Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-02-06

It aU0s the first time he had broken dooon
IN the presence OF Dorothy.
some time enjoy. When Malcolm Kirk
turned and came toward the door
where his wife and Wilson were stand
ing. his classmate saw on his face q
look Of suffering which the strong,
homely, marked features emphasized.
For three weeks he had hardly closed
his eyes.
He had prayed, his wife beside him,
every night on his knees by the little
crib that their firstborn son might be
spared to them. But tonight. as the
baby lay in his arms, he knew that the
loving Father had some great reason
unknown to them for taking to himself
this bit Of humanity that for a few
months had made the little parsonage
on the prairie the very garden spot Of
all the world to them.
Dorothy, without a word, took the
baby from her husband, and he. with
out word. clasped his old classmates
hand. and the: men stood there mo-
lnent praying.
Its you. GeOrge?' said Kirk. ut
seems good to see your face. We
Malcolm Kirk sat down and buried
his face in his great hands and sobbed
1t was the first time he had broken
down In the presence of Dorothy. The
sight of his old classmate had revived
his Hermon memories. He saw again
the old campus. it's great avenues OF
elms. the noble landscape Of hills and
woods. Dorothy's home across the cam
pus. his own dingy little room. his love
for the woman who now was sharing
this great trouble with him. And he
cried without attempt at concealment,
for his heart was sore at the coming
Foss Of the baby out of home where
bod himself had blessed the love Of a
man and wife as rarely in human lives
1t has been blessed.
Finally he lifted up his face and
spoke calmly:
"We've hoped all along, of course,
Let the long continued heat has been
against his recovery. It's hard to part
with the little fellow. See"- Malcolm
Kirk rose and took the baby again
from his wife, while Dorothy sat down
near table and laid her beautiful
head on her arms, but still she was
without tear. "See, the little fellow
smiles at me STILL"
The baby opened his eyes, looked up
into Malcolm Kinks gaunt, agonized
countenance, and a faint light went
over it's face.
Malcolm, oh, Malcolm" cried Doro-
thy. Il can't endure it!'
1t was the first protest that had es-
capped her. Like him, the presence of
this friend from the old loved place in
the east had stirred her heart, and
even as she cried aloud in her anguish
the pent up tears came, and she cried
In sobs that rent her husbands heart
even more than the baby's sad smile.
Wilson choked as he rose to go and
said: Kirk. may God bless and help
you at this time. l would stay and
watch with you or help in any way
NO; it will not be necessary. The
neighbors and church people have been
very kind to us. No one can do any
more"
He went away to the hotel, promising
to come IN the morning to inquire, and
the night grew on for Malcolm and
Dorothy. The doctor came in, few of
the most Intimate church members al
so. but no one could do any more, and
Malcolm Kirk held the baby with q ten
derness that relieved it's suffering, for
they had not been able to place its
body in restful position on bed, and
p 1t had grown used to its cradle of long.
strong arms.
1t was toward morning, when no one
was In the room except Malcolm and
Dorothy, that the baby died. 1t seem.
ed to these two as they watched it "a
that their hearts broke, and the world
turned black and empty before them
when the last breath was drawn By
that frail, trembling body. For little
while Malcolm held him. Then he laid
the body down on couch, and. kneel.
Ing there with his arms about bis
wife. he Joined with her in a moment
Of unspeakable anguish for the death
Of their firstborn. :.-4..
The sun came up dry and red, the
heat of another day began to pour in.
to the little room, and it seemed to the
bereaved parents as II the earth was q
great, dry, burned out wilderness. The
neighbors called. Wilson came, and
his presence and silent sympathy were
blessing to Malcolm and Dorothy.
But when, later in the day, the baby
had been laid in the little coffin and
placed in the center Of the room with
g bunch Of white geraniuns on its
breast brought In BY the Numbers .of
Dorothy's primary Sunday school class
Dorothy laid her head down on the
table beside the casket. and her grief
was very. Very great Aalcom stood
beside her ooking bungrily IL III