The Punta Gorda herald., 1902-05-16
BURGLAR,
MOTHER
AND CHILD
ey Charles welsied


/ A. nv Ntt o. o. NtNNNit ANWNNNH
AaaaAasaAS'a asssaAA
The moon dipped behind cloud Just
as the old fashioned street lamp was
eStlngulshed. Stealing down q dark
alloyway, the side entrance TO the
Elms large private residence on Bou.
loyard u, was lone figure. Il halted
beneath one Of the lower windows aud
remained in n crouchlng attitude for
at least ten minutes Then Il stood
erect, figure not moro than fvc feet
three, slender aud active. Tho window
opened slowly, aud the figure dlsap.
pearod, Moving llko some creeping
thing from room to room, the burglar
finally emerged into the hall nnd quiet.
ly ascendod the stairs, but suddenly.
came TO halt before door through
which came dim light
A child lay there alone. Through
second door, leading 10 an adjoining
room, the burglar could discern tho
form OF a woman, fully attircd, asleep
on n couch. II was q nurse, The
burglar looked back at the ehlld.
sickness here, ! guess; bud place for
my work"
IIe stood lntonty 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 cnmo
from the burglars lips.
The little one stirred, andthe burglar
made move toward the hall
"Want - some wnttce," murmurcd
the child. The curly head rolled rest.
lessly "MI0mma, baby want dink."
At tho sound Of Il voice from the od.
Joining room the figure disappeared
quickly beneath the bed
"Nursle's coming, dear" And the
woman hurried to her charge, The
hidden figure could have reached out
aud touched the hem Of her dress.
"Poor little grip the nurse said
socthlngly.
"Gl0dys want mammaW
"oh. mamma Is asleep, dcarlc. Baby
wouldn't wake mammal
Mamma, mammaw pleaded the
child, As II I'm answer, from down the
hall low, sweet voice called softyi
"MOmma's coming, pet"
In moment woman entered tho
room and crossed quickly TO the bed
side, Reaching over, she kissed the TO-
vorlsh lips and forehead.
Mammals here, darling" The little
arms reached up md were clasped
about her mock, GLADYS loves nam.
ma" whispered the child. Mamma
stay with bNbyp
"Yos, darling, mamna VIII stay"
She folded the babe In her arms and
hushed her to sleep Then she crossed
the room TO whore tho nurse was slt-
ting iu silence.
They whispered together IN low
tones. Tho figure beneath tho bed was
engerly stralnng TO catch every word.
"She Is little better, nurse, Is sho
notY" the mother nsked anxlOusly.
~ think so, madam. This Is the first
timo she has awakened since o'clock.
You had better rest while she is
asleep"
~ cannot bear 10 leave her, lf that
child were my own flesh and blood, |
could not lovo her more. She was
brought by the police 10 tho Orphan
Asylum Of the Gray Nuns IN Montreal
one day when Mr. Rogers and ! were
visiting the institution. She has
brought such happiness into our llyesl
Tho 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 darllngl The police say
her mother was wretched creature
and the father n confirmed criminal q |
brute Of man. Botli were serving a
term In prison when we took baby |
Think Of II, nurse-a sweet innocent
little tot like that from such pnrentsl
Ia Roche, | think their name was.
They know nothing Of the chlld's
whereabouts"
Tears gllstcned In the woman's eyes
as she looked tendorly and yearnlngly |
at the sleeping baby and left the room.
The nurse lingereS few moments
by the chllds cot. Then she turned the
light very low and stole back to the
adjoining room. Later heavy breath.
Ing told the burglar beneath :se sick
chIld's bed that the household was
asleep once more, but for how longf
lie crawled out stcalthlly. but dlt
not hasten from the room. While yet
I'm kneeling posture, very gently he
raised the chlld's tiny hands and kiss.
ed them passlonately. then reached
over and kissed the fevered forehead.
A smile passed over the little ones
face. The child was evidently dream
Ing.
aMe loves mamma" she murmured
in her sleep
A tear fell on the baby's curly head
20 God, what punlslinentv'
with n look OF unuticrnblc anguish /
the thief hastily slipped from the room
md down to the stairway
Some one was ascending the stairs |
The burglar ran 10 the nearest window
and fire escape There were piercing
scream and crash. The man ON the
stairs. startled, reached TO bis hip
pocket, but all was silent again except
for n low groan which rose from the
court below. He hurried to the hend OF
the stairs and peered out into the
darkness The railing OF the fire cs
cape was broken, but that was all he
could see.
"Listen," sald the doctor, who had
AL ontornd NGome Onp iQ huff -