The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-04-15
The MISSION OF
LITTLE QUIET
BY ELIZABETH CHERRY xAlTz


ROW, as some one WIttiIy dubbed
the long block Of SNOWY. pressed
brick houses, Little Quiet's advent
caused no end Of comment and burn
ing curiosity. Lawyer Hodges, the
keenest lawyer Of the city, had once
been a waif and made his own way
upward. His wife was an invalid and
they were chiIdless. When one dav
a child Of a year old and a nurse maid
were installed at their house the
women Of the block were o satisfied
until each had made a friendly call
and ELECTED such crumbs Of informa-
ton as Mrs. Hodges would fnpart.
Pieced together i vas meager IN
formation The child belonged 10
one Of Mr. Hodges clients and he
had promised 70 give it his personal
supervision MrA Hodges did not
know who the parents were nor why
the child was there. The child was 10
annoyance to her. because it was
quiet In fact, they called her Little
Quiet, although her name was Mary.
The good matrOns of Diamond
Row" eager TO do and be real society
people. felt and resented the subtle
differences between that baby and
their own less dainty and beautiful
offspring For Little Quiet was deli
cate ard pale, she had starry eyes
and a small. red mouth Her curIs,
now Light brown. would one day Be
as dark as her IasheS- Her skin was
fine and her hands and feet daintflv
formed Money was Iavished on her.
money from somewhere. She was a
little queen, ever if isolated with her
nurse in the tsLird-ztOry front Of the
pressed brick She was not neglect
ed Before Lawyer Hodges took his
hat each morning he mounted the
two fights OF stairs. cast a suspicious
eye over the nursery and bedroom,
inspected the child gravely and kind
" and deperted-sztiSfed.
Little Quiet could not talk wei. but
she chose to show appreciation or
affection By little smiles or move
meuts ard gestures. Her nurse, who
had something like a conscience after
q long siege Of Troublesome charges
soon adored her.
There never was a baby Ike her.
she would say ten times a dav.
wherever her people are, they are
missing the sweetest one God ever
sent below"
Lven Lawyer Hodges thawed as the
child began to look for his morning
visits He showed 1t BY a sharper
scrutiny and . dozen useless com
mands. impractical and accepted BY
Nurse Brown with charity
One gloomy day Lawyer Hodges re-
eeived a eabIegam Of some length
over which he looked sore. While he
was knitting his forehead. the head
clerk ushered IN a wOman The law
yer glanced mp suddenly pushed back
the cablegram and rose His keen
eyes met eyes quite as keen, but
beautiful and impIoring.
-Ma6aml~
You are surprised to see me. OF
course 1 have recovered. I am here
because I want my child"
Your husband must inform YOU
madam I am merely his lawyer. ]
act by his instructions"
And he is in Europe. know the
child IS not with him and you know
where she is / would not let nv
lawyer eome-nOr an / wait. 1 must
see my child-dO you hear? I must
see the child"
but, madam"
You need not say one word. i
defy you 1 am not afraid now Of the
whole world. because 1 have the eIew
TO the tangle- Harold was and is a
madly jeslOus man He married me
from the stage with no deceit or guile
on my part He was always Jealous.
always suspicious And when 1 was
III. he thought he found those sus-
PIGEONS verified, seized the child and
fed 10 Europe. But God is gooE. /
am now well and I viii rot Be .-od-
den to the dust Harold did not take
baby TO Europe. She is hidden some
where and you know where. Think
of it, think of it, Ny child torn from
and I am wholly innocent Can
you deny me her n mOmeutg Think
how her mother must feella
During this imPassioned appeal the
stood peering out at her as
If appalled,. He had not the least
doubt of her innocence, for he knew
men and women well. But the hus-
was his client and he must
stand on the other side. Something
made him hate himself as he said.
Madam, you must settle this with
your husband. 1 cznnOt act save as
be instructs me-
As you instruct hin. you mean. I
know lawyers ways. Harold is rich
and is your client But 1 tel you that
in the name Of humanity you dare not
TO tell me if that child is safe
Ind WE'LL
He meant to shake his hesd and be
done with it-but there came 4 sud
len memory Of Little Quiet's elappsug
ler hands at the sight of her that
norning. her starry eyes slight, as
we're these others before him. He
his throat.
she is well and safe
For so much I thank you. You may
Vrite TO your client and tel him what