Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1902-07-04
BURGLAR,
MOTHER
AND CHILD
eY Charles Welsted


The moon dipped behind q cloud Just
as the old fashioned street lamp was
extinguished. Stealing down a dark
alIeyway. the side entrance to the
Elms a large private residence on Bou.
levard d. was a lone figure. It halted
beneath one OF the lower windows aud
remained In n crouchlng attitude for
at least ten minutes. Then II stood
erect a figure not more than Eve feet
three. slender and active. The window
opened slowly. and the figure disap-
peared. Moving Ike some creeping
thug from room to room, the bbrglar
finally emerged into the hall and quiet.
~ assembled the stairs. but suddenly
came 70 a halt before a door through
which came a dim light.
A child lay there alone. Through a
second door. leading to an adjoining
room, the burglar could discern the
form OF a woman. fully attircd. asleep
on q couch. II was a nurse. The
burglar looked back at the child.
sickness here, | guess, Dad place for
my work"
He stood intently watching the baby
face resting on the SNOWY pillows
Then. lost 10 thought, be stole over to
the cot
20 Godr' A moan Of anguish came
from the burglars lips.
The little one stirred. and the burglar
made q move toward the hall.
want 90 some = wRttee." murmured
the child. The curly head rolled rest
iessly. Mamma, baby want dink."
At the sound Of a 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 girl" the nurse said
soothinRly.
''GIndys want mammal
'oh. mamma is asleep. dearle. Baby
wouldn't wake mamma"-
Mamma. mammal pleaded the
child As II In answer. from down the
hall a 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-
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
stny with babyY'
"Yes. darling. mamm 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 a little better, nurse. is she
not2" the mother asked %anxiousiy.
81 think 80. madam. This Is the first
time she has awakened since 5 &C ock.
You had better rest while she is
asleep"
Il cannss bear 20 leave her. If that
child Sere my own flesh and blood,
cov}4 not love her more. She was
Drought 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 llvesl
The evenings we have spent at home
during the two years we have had
Gladys rave 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
9a09 Cnnalfp0 ulnNuIvy n mofn 40 81 In
thought:
poor little darlingl The police say
her mother was a wretched creature
and the father a confirmed criminal. q
brute of a man. Both were serving o
term In prison when W took baby,
Think Of II. nurse-a sweet, innocent
little tot like that from such parents
La Roche. I think their name was
They know nothing OF the child:
whereabouts"
Tears gllstened 10 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 thu
Hight very low and stole back to th,
adjoining room. Later heavy breath
ing told the burglar beneath the sicl
ehild's bed that the household wa
asleep oDce more, but for how longY
He crawled out stealthily, but dl'
not hasten from the room. While ye
IN q kneeling posture, very gently b.
raised the child's tiny hands and kiss
ed them passiOnately. then reaches
over and kissed the fevered forehead
A smile passed over the little one
face. The child was evidently dream
ing.
@Me loves mamma" she murmurev
10 her sleep.
A ear fell on the baby's curly bead.
20 God. what punishment
With a look Of unutserable angus
fhe thief basuly slipped from the roor
and down to the stairway.
Come o Was ascending the stair
The burglar ran 10 the nearest windo'
and Ore escape. There were a piercin
scream apd = crash. The man on tn
stairs. startled. reached to his hi
pocket. but all was silent again eSeer
for D low groan which rose from III
nn - 60