Ibid not wait for
particulars-just hurried off to you"
walked beside Roberts, my feet keep
ing time to the words, Robin killed
Robin killedp'
1t was long way to the police station,
and when l reached the door some men
were posting a bill on the notice board
outside:
BODY Found-Boy, about years old,
blue eyes, curly yellow hair"
l could not read moro and staggered for
ward.
! Mcbride met me in the passage. Aye,
| Mr.. Hendry! Step into that room, sir
| They brought him in an hour ago, but
we couldn't tell he was yours. You'll find
| him in there sir, and I'll be with you in
a minute"
The brisk tones Jared upon me, and 1
hesitatcd before entering the room to
which Mcbride pointed. Then, summon
ing all my resolution, opened the door.
A glance was sufficient to show mo that
Robin was there, and Roberts linked his
arm in mine and led me forward to the
table. 1t was in a corner of tho room, and
the boy was lying on a folded coat, his
head raised on another. 1 blessed the kind
heart that had spared mo the sight of
Robin stretched out for the grave. There
was nothing to indicate that he was dead
no scar or shattered limb. His cheeks
were rosy, and l could almost have believ-
ed that the breath was coming through
| his parted lips. l could not see clearly,
| for my eyes were blinded, and my brain
was confused, but 1 knew Roberts had
| gone over to the window, unable to gaze
on the child he had loved.
| His grief touched me, but 1 had no part
in 1t. My brain seemed to be bursting
| with the thought that my little Robin
was dead. Seeing him there, 1 could not
believe he was really dead, but thanked
heaven for having preserved his beauty
for his mothers eyes. He lay as If in
slumbcr his little hands closed q smile
on his lips. The wind came at the open
| window and stirred the curls on his fore
| head, and it seemed to be his own breath
that caused the lace on his pinafore to
| 1utter.
1 stopped to kiss him, and dazed as I
was 1 remembered how had stopped over
| his cot in the same manner that very
morning A culver passed through the
baby limbs, the blue eyes unclosed the
sweet lips smiled and-oh, heaven, above
the throbbing of my pulses heard Rob
/ ms voice:
"Daddys tome for YobinP'
Then heard no more. The light failed,
and fell forward in a swoon.
| When consciousness returned, Robin
was sitting on the floor beside me patting
my face, and Roberts was bending over
me, TRANSPORTED by a great happiness,
| while l heard McBride's voice say:
You see, sir, the child that was killed
was brought in at the same time as this
little fellow, and the man 1 sent to the
Office didn't seem rightly to understand
which was Mr.. Hendry's. had no idea
Mr. Hendry didn't know his boy was
| safe or I yvOt,1d haye broken If to him