Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-02-21

+, 70 call her blessed.
She came on still miirmuring to her
baby, she came up to the French win
+ DOW and put out her hand to open II
then the madness fell from Bfydcn,
and the whole truth came with a rush.
He sprang 10 his feet, cast one per
tnrbed hook al Strange. ''Kili lHm or
not, can't face &C." he mute ed, and
| fed
When Gwen got into the room, she
sank weartiy into a chair, and throw
ing off her hat let the baby butt her
at his viii
When the smile for her baby flick
cred of her face, the final contained
anguish OF 1t was awful, but the child
gave her little time to nurse grief.
( Every moment she had either TO rock
him, Groom little songs TO him or tickle
him, IL she were silent or passive for
a moment a lusty butt against her
breast or a punch from the pink
iimpled fist brought her back to his
service.
As she sat--Sideways to the window
lit was impossible for her to see
| Strange but there was nothing to hide
her from him.
The soft mlIrnur of croons and baby
sounds at last half awoke him, he lay
for some moments and let the vague
music creep into his semi conscious
ness, then he opened his eyes impa-
tiently and closed them again-it was
only one more dream, he thought
he was beset with dreams, tortured,
shaken by them.
"Oh, Godl those drugs" he NUT
tered.
Again the muTmur broke on his ears,
there was a chucllle, tender protest
ing voice, and a sharp little squeal.
He shivered and peered out toward the
sound.
Gradually he made out the shapes
OF woman and q little child.
SIS 1t a dream, or death? 2" be muir
INJURED "Oh, God, spare me! | am
haunted by delusions."
Another little murmur, and a soft
low sob; 1t was the woman this time.
Again he opened his eyes and through
his dreaming saw the little yellow.
headed child laughing around the
chair, and inviting the woman to a
game OF bo-peep.
"Oh! my baby, my own baby she
broke out, shopping to him, do you
know what they say--wthat they din
into my ears, little love. dear baby
mine? They say your father Is dead,
dead, dead, dear one. And must you
live, grow up, little maMkin, without
knowing what a man he was ?--Sweet.
must | sing ?-Ah. III you only knew
how ii hurts!''
The smile flickered back to her face.
as she took him ON her knee. and She
sang q little song he evidently knew
we'll, for he kicked and crowed by way
Of chorus, then he played with his
bare toes for little--ih's mother, rs
she sang, had pulled Off his socks to
kiss his feet and as he played, she
returned TO her soliloquy.
you win have to take all from me
on trust. little one and. Of course. you
will think exaggerate, my own, when
| tell YOU that your mother had the
best man that God yet made or will
make, TO love her, to love her.-Ah,
what love II was!' she repeated gently.
Then her eyes dreamed, and rested
for a moment, all the pain fed, and her
face sllone with radiant triumph and
her mouth trembled like a happy
ehild's.
"Al! what lover she said again:
but instantly all this WAS swamped
In a mighty wave OF palm she caught
her child and kissed him rather Wild
~ whispering, ''Baby, she killed this
man who loved her killed him. baby.
because she WAS unnatural and could
not love she killed her mother too,
and OH! baby. when in her loneliness
she pleads and prays that God may
let her love Him. He hides His face
from her, and 1t is all quite Just. baby
mine. her mere desert"
"Ahl my ovnr--I can't sing, I'm so
tired"
she put him down gently, and looked
before her with sad unseetng eyes.
Strange struggled TO break the spell
Ito speak to move-but he was inn
potent~paralyzcd. A vague horror
full Of sickness and delirium -had him
by the throat He put his hand feehly
to his forehead to brush the sweat
away
.sFhis is more cruel than death" he
m1ittcreI.
Meanwhile. The baby being d young
person OF an exploring tendency. and
looSc or the premises played havoc
with his opportunities Having
smashed two Venetian glasses and an
atom Nc OH Sevrcs he perceived his
father an the sofa. and toddled over
q Investigate him hut 50 softly that
nn notice was taken till Strange sud.
denly found a tiny fist thrust into his
mouth, tllen he started amazedly and
touched hts child with quaking awe