Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-01-09
An Old Maids Love Affair

IN SWamp-WnaC could IL mean
SS Miss Abigail Drew stopped, and
set down the heavy basket of lunch she
was carrying to the men in the bayfield,.
1t surely was child's cry and baby's,
too. How 1t stirred the chords of her
lonely, longing heart. Miss Abigail
loved children with a passionate, yearn-
ing love, and yet it had been years since
she had even heard baby cry. Living
alone with her brother and his occa-
Sional help, on that remote farm, all
social relationship, all neighborly amen
tiles and delights were almost entirely
denied her. And above all things she
missed and lOnged for the sunny pres
ence of children. She felt that, If she
only had child to care for, her barren,
empty life would overflow with joy and
purpose. The days now so sad and
meaningless would be so rich and bless
ed then! All! there is nothing like the
Infinite aching of the mother heart in
childless breast.
Therefore, that child cry, floating up
from the swamp was heavenly music
to the heart of Miss Abigail Drew. She
clasped her hands and listened, her
whole being absorbed in the associa-
tions connected with the sound. Sud-
denly her heart surged into her throat,
and she caught her breath with the
thought that rushed across her mind
what if baby had been left in the
swamp deserted! And what if she
should be the one to find it and take it
home, and oh! what if nobody should
come to claim it! The wistful face of
the woman paled and flushed, and
flushed and paled, in swift succession,
as her heart brooded upon this wonder
ful possibility. AT length, with little
cry that was all prayer, she sprang
toward the swamp, leaving the basket
of lunch under the blaze of the July
sun.
When she emerged from the thick,
low woods at the bottom of the pasture
her dress was torn and her face scratch
ed and streaming with perspiration, but
the rapture and triumph that shone in
her eyes, as she looked down upon a
bundle strained to her breast, showed
that lie, for her, had suddenly been
lifted above all ordinary conditions and
considerations, and she was conscious
OF walking upon such roseate air as the
old painters limned beneath the feet of
their exalted Madonnas. little face
peeped out from the ragged shawl that
wrapped Miss Abigail's precious bur-
den, but the plaintive cry had ceased,
and the blue eyes of the little founding
were gazing up into those two springs
of limpid love" that shone above them.
Nathan Drew and his two hired men
were waiting impatiently under the
shadow Of big elm tree, when their
breathless provider finally arrived with
the basket of lunch and that strange
bundle upon her left arm. 1t was long
after noon, and Nathan Drew was fret
ting and fuming at his sisters unac-
countabJe delay.
What In 'tarnel kept you so longT
he demanded, as the painting woman
dropped the basket under the shadow
of the elm. "And for goodness sake,
what ye got in yer arms?"
IN baby, Nathanw replied his sister,
in voice full of soft, reverential joy.
A poor little baby that was left in the
swamp. l heard it crying and went to
find it, and that's what made me SO
late"
'Humph" said Nathan Drew, taking
the covering from the basket and in
specting Its contents. What be We
goin' to do with it?'
A cloud swept across the radiant face
of the woman. There was something
strictly forbidding in her brothers tone
and manner. Evidently, the only ques-
tion that had entered his mind was
how to get rid of the unwelcome en-
cumbrance that had been left upon his
land. Their thoughts were travelling in
diametrically opposite directions-the
woman's toward retaining the child;
the man toward disposing of it!
There was something Of the protect
i've cunning of love In Abigail's eva
sive answer to her brother.
Probably somebody will come along
and claim it in little WHILE" she said.
Nathan Drew laughed derisively.
Then he took huge bite out of one Of
Abigail's delicious chicken sandwiches
and washed 1t down with gulp of
coffee from the warm can. X
very likely" he replied at length;
''very likely!" Then he laughed again.
Somebody dropped it accidentally in
the swamp, eh, boys? Somebody'n be
comm hack, most crazy to find it, by
m by"
The hired men laughed servilely,
though it was plain that their minds
were chiefly absorbed by the lunch bas-
ket which their employer held between
his legs, and was steadily plundering.
We'll, come on, boys. Hitch up here
and have something to eat!" cried the