The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-16
Our Daily Short Stories
THE MISSION OFLITTLE QUIET
BY ELIZABETH CHERRY WALTZ
copyright. 1901. by Authors Syndicate

I refuse to tell me if that child is safe
and WELL"
He meant to shake his head and be
done with it--but there came a sudden
memory of Little Quiets clapping her
hands at the sight of her that morning,
her starry eyes alight as were these
others before him. He cleared his
throat.
'She is we'll and safe"
For so much | thank you. You may
write to your client and tell him what
you please. Whatever he does, l viii
be righted-because there is no wrong
with me-and he has destroyed his
own happiness"
When she had gone Mr.. Hodges pull
ed forward the cablegram. 1t told him
that the writer was about to return
and intended to at once sue for a di-
voce and the custody of his child. The
papers must be ready when he reached
New York.
Yes, the papers are ready said the
lawyer on the eighth day afterward to
a tall and athletic young man, who
seemed to fairly fill his small office;
that is, if you are fully determined.
Your wife will fight the case. She has
retained Van CassXl--and will fight for
the child. Had we not better arrange
something?"
Harold, Thyme shook himself like a
weary dog.
mo, want it over with. I am sure
sure. 1t was my own mad folly. These
women of the stage-pah!"
But" interrupted the lawyer, you
are too rash, We're too rash then. Think
of the child-that is a nice little child.
You ought not to expect me to not
think of her in this case, for I've look
ed after her for you"
$50 you have" said the man, gloom
lily, but she is so like her mother"
I'VE will go and see her before we
do anything else" said the lawyer
quietly. In fact, insist that you must
see her before going forward"
Half an hour later the two men STEP
ped quietly up the two flights of stairs
The house seemed verv still and there
was nothing to lead Mr.. Hodges to ex-
pect the scene he met on opening the
nursery door. The child was seated on
her beautiful mothers lap. the tiny
arms about her neck. Mrs. Hodges was
crying in a chair near by, and Nurse
Brown was blowing her nose violently
from time to time.
"Arethusa!" exclaimed Mr.. Hodges,
amazed beyond further speech by the
sight before him.
She turned fiercely upon him
Which l never would have thought,
Timothy, that you'd have hid away a
sweet child from its mother, and all
on account of a bad mans jealousy"
Mrs. Thyme had risen with the child
IN her arms. Her eyes blazed as she
faced her accuser.
You shall not have her. Harold.
You, would make her as miserable as
you have made me. Think of snatch
ing tender little thing from it's moth
er's arms and then running off to Eu-
rope and leaving her with strangers. -
1T shows what rash. wildthought-
ed man you are" sobbed Mrs. Hodges,
and you've had bad influence over
my husband or he would never have
helped YOU, -
Harold Thyme was pallid to the
lips.
Didn't I see you talking to the
actor you knew before we were mar
ried? Didn't see you give him let
ter or note?-and you had promised
me to give up those people"
THAT'S where l was foolish" re-
Piled the little mother bravely. Il
should never have turned my back on
old friends-and should occasion of
fer, 1 will show what that note was
and where its destination"
"She was sending money to a poor
sick woman that had always looked
after her, you wretch cried Mrs.
Hodges; "she told me so, and l be-
lieve her-and not asking her about it
you steals her baby, and her sick at
the time. Ugh! but you are
thoughtless one and don't deserve such
a wife and child. Timothy shall not
take your case, not he
The lawyer whistled softly.
But Little Quiet had been making
up her mind from her perch in her
mothers arms. She had been shyly
eying her father while smoothing her
mothers cheek. Now her seldom
heard voice was raised in entreaty.
Papa, peas tum here
1t was as if a bombshell had ex-
ploded in the room Nurse Brown
fled, weeping audibly. The dazed
Timothy found himself hustled out
by Mrs. Hodges, who fairly drove him
down the stairs. Sitting down upon a
divan in the hallway she sank back
among the cushions with a wall of
recrimination.
If 1T wasn't for that blessed child,
Timothy, you'd be a miserable sinner.
But the Lord has upset your plans, and
although / don't like that man, she
may bring him around so he'll act like
other people. They got little child to
lead them anyhow"