Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-15
HE EVENING SEPTEMBER PAGES


hail. Il got her to talk a little" she whis-
pered. Not that I cared, but / reckoned
maybe she might have some folks some
where that ought to know about her. The
poor thing was married fast enough. Her
husband was a Catholic. and a wholesale
liquor man in Chicago. Her folks was
orthodoxys, and all of her folks and his'n
was opposed to the mixin' of religions. So
they Jist naturally got married anyhow
ana was throwed overheard by all their
folks. They went to boardin'. When they
had been married about six months her
husband was called suddenly east on bus
mess, or rather on his fathers business, for
they Vas il together, and she never heard
from him after. When her money finally
worry she swallowed her pride and went to
his father. He told her that her husband
was tired of her and had gone to Europe to
get rid of her. She didn't believe it, but
what could she do? Most crazy, she went
out to service, for her folks wouldn't recog-
nlze her when they learned her condition.
FINALLY she had to go to the hospital, and
her baby was born there seven months after
her husband left her. She appealed to both
her father and his after the baby came.
his father said they'd take the boy and pay
her lot of money If she'd never claim 1t,
and her folks said that If she'd get rid of
the by she might come home. She kept
the Kid, of course. She got money enough
together to go to a ranch in Colorado,
where she was to be housekeeper. when the
BABY took sick on the cars 1t was eighteen
months old"
And what is her name?"
Mrs White looked at the doctor blankly.
we'll I'm blessed If l ever thought of
askln' her name!''
When they entered the parlor at last the
services We're over, and the people were in
duiging in the barbarous custom of filing
Dy the dead to take last look. No sculp-
tured cherub was ever more beautiful to
look upon than the little waif as 1t lay in
dfeamless sleep. Some mother had arrang-
ed the tiny form in en- embroidered robe.
lad
pansies. Indeed, the coffin was almost
buried under the flowers that Dennis had
furnished As the last weeping woman left
the room, Mrs. White entered with Dennis.
VINO had volunteered to take the coffin in
his buggy to the cemetery, his being the
only light vehicle in the country. Touch
Ing the mother. the preacher asked her If
she would like to take a farewell look at
her child. Without a word she lifted her
veil slightly, and leaning over pressed a
long kiss on the marble face. and when she
stepped back a single tear was shining on
the little ones cheek.
ASK her what name shall be put on the
head board?" whispered Dennis to the doc
tor as he picked up a narrow pine slab
and took out his pencil. Great drops of
sweat stood on his brow and his eyes were
fuil OF tears. The doctor asked the woman
the child's name.
Louis OBrian" she answered. I'm a
sweet tremulous tone. With an inarticulate
cry Dennis dropped the slab and leaning
toward her across the dead child. said un-
steadily:
And your name"
AS Dennis spoke she threw back her veil
and over her face there swept an expression
or JOY and bewilderment, no: unmixed with
terror Just an instant she hesitated then
laying her trembling hands in his, held out
gently:
Need I tell you?"
"But-the chiid-.Loulse. he"
WAS our son."
oil
lied to me criminally. They wrote to me in
London, where I was called on urgent bus
mess for the firm, that you were dead
That You died suddenly of malignant fever
came back after a year of restless wander
Ing they showed me a grave with your
name on the stone had ordered in Rome
And-the-boy-Holy Mother, forgive them
for had lot even heard of his existence"
And now You come too late! Oh, my
baby, my baby!'
The fountains were opened at last, and
clasped in her husbands arms she sobbed
out her story OF sorrow and bitterness. de-
ception and privation, and Dennis learned
how his father had duped them both and
kept from his wife TIE letters and money
which he had sent in his fathers care until
informed Of her death. AS an incentive 20
get him out of the country O'Brian senior
had promised to look after his sons wife
Dennis had thus no reason to doubt the
crushing tidirgs that followed him so
quickly. Half-crazed with grief he follow
ed the advice of his parents to remain
abroad for a year. When he returned his
wifes people had left the city, so there
was no one to undeceive him, the rest of
the deception was easy to accomplish. To
get away from all reminder of his sorrow
he drifted west.
AS the sunset gun doomed forth its So
norous goodnight from the fort nearby
Dennis O'Brian and his wife turned away
from the mound of flowers which hid from
sight their child's grave and walked arm
IN arm past the groups of gossiping men
and women, back to the Long Horn which
Mrs White and some of the other women
had hastily arranged in gala attire Cor
them.
There's the baby's death between them
aid real hearty happiness Just now" said
Mrs White. as she ripped up her best
sheet to make curtains for the parlor win
dow. but 1t stands to reason that it's
drawed EN- closer together. I'm hound
they shall have one real home comm. Mer-
cy sakes! Talk about angels unawares
Here. Mrs. Williams. you put this ND. I've
got to round up that greaser cook or hen
rave red pepper in the white cake and for
git to put the sody in the cornbread Good
land. there they come" and with her mouth
full of pins. hsr heart boiling over with
rough tenderness, Mrs. White hustled be-
low to take the young stranger in her moth
erly arms. before introducing her right and
left to the denizens Of the town. who were
there In force to welcome her. SO closely
are joy and grief akin.
Poker Dave. loungtng against the closed
door Of the Round Up. observed, refiec-
lively, to BIO.
1T wern't a maverick, after ALL"
Ihat 1t wern't," echoed BIO as he
fingered battered silver dollar and gazed
furtively at the crowd around the doors OF
the Long Horn. 1T were shore enough
branded"
Pinto Dan coming round the corner lust
then caught the drift of their observations
and as he looked across at O'Brian's silver
hair and the sad. sweet face of the woman
at his side, he added earnestly:
Aye. pards, and the brand were burned
deep"
What n Baby Can Do.
From the Philadelphia Press
1t can wear out pair of kid shoes In
less than twentyfour hours
1t can simultaneously occupy both sides