Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-10-17

MARRIAGE-A FAILURE?

10 NIcuOL HELM sat cobbling

T1G NICHOL HELM sat cobbling
Haway ut the sole of shoe. The
- new leather looked pink under
his dirty hands. 1t was very hot In his
stuny shop. and he had pinned news
paper before the window for shade;
not that lie minded the sun himself,
though the water splashed down In
great salt drops from his forehead, but
to shade the woman anu child who sat
near him. She had opened her calico
dress about her sallow. strlngy throat,
and her skin gllstened with the heat.
In her lap lay the baby. very thin and
limp. a slit of white under the drOOp-
ing lids, and Its eyes were stained and
sunken. From time to time 1t moved
rcstlessly; then the mother would start
from her browsing ana brush the dies
away.
20, papa" she said Mt last. ''thc
baby's awful sick. an It's gcttIn' hot
ter nm hotter every minute"
."Ncvcr mind, wife," replied big
Nichol. bravely, "1le amt half so sick
as lie looks; It's just because you're
tired out a watchln' him that you think
20. Why, he laughed just us natural
then when held out my awl Mt him"
The woman smiled pitlfully. "May-
be, papa. maybe"
The shadow Of the newspaper slid
slowly across the room. Out on the
street the hot air waved like colorless
flames. There were trees before NlchOl
Helms house. but the catcrpillars had
tied up the shade In snarls of web and
gnawed leaf. Presently the woman
spoke again.
'Wc'vc had ten, an every one was
pretticr ana knowingcr than the last.
This one was awful forward; only n
week back he drew hlsself up In CHAIR
an stood steady for the longest. an he
knowcd you. papa, just rs well.'
Nlchol leaned toward the sick child.
"He's fallen Off terrible rapid. lie
used to DO the latest Of all." lie took
one Of Its tiny yellow hands In his own
hairy fist. Look mt yer daddy. little
feller," he chirrupcd; but the child did
not notice him.
The sun had SGT. and the west glOwed
red hot behind the black roofs. Nlchol
Helm sat on the long bridge that swung
Its steel cObweb over the river. Below
him the boats steamed up and down.
their lights wrlnkllng on the surface Of
the water. But big NicliOl did not no.
tice them because Of tho child lying In
his arms. a cool breeze huttcrcd up.
The little one opened Its eyes and
smiled Mt Its father. Daddy" 1t
cOocd, then It nestled Its head under
the cObblcrs arm ana slept.
NichOl was very tired. His eyes
stung with sleep. ana his arm grew
numb. Yet he sat there that tho sick
child might catch some stray breeze dc.
MED to the suffocating city.
Poor little kid" no whispered.
"FIe'd have died In TINT hole O. bed.
room tonight"
The sky above the city grew dark,
and across 1t opened n vague fan OF re-.
dected light. The river, too. turned
black and oily. and the lights no longer
Quivercd In It, but lay mOtionless along
the banks. straight fringe. glossy as
threads of colOrcd silk. Still the man
sat there with tho baby breathing
peacefully In Ills arms.
After HIS work was done big NlchOl
drew chair out OF doors and sat down
to read his paper. At this time OF dry
the street was common living room.
Hundreds OF children swarmed and
sprawled on the hot pavement. while
tho woman sat on the steps, tanning
themselves with their aprons and Cos.
siping languidly. Now and then a pun
of GOODNESS drlftcd up from tho river
with an audible murmur OF thankful.
ness In Its wake.
Mrs. Helm came out of the house aud
stood beside her husband.
lis your hand much sore tonight 2?
she inquired anxlously, rs she caugh,
q frOwn of pain on the mans face.
A day or SO before Nlchol had driven
nm awl through the thumb of his right
hand, and now 1t was tied up In a wad
Of rag, rather dirty and blOOd.stained
1T hurts worse tonight than It ever
done. 1t jumps like devil was pound
Ing away under It," NichOl Helm IN
swered, gl0Omily; for his thumb wa,
necessary to his trade and his trade wal
necessary to his own aud ten Othel
lives.
Ao-OsuoSto" WV 1--WE ~ W tuc ooS
tor, papa"
"Go to the doctorw snarled Nlchol
savagely, "when ! amt even put by
cent for coal, an winter comm nearc
every day"
1T amt here yet" laughed the wo
man, looking up to where the mOol
hung In the hot twilight, while as |
bubble Of milk. IAN you mus 60 tn
frst thing tomorrow"
'Ill see myself dead first!' grOwle'
the man; but he went-and she Wen
with him.
The doctor looked at the poor hand
all puffed and crimson.
'The thumb will have to come of
It's just like you people to wait unit
it's too late, then come here ana expeC
me to cure you! You will be lucky
you don't lose y0ur arm"
Nichol Helm staggered back with
gasp. The sorrows OF the poor com
BADLY, with nothing to soften their al
uouncement; for between them and til
facts of life there Is no buffet Of gol
and silver to turn the cruelest truth
mercy.
In moment his wife was at bis sld'
HE shan't do I'll can cure it-don
Yet him touch your