New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-21

time the mothers eyes were fixed on the p"o''
who was lying more quiet now. altar q, In
You soothe her" said the woman ai IT, ,a,r,in.
stant's silence. "Oh, mebby It's the 'u ,la,a
point, N she'll git we'll Doctors p, uo" ""''
everything. do they? Say, do they
Hush" whispered Amabel. ., ,rr,
Yes the baby was quiet now. It's niue io'"'
was still and II had stopped moaning. ,oos
The woman rgdly upright on h"r A"ee'
at Amabel's side.
The sharp tone of her voice was dreadful 10
hear. ,.ahod
the baby to her breast. With 1t held thus she ne.
gan to walk rapidly up and down III tne nal ,,
space before the door, holding her emu .iC
Presently she sang few words. she sang 'oo
INV supporter is" in a thin, sweet voice that was
perfectly steady Al.
Mis- Merritt" asked some one from across ,he
lane .bow's baby to night? guess CT set up
M take care of il TIL midnight; n you en- Top
down N ketch nap. she's more co'''ioi'"oe'
amt she ?" =. 1850.
Yes answered the mother. she's lot more
comfortable" and she began to sing again as she
God my supporter Is.
She did not get any further than that line. She
went back and repeated it still another time
The neighbor pushed by me and strode up the
| tiny path among the tiger lily stalks.
Here" she said. Mis- MERIT, you lem Ie,, me
| have it, I'll do what's necessary now; n IL seho
my Jim for the undertaken.
Mrs MERIT faced about with the dead pdpy
| held up against her heart
NO she shouted you sha MT nave IL. nou
nv supporter is " her treble higher ana sWeeter
| than before
The neighbOr quailed
Poor thing she cried, shes gone out or her
head-'n | don't wonder
| FASTENED up the path. | did not know what
was going to do, but wanted to do something
| Amabcl went close to Mrs. MERIT ana put her
| arm about her. go
/ come" she said come into the house with
me. You'll let me take the baby again
She extended her arms and the mother did let
! h. Lakt no
| form. Amabel turned to me and whispered I'M
! peratively
"Do find Doctor
But the neighbor who had come interposed.
/ "I'll 60" she said. 81 know where to go.
shouldn't blame her one bit if she went raving
| distracted"
| With these words she hurried away.
| We entered the dingy little house where kero-
sene lamp burning on the shelf on the
| table was a small Kerosene stove with one WICK
| this was lighted. and on the iron frame above IT
| was a tin cup holding something that dubbed
and steamed
The mother walked up to this lamp-stove and
| took off the cup She went 10 the sink and
poured the contents Of the cup into it
| "She never'H want it," she remarked in n per-
| fectly collected manner
| | looked at her i'm amaZement. Her race was
| flushed her eyes very bright.
Amabel laid the baby a bed which stood in
! the next room.
| Mrs Merritt sat down in chair by the bed
! She sat quietly and she did not speak.
We waited 1t would be barbarous thing to
| leave her now. But there was nothing to do.
| once Amabel went and leaned over the woman,
! with her arm about the bent shoulders | heard
| the woman sob dryly. Amabel drew chair close
and sat down holding the mothers inert hand.
| | sat near The night was very still. Even the
| bay made hardly a sound. the tide not having
| turned To come in
! But the crickets cheerful
1t was not hour. though 1t seemed much
! longer when we heard a heavy, shufling step
| outside. was looking at Mrs Merritt and saw
| a convulsive movement go over her
| bod and INN Il afalV
set man entered. I his bearded face as he
went toward the kitchen stove He had cane.
| and h. thumped it heavily on the floor.
| His hand went bunglngly over the cold stove.
| Il say Becky" he said. Il told ye to leave the
| Coffee ! say
| rose and went into the kitchen. I took the
| hand lamp and looked al the man.
mo matter about the coffee" said. Are you
Mr. Merritt"
| "Yeh-I be-"
He leaned on his cane and stared hazy at
| He swayed. drew himself up and planted his feet
more firmly.
| "Who he you?'
| IT'S Of no consequence. / you're drunk.
Your baby has just died. Behave as well as you
| can Can't YOU go to bed somewhere"
! He swayed again again drew himself up and
, planted his feet
Baby dead? That's the fourth. rm-Tm
| sorry. You needn't think I'm drunk. Amt
drunk drop this week; only one glass lager
! down to Wauls day fore yist'dy. Can't git drunk
on one glass lager day fore yist dy-n Waurs
Cant YOU go to bed somewhere" repeated.
| "Yeh-veh-course can. Guess III go to bed.
as if he had just thought of the idea himself
! "Ill go to bed
He turned toward room at the other end Of
! the kitchen But at the door he looked back.
| catching hold of the latch and swinging the door
as he stood. $500
Jew say baby was dead?'
Yes"
TOO bad-Tm real sorry-jes' s sorry s en-
! be Jes like Becky to forgit that cold conee
He made lurch forward and on to bed that
! stood in the little room
| before could get to the door to close it, he
| was snoring loudly.
TO be continund)
CllIEN UILH IL IIlSEi