The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1902-04-16
! BURGLAR.
| MOTHER
AND CHILD
By Charles WeIsted
BY Charles Welstet
Copyright, 1908,
BY the S. S. Mcclure Company.

at least ten minutes. Then 1t stood
erect. figure not more than five feet
three, slender and active. The window
opened slowly. and the figure dlsap-
peared. Moving like some creeping
thing from room to room, the burglar
finally emerged into the hall and quiet
ly assembled the stairs. but suddenly
came to n halt before door through
which came dim light.
A child lay there alone. Through
second door, leading to an adjoining
room. the burglar could discern the
form of woman, fully attired, asleep
on couch. 1t was Il 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
20 Godw A moan of anguish came
from the burglars lips.
The little one stirred, and the burglar
made 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 adj
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 grill" the nurse said
soothingly.
GLADYS want mammaP'
"Oh, mamma is asleep. dearle. Baby
wouldn't wake mamma
Mamma, mammap pleaded the
child. AS IL in answer. from down the
hall low, sweet voice called softly:
Mammals coming, pet"
In moment woman entered the
room and crossed quickly to the bed.
side. Reaching over, she kissed the fe-
verlsh 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 babyT
Yes, darling. mamma will stay
She folded the babe In her. arms ant
hushed her to sleep. Then she crossed
, the room to where the nurse was sit
ting In silence.
! They whispered together in loy
tones. The figure beneath the bed wa
eagerly siraining to catch every word
"She is little better. nurse, is sh
, notT' the mother asked anxiously.
81 think so. madam. This Is the frs
time she has awakened since 8 o'clock
You had better rest while she 1.
asleep"
II 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 I'm Montreal
one day when Mr.. Rogers and / were
visiting the institution. She has
brought such happiness into our livesl
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 I'm silence. Ten minutes
passed. and the burglar beneath the
bed was getting restless. The mother
was speaking slowly again. as II in
thought:
Poor little darlingl The police say
her mother was wretched creature
and the father confirmed criminal, a
| brute of man. Both were serving a
| term in prison when we took baby.
Think of 1t, nurse-a sweet, innocent
little tot like that from such parentsl
La Roche. I think their name was.
They know nothing of the child's
whereabouts"
Tears glstened In the woman's eyes
as she looked tenderly and yearningly
at the sleeping baby and left the room.
The nurse fingered 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 kneeing posture, very gently he
raised the child's tiny hands and kiss.
ed them possionately, 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 murmuret
in her sleep.
A tear fell on the baby's curly head.
20 God, what punishment
T. L.. fr1
the 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 tn,
stairs. startled, reached to his hi
pocket, but all was silent again excep
for low groan which rose from tn
court below He hurried to the head o
the stairs and peered out Into tn
, darkness. The railing OF the fire es
cape was broken, but that was all h
could see
"Listen," said the doctor, who hat
Just entered Some one IL hurt"
Burglars" whispered the other. "B'
-.reful doctor. Walt moment, ant
I'll go down with you"
The two men reached the court be
low. Feeble groans came from the an
gle near the gateway.
"Whos there" asked the doctor
"Are you hurt? Strike n match. Mr.
Rogers"
On the couch In the library they
stretched the unconscious form of thu
burglar.
Hell not get over this In hurry
poor devil! Call up the hospital for al
ambulance, Mr.. Rogers"
The man went to the phone, and thu
doctor turned on more light Lifting
the burglars head. he looked closet!