The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-05-22
BURGLAR.
MOTHER
AND CHILD
BY Charles Welsted
BY Charles Welsted
Copyright, 1909,
BY the s. s. Mcclure Company.

as the old fashioned street lamp was
extinguished. Stealing down dark
alleyway, the side entrance to the
Films, large private residence on Bou
levard D, was lone figure. 1t halted
beneath one Of the lower windows and
remained in crOuching attitude for
at least ten minutes. Then it stood
erect, figure not more than five feet
three, slender and active. The window
opened slowly, and the figure disap-
peared. Moving like some creeping
thing from room to room, the burglar
finally emerged into the hall and quiet
" assembled the stairs, but suddenly
came to a halt before door through
which came dim light.
A child lay there alone. Through a
second door, leading to an adjoining
room, the burglar could discern the
form Of woman, fully attired, asleep
on a couch. 1t was a nurse. The
burglar looked back at the child.
sickness here. guess; bad place for
my work."
He stood intently watching the baby
face resting on the snowy pillows.
Then, lost in thought. he stole over to
the cot.
80 Godv' A moan of anguish came
from the burglars lips.
The little one stirred, and the burglar
made a move toward the hall.
"Want - some - wattee," murmured
the child. The curly head rolled rest
lessly. Mamma, baby want d'ink."
At the sound of voice from the ad-
Joining room the figure disappeared
quickly beneath the bed.
"Nursie's coming, dear" And the
woman hurried to her charge. The
hidden figure could have reached out
and touched the hem of her dress.
"Poor little girlr the nurse said
soothingly.
"Gladys want mammaw
"Oh, mamma is asleep, dearie. Baby
wouldn't wake mammal
Mamma, mammal pleaded the
child. AS If in answer from down the
hall low, sweet voice called softly:
Mammals coming, pet"
In a moment a woman entered the
room and crossed quickly to the bed
side. Reaching over, she kissed the fe-
verish lips and forehead.
Mammals here. darling" The little
arms reached up and were clasped
about her neck. "Gladys loves NAM
ma" whispered the child. Mamma
stay with baby"
Eyes, darling, mamma will stay"
She folded the babe in her arms and
hushed her to sleep. Then she crossed
the room to where the nurse was sit
ting in silence.
They whispered together in low
tones. The figure beneath the bed was
eagerly straining to catch every word.
"She is little better. nurse. is she
not?" the mother asked anxiously.
81 think so. madam. This is the first
time she has awakened since o'clock
You had better rest while she is
asleep"
81 cannot bear to leave her. If that
child were my own flesh and blood,
could not love her more. She was
brought by the police to the Orphan
Asylum of the Gray Nuns in Montreal
one day when Mr.. Rogers and I were
visiting the institution. She has
brought such happiness into our lives!
The evenings we have spent at home
during the two years we have had
Gladys have been more than all the
rest Of my life to me-"
Both sat in silence. Ten minutes
passed. and the burglar beneath the
bed was getting restless. The mother
was speaking slowly again, as if in
thought:
"Poor little darling! The police say
her mother was a wretched creature
and the father a confirmed criminal, a
brute of man. Both were serving a
term in prison when we took baby.
Think Of it, nurse-a sweet, innocent
little tot like that from such parents!
La Roche, l think their name was.
They know nothing of the child's
whereabouts"
Tears glistened in the woman's eyes
as she looked tenderly and yearningly
at the sleeping baby and left the room.
The nurse fingered a few moments
by the child's cot. Then she turned the
light very low and stole back to the
adjoining room. Later heavy breath
ing told the burglar beneath the sick
child's bed that the household was
asleep once more, but for how long?
He crawled out stealthily, but did
not hasten from the room. While yet
In kneeling posture. very gently he
raised the child's tiny hands and kiss
ed them passionately, then reached
over and kissed the fevered forehead.
A smile passed over the little ones
face. The child was evidently dream
ing.
"Me loves mamma" she murmured
in her sleep.
A tear fell on the baby's curly head.
20 God. what punishment"
With look of unutterable anguish
ehe thief hastily slipped from the room
and down to the stairway.
Some one was ascending the stairs.
The burglar ran to the nearest window
and fire escape. There were piercing
scream and a crash. The man on the
pocket. but all was silent again except
for a low groan which rose from the
court below. He hurried to the head of
the stairs and peered out into the
darkness. The railing Of the fire es-
cape was broken, but that was all he
could see.
Listen" said the doctor, who had
Just entered. Some one is hurt"
"Rurglars," whispered the other. BE
careful, doctor. Wait a moment, ann
I'll 60 down with you.'
The two men reached the court be-
low. Feeble groans came from the an
gle near the gateway.
"WhO's there?" asked the doctor
"Are you hurt? Strike a match. Mr.
Rogers"
On the couch in the library they
stretched the unconscious form of the
burglar.
Hell not get over this in hurry
poor devil! Call up the hospital for an
ambulance, Mr.. Rogers"