The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-12
In Her Arms Once Mo re,

WI BtGt HfItiS SffOO iFtOIOs
Come on the shore, auntie. The tide
is racing In, and there are such big
waves
Constance Maynard put down her sun
shade and looked out over the glittering
ocean, then at the rosy, sunburnt face
of her little 6-year-oid nephew. OF all
Margalet's children Laddie was her IA
vorite; but her seat was exceedingly
comfortable, the shingles very rough. so
she temporized.
Wait little and the water will come
to u.s."
II don't like waiting" said the child,
disconsolately, repeating what many
older and wiser people would say had
not the lesson of life taught them its
uselessness.
And I would not go near the break
water
He had planted his elbows firmly on
her lap, his blue eyes were fixed visit
fully On her face, and she could never
resist Laddie long. So, after repeated
promises she let him. and sat dreaming
ly watching him with the faint hope
that he would not spoil his garments
and get her into disgrace with nurse.
The little fellows words kept repeating
themselves IN her ears: 81 don't Ike
waiting" No one like it. she thought,
with a sigh, and yet for years her life
seemed to have been all waiting-wait-
ing.
She was nearly so years OF age. this
pretty creature whose fair, blooming
face spoke of perfect health, whose soft
eyes had a pathetic expression in them,
as of one who had suffered. It was long
since she had quarreled for the last time
with Rupert Laird, and he had gone
away-so long that everyone seemed TO
have forgotten him but herself, and Mar
garet had been quite angry when she had
refused several offers of marriage and
declared her intention OF remaining ''aun-
tie to the children for the rest of her
days Poor Margaret! How grieved she
had been when Rupert made the disas-
trous mistake of thinking that Tom cared
for her-Tom, who had been her kind.
CHEEKY brother-in-law for many years.
Ladde was very like him. She must
not forget the little lad, and perhaps
she had better go TO him, though the
shingle was rough, for while his inten-
tons were good, his memory was ex-
tremely short
Rising leisurely she glanced over to
where the breakwater ran out into the
sea, a picturesque object at low water.
covered with green seaweed and tiny
shells. Little of it was to be seen this
fine summer afternoon, for the tide was
flowing in deep and strong, but as she
looked her eyes dilated with horror.
Scrambling up the slippery side was
small, white-clothed figure, with fair
curls blowing in the breeze, who gained
the summit with wonderful speed and
ran boldly out along the top.
Throwing down her sunshade, she flew
down toward the shore as fast as the
rolling pebbles would permit, calling
loudly to the boy as she went. She
saw the beautiful baby face fill with sud
den contrition, saw him turn to come to
her--he was never afraid of anyone,
least of all Connie-then he had given
a sickening slip on the treacherous green
slime. There was flash of two little
bare, brown legs, vision Of a flying
straw hat, loud splash and he was IN
the water on the far side Of the break
water, where 1t was so terribly deep
What happened next she hardly knew,
but she remembered shrieking for hep,
and leaning far over the Shiny edge,
making frantic snatches at the struggling
child; then man dived in, and Laddie,
gasping and dripping, was once more in
her arms.
"Oh, we can never thank you
enough" she painted as she Rugged the
young scamp.
But the man made no answer; his
hand still grasped the boy and something
on it seemed strangely familiar. Surely
she had known that massive signet ring
in the past. CHANGING up hurriedly she
saw the face, older and more worn, but
still the handsome, never forgotten face
of Rupert Laird.
For moment she was too petrifed to
speak; sea and shore seemed surging to-
ward her. Il don't like waiting" Lad
die had said, but she had waited SO long
that she had given up all hope that he
would ever discover his mistake and re-
turn-and now he stood before her.
Connie, you here?" he said at length.
with i'll suppressed emotion. Have 1
saved your child ?"
"Yes-no. Rupert" she answered hur-
riedly. He is Toms and Margaret's;
their only boy; naughty, naughty Lad
die
TOMS! Margaret'sr' he whispered,
And you, Connie, your
II am auntie,' and a fine dance this
boy leads me-" she attempted to say,
gayly
Let US get out Of this crowd" Ahe
said in the abrupt old way that she knew
so well, as he apprehensively surveyed
the rapidly increasing gathering which
seemed inclined TO cheer him. 81 will
carry Laddie."
Perhaps neither had any distinct idea
Of what they had said az they went up
the shore homeward. but she was the
more composed of the two, for she had
known the truth all along, while to him
it had come suddenly, was overwhelm-
ing.
You are not changed" he said later,
as they stood by the gate in the gloam-
ing. 1T is l with whom the years have
dealt hardly. VINO have been a reck-
less fool and had to suffer for my folly
But 1 have put no one in your place I
have kept your image in my heart. It IS
through Toms boy that we have met
again, and you loved me once. Con-
nie?''
Once" she breathed softly. "once.''
The moon was shining over the quiet
water. casting long balls OF light into
the room where Laddie lay in the peace
full sleep OF chidh 5od; lights began 70
appear one by one in the houses along
the sea front: very softly on the ozone
laden breeze came the ripple OF ths
waves along the shore. the faint oder OF
seaweed and tar. but still they fingered
on by the gate. these two who had wait
ed so long, who had silently kept the
faith that seemed broken, and after long
years had met again.