Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-01-23

[lEl|ZlIll
"Slcear you aUill be a mother to this childP'
Listen. Yesterday, only yesterday-it
seems q month ago-Mrs. Sutherland
came again to see me with her baby in
her arms. The baby was looking well,
and she was the happiest of women,
for the one wish of his heart and hers
had been fulfilled, and she was soon
going to have the bliss Of showing the
child to his father. My own babe was
on the bed asleep, and l, who am feel
ing wonderfully strong, was sitting up
in little chair as far away from him
as possible, not out of hatred or indif-
ference. oh, no, but because he seemed
to rest better when left entirely by
himself and not under the hungry look
of my eyes. Mrs. Sutherland went
over to look at him. "Oh, he is fair,
like my baby" she said, "and almost
as sturdy, though mine is month old
err" And she stopped down and kissed
him. Philemon, he smiled for her,
though he never. had for me. saw it
with a greedy longing that almost
made me cry out. Then l turned to
her, and we talked. OF what? 1 can
not remember now. AT home we had
never been intimate friends. She is
from Sutherlandtown, and l am from
Dorchester, and the distance of nine
miles is enough to estrange people.
But here, each with her husband alb
sent and darling infant sleeping un-
der her eyes, interests we have never
thought Identical drew us to each 9TH
|. err, and we chatted with ever increas-
ing pleasure. Suddenly Mrs. Suther-
land jumped up in terrible fright. The
infant she had been rocking on her
breast was blue; the next minute it
shuddered; the next it lay in her arms
| dead.
hear the Shrek yet with which she
fell with it in her arms to the floor.
Fortunately no other ears were open
to her cry. l alone saw her misery.
alone heard her tale. The child had
been poisoned, Philemon. poisoned by
her. She had mistaken cup of medi-
cine for cup of water and had given
the child few drops in spoon just
before setting out from her hotel. She
had not known at the time what she
had done, but now she remembered
that the fatal cup was just like the
other and that the two stood very near
together. oh, her innocent child, and
oh, her husband! 1t seemed as If the
latter thought would drive her wild.
He has SO wished for child" she
moaned. Eve have been married ten
years and this baby seemed to have
been sent from heaven. He will curse
me; he will hate me; he will never be
able after this to bear me in his sight -
This was not true of Mr.. Sutherland,
instead of attempting 1t took another
way to stop her rawlings Lifting the
child out of her hands, first listened
at its heart and then finding it was
really dead-I have seen too many life
less children not to know-I began
slowly to undress 1t. What are you
doing?" she cried. Mrs. Webb, Mrs.
Webb! What are you doing?" For re-
| ply pointed to the bed where two lit
tie arms could be seen feebly fiuttering.
You shall have my child" whisper
ed. 81 have carried too many babies
to the tomb to dare risk bringing up
another" And catching her poor wan
dering spirit with my eye, held her
while told her my story. Philemon,
islied speaking saw the reason re-
turn to her eye and the dawning of a
pitiful hope in her passion drawn face.
She looked at the child in my arms,
| and then she looked at the one In the
bed. and the long drawn sigh with
which she finally bent down and wept
over our darling told me that my cause
won. The rest was easy. When the
clothes of the two children had been
exchanged, she took our baby in her
arms and prepared to leave. Then l
stopped her. Swear" l cried, hold
inc her by the arm and lifting my
other hand to heaven, Swear you will
be a mother to this child! Swear
you will love it as your own and rear
it in the path of truth and righteous
nessw
1 The cony,.lsive clasp with which she
drew the baby to her breast told me
palmer than her shuddering IT swearw
that her heart had already opened to
| 1t. dropped her arm and covered my
face with my hands. could not see
my darling 60. 1t was worse than
death. "Oh, God, save him!' groan-
ed. "God make him an honor But
here she caught me by the arm. Hel
| clutch was frenzied, and her teethwere
chattering. Swear in your turn" she
gasped; "swear that If do mothers
duty by this boy you will keep my
secret and never. never reveal to my
hpsbsnal e TIN beg. OF b TN HQTld