The Princeton union., 1900-08-09
CHAPTER w.

CHAPTER Nv. 4ss
RALEIGH SKETCHES MALCoM AND TIE
BABY. 5#s s@@S
A smile crossed nearly every face as
Kirk entered. AS he began to speak
the smile passed off, and another look
crept over the faces Of the rich, re-
fined, leisurely people gathered in that
steamer. The first cabin drew very
near the intermediate for few mo-
ments at least. Kirk told the baby's
story very we'll. How could he help
it when he saw in his Imagination
the face Of that wornout mother lying
nearly beneath where he stood, still
and cold! The baby looked out from
his shaWls with a curious, inquisitiye
look on it's face and kept perfectly
quiet as long as Kirk was speaking
1T seems to me-" Kirk concluded,
that we might help the baby to start
in life. I understand that the mother
left only a few dollars, and the sister
in London is a shopkeeper in poor cir
| cumstances. II was in church,
think l would say, we will now wor-
ship the Lord with our offering.'"
He said it in such tone that it was
irresistible. "A portly, dignified old
gentleman sitting in the middle of the
dining room rose and in husky voice
which betrayed his feeling said, ''I'll
be one Of 25 gentlemen to give $40"
Instantly more than a dozen men
arose, followed in a moment by a dozen
more. Some one in the music room be-
gan to pass hat. Money was thrown
into it until it was half full. Under
the inspiration of the moment one of
the young ladies suggested concert
and literary entertainment to be Civ
en- the next night, and the suggestion
was taken up at once. One of the men
offered to take charge Of the funds
and help Kirk or some one to see that
they were properly placed, and Kirk
started to go out. The ladies had
crowded around the baby, caressing
him as he never had been caressed be-
fore in all his meager. pitiful life.
It was at this moment that Kirk saw
Francis Raleigh. He had come out of
the music room, and the minute he saw
Kirk he came to him and held out his
hand.
"Mr. Kirk, isn't it? l heard you at
Hermon few weeks ago, at COM
mencement. You remember me? We
have met once or twice. Raleigh is my
name"
Eyes, l remember said Kirk. He
had met Raleigh at some receptions.
Excuse me for not shaking hands.
Mine are full just now"
Excuse me, I see they are" said
Raleigh, laughing. "You did that very
WELL" He spoke very kindly, but in a
tone that he did not mean to be patron
izing. 1t was only the Raleigh man
ner. 1t belonged to the family. He
might have spoken differently if he
had known that in the upper vest
pocket Of the homely figure before him
was the lovely face Of Dorothy Gilbert
But there was this fact about the stu
ation-Kirk knew that Raleigh was in
love with Dorothy. Raleigh did not
know that Kirk loved her or that he
had ever thought of such possibility
81 am glad for the baby's sake," re.
piled Kirk soberly. He ignored the
compliment and finally succeeded. in
getting down to the lower deck again.
| The intermediate cabin was excited
over the result Nearly $500 had beer
contributed, and the concert would
bring a hundred more. In fact, when
the concert was over and all of the
| v1v
$500 was given for the baby's start in
| life.
| When the vessel reached Liverpool
Kirk, with the help of the surgeon and
one of the cabin passengers, secured a
nurse for the baby and arranged with
one of the women who had cared for
the mother in the intermediate to 20
down to London and see the baby safe
in its home there. Kirk himself had
the sad pleasure of meeting the sister
and while he was in London doing his
special work Of study in the east end
he secured lodging near by and often
went to see the family. He grew won.
derfully attached to the child, and
when he was obliged to leave and pur:
sue his studies on the continent he
parted from the baby with genuine sor.
row. He supposed at the time that this
little chapter in his life was closed and
completed. 1t was one of the future
events that no m:: can foresee that
opened to him afterward a continua.
tion of that human affection. For he
was unable to return to London again
and when he said goodby he had nc
dream Of ever seeing that part Of his
life return.
1t was two weeks after the steamer
reached Liverpool and while Kirk was
working hard in the east end sluus
that Dorothy Gilbert received a letter
from Francis Raleigh, dated from Lon.
don, Gordon square, near the British
museum. She had not encouraged him
when he pleaded the privilege of an
occasional letter; but, on the other
hand, she had not refused him, and be
was too careful Of his future to risk
the mistake Of writing too often or in a
tone of sentiment. He wrote very in.
teresting letter. Dorothy enjoyed read
Ing it, while she felt little disturbed
| to think cho r,o,1cf C1,o AZ