Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-16


things seemed to have gone wrong
some way, since-since the baby died
in the spring. A sob came into Jack 8
throat, for the little face had haunted
him all day.
Never q sound had the baby lips
uttered, and the loudest noises had
not disturbed his rest. 1t had seemed
almost too much to bear, but they had
loved him more, if that were possible,
because he was not as other children
were. Jack had never been recon-
ciled, but Dorothy found world of
consolation in the closing paragraph
of magazine article on the subject.
''And yet we cannot believe these
Children of Silence to be unhappy.
Mrs. Browning says that closed eyes
see more truly than ever open do,
and may there not be another world of
music for those to whom our own is
soundless? In certain sense they are
utterly beyond the pain that life al
ways brings, for never can they hear
the cruel words beside which physical
hurts sink into insignifcance. So
Pioy chOu hopb pue pCilofo euub liz
knoweth best, and that what seems
wrong and bitter Is often His truest
kindness to His children"
Dorothy read it over and over until
she knew it by heart. There was a
certain comfort in the thought that he
need not suffur-t that he need never
find what wealth of bitterness lies in
that one little word-life. And when
the hard day came she tried to be
thankful. for she knew that he was
safer still tried to see the kindness
that had taken him back into The Un-
known Silence of which he was the
Child.
Jack went up the steps this mild
winter evening, whistling softly to
himself, and opened the door with his
latch key. "Where are you, girlie?"
Cup stairs, dear; I'll be down in a
minute" and even es she spoke Dor
othy came into the room.
In spite of her black gown and the
hollows under her eyes she was n
very pretty women. She knew it, and
Jack did, too. That is. he had known,
Dut ne nad forgotten.
"Here's the evening paper" He
tossed it into her lap as she sat down
by the window.
"Thank you" She wondered
vaguely why Jack didn't kiss her as he
used to, and then dismissed the
thought. She was growing accus-
toned to that sort OF thing.
SLOW nice of you to come by the
early train! l didn't expect you till
later" -,s.
"There wasn't much going on in
town, SO 1 LETT the Office early. Any
mail? No? Guess I'll take Jip out
for stroll" The fox terrier at his
feet wagged his tail approvingly.
"Want to go, Jip?"
Jip answered decidedly in the affirm
ative. "All right, come on" and
Dorothy watched the two so down
the street with an underlined feeling
! of pain.
She lit the prettily shaded lamp
and tried to read the paper, but the
political news, elopements. murders,
aud suicides lacked interest. She won
dered what had come between her
and Jack. Something had; there was
no question of that, but-well, il
would come straight some time. Per.
haps she was morbid and unjust. She
couldn't ask him what was the matter
without making him angry, and she
had tried so harl to make him happy.
Jip announced his arrival at the
front door with q series of sharp
barks and an uumistakable scratch.
She opened it as Jack sauntered slow.
ly up the walk, and passed her with
the remark, "Diuner ready? I'm as
hungry as bear"
Into the cozY dining room they
went, Jip first, then Jack, and then
Dorothy. The daintily served meal
satisfied the inner man, and he die
not notice that she ate but little. She
honestly tried to be entertaining, and
thought she succeeded fairly WELL
After dinner he retired into the depth'
OF the evening paper, and Dorothy
stitched away at her embroidery.
Suddenly Jack looked at his watch
"Well, it's half-past seven, and I've
got to go over to Mrs. Browns tc
practice duet with her for to-mor
row."
/ Dorothy tremblel, but only said
"Oh, yes, ths'duet. What is it thii
timer"
Calvary / guess. That seems tt
take the multitude better than any
/ thing we sing. No, Jip, not this time
Good-by-l won't be gone long"
The door siarnmeI, and Dorothy
was alone.
She put away her embroidery ani
walked the. floor resClessly. Mrs
Brown was q pretty widow, alway!
we'll dressed, aud she sang divinely
Dorothy could not sing note, thoagl
sne played fairly w9ll, and Jack go
Into habit OF ta!ling Mrs. Brown new
music and gong over to sing it will