Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-12-21
The MIS- SION OF
hlTThE QUIET
By elIzaeETn CHERRY WALTZ

Ia the ncighborhood Of Diamond
Row." as SOME one ,sittlly dubbed
the ioag block OF snowy, pressed
brick houses. Little Quiet's advent
caused no end of comment aud burn
ing curiosity. Lawyer Hodges. the
Seenest lawyer OF the city. had once
been a waif and made his own way
upward. His wife was an invalid aud
they were chiidiess. When one day
a child Of year old and nurse maid
were Installed at their house the
women OF the block were not satisfied
until each had made q friendly call
and elected such crumbs OF inf0rma-
tion as Mrs. Hodges would impart.
Pieced together it was meager in
formation. The child belonged 10
one OF Mr.. Hodges clients and he
had promised 90 give IL his personal
supervision. Mrs. Hodges did not
know who the parents were nor why
the child was there. The child was no
annoyance to her. because 10 was
icic-. In fact. they called her Little
Quiet. although her name was Mary.
The good matrCns of Diamond
Row. eager go do and be real society
people, felt and resented the subtle
differences between that baby and
their own less dainty and beautiful
offspring. For Little Quiet was deli
cate and pale. she had starry ewes
and small, red mouth Her curls.
now light brown. would one day bc
as dark as her lashes. Her skin was
fine and her hands and feet daintily
formed Money was lavished on her.
money from somewhere. She was q
Lttie queen, even III isolated with her
nurse IN the third-story front OF the
pressed brick. She was not nculcct-
ed. Before Lawyer Hodges took his
hat each morning he mounted the
two flights OF stairs. cast a suspicious
eye over the nursery and bedroom.
Inspected the child graveiy and kind
ID and oepavted--satisfcd.
Little Quiet could not talk well. but
sine chose TO show appreciation or
affection 10y little smiles or move
ments and gestures. Her nurse. VINO
had something ike a conscience after
long siege OF troublesome charges.
soon adored her.
There never WAS baby like her.
She would say ten times dav.
Wherever her people are. they arr
missing the sweetest one God ever
sent below"
Even Lawyer Hodges thawed as the
child began 90 look for his morning
visits. lie showed IL by sharper
scrutiny and dozen useless COM
maucs. impractical and accepted by
Nurse Brown with charity.
One gloomy Gay Lawyer Hodges re-
eeived a cablogram of some length
over which he looked sore. While he
was knitting his forehead the head
clerk ushered in q woman. The law
yer glanced mp, suddenly pushed bacl,
the cablegram and rose. His keen
eyes met eyes quite as keen. but
beautiful and imPloring.
Madam"
You are surprised TO see me. OF
course. l have recovered. ! am hero
because ] want my child"
Your husband must inform you.
madam / am merely his lawyer.
act by his instructions"
And he is in Europe. 7 know the
child is not with him and YOU know
where she IS | would not let my
lawyer eome-uor can l wait. I mus,
see my child-do you hear? must
see the child'
'But, madam"
you need not say one word.
defy you. am not afraid now of the
whole world, because ! have the clew
TO the taugle. Harold was and is r
madly Jealous man. He married me
from the stage with no deceit or guile
on my part. lie was always Jealous.
always suspicious. And when l was
III, he thought he found those sus-
pieions verified, seized the child and
hed 10 Europe. But God is good.
am now well and I VIII not be troS-
den 10 the dust. Harold did not take
baby TO Europe. She is hidden some
where and you know where. Think
OF it, think Of IL! Ny Child torn from
me and / am wholly innocent. Can
you deny me her one moment? Think
how her mother must feeii'
During this impassioned appeal the
lawyer stood peering out at her as
If appalled,. He had not the least
doubt Of her innocence, for he knew
men and women well. But the hus-
band was his client and he must
stand on the other side. Somethinr
made him hate himself as he said.
slowly:
Madam. you must settle this with
your husband cannot act save as
he instructs me-"