The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-04
Mrs. Mnguire's Mediation
By M. LOUISE CUJMMINy

in the head of tiger skin and jolted the
little bundle in her arms. 1t lay safely
enough now against her breast.
door at the end of the room opened.
Mrs. Magulre's heart grew faint within
her. The woman who came forward, her
ermine lined cloak hanging loosely from
her shoulders, looked at her with eyes as
coldly blue as a lake in winter.
us there anything can do for you?"
Mrs. Maguire's gaze held hers without
finching. She took step forward.
Yes ma am she said, quietly. you
can take your grandchild.'
The Woman's whole figure stiffened.
Your grandchild, ma am" Mrs. Ma
guire repeated insinuatingly.
You mistake. 1 have no grandchild."
knowing it!'' Mrs. Mcguire said pityingly.
"And your daughters child tool"
Il have no daughter
maybe that's truer than you think.
Twas dying she said she was, and twas
dying she looked, God help her!''
A spasm went over the cold face.
"H-m-m!' thought Mrs. Mcguire.
by the slight show of feeling, she adj
vanced, still holding out the child.
stop! l will not-touch it, The
words were forced from between hard,
dry lips.
Mrs. Mcguire looked from the tiny.
wrinkled face on her arm to the one before
her and back again. Faith, if you never
shortly.
In mute apology she lifted the helpless
hand, laying the little palm against her
lips. Instantly the fingers closed CROP
ingly on her mouth. Mrs. Maguire's face
| changed as if by magic. "Wisha, will
you look at that?" she cried gleefully. II
| it grab the, mouth off me We woud?'
Sn66PnlV he
| heaving, her whole frame shaken. "Oh,"
sheb reathed, tits no more than twenty
years old am this mint with the feel of
it in me arms! Oh, Nora, me little baby.
Mats gone from me! And Mike-God rest
| his soul-bending over me so proud Oh,
wirra, wirra! IT'S neither chick nor child
that's left to me this day.
She lifted the hem of the babys dress
and wiped the small face tenderly where
her tears had splashed on it. With trem-
bling mouth she passionately kissed each
sole Of the tiny, wrinkled feet, grooming
broken words of love.
Something was born in the face of the
woman who watched her. It grew into
a tigerish hunger in the eyes which fol-
| lowed Mrs. Maguire's every movement.
The latter rose to go.
! you must excuse me, ma'am," she said
apolegtically. IF you'd had a little gerl
and lost her, you'd know how it brings
| II all DacR Sne turned toward the door.
''Give me the child''
Mrs. Mcguire fell back. Instinctively
she laid the little head against her neck
| and her hand upon it in protection.
Give me-my. grandchild."
| The ernine cloak lay unheeded on the
floor. With oustretched arms the woman
whose mother love had been starved and
| clamoring in secret besought her.
Woman do you hear?"
Mrs. Mcguire could no more have held
the baby against the hungry strength Of
those empty arms than she could have
stemmed river at flood.
For moment she stood with hands
hanging listlessly at her Sides listening
to the low grooming Of the woman who
saith uddled on stool with the little bun
die against her breast. Then blindly she
felt her way out.
In the street she paused a moment and
looked up at the stars.
Now" she said, as though making a
promise to some one above them with
the help of God I'll find the mother