The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-07
The Two MadeHnes.
BY JOHN CASTOR.

| Copyright, 1902, by Daily Story Pub. Co.
IF he loved US, why did he leave us?''
| asked the child, with that logic which
| exists only in the unWarped minds Of
children-of all ages.
Even harder to answer than that unan-
sWerable question were the sincere blue
eyes raised with questioning look to her
own; and Alice Newcomb, as if seeking
an answer to give the trusting child,
whose head nestled so lovingly on her
bosom. looked out of the window to the
sunshine and the birds and all the pref
ty growing things and sought in vain for
an answer.
Why had he left them? The question
that had never left her mind by night
or day for five years; the harassing,
singing, burning question which it SEEM
ed to her was branded into her very
soul. Her last thought each night, iler
first at dawn, haunting her dreams by
night, and her work by day, never forgot
ten, always unanSwerable, f'Why had he
left them?'
The village had known no happier home,
had never contained within it's bounda-
ries prettier or eozier nest than the cot
tage where now sat the lonely woman
With the Winsome child in her lap. The
sunshine peeped through the honeysuck.e
and into the room where these two sat.
just as John Newcomb had known 1t
would when with his own hand he had
planned and built the little home, full of
hopes and purposes for the future.
Their married life had been of unusual
and perfect content. Lovers for many
years, they had waited until Johns
prospects as a partner in the firm of New
comb & Miller carpenters and builders.
gave them assurance of financial safety,
and then they had married and settled in
the prettiest of cottages almost before
Alice could believe it true. Three happy
years had they spent in their home, dur
ing which an added joy had come to
them-the little golden-haired girl whom
they had named Madeline. She was a
beautiful and an ideal child, born of
the love of a perfect and happy home,
and her coming had filed to the brim
the cup of happiness which life held to
the lips Of John and Alice Newcomb. John
Newcomb was a manly man; as the men
said who worked for and with him, he
was every inch a man" And with
every inch of his many inches, for he
was more than six feet tall, did he love
"his girl Alice, and his baby, Madeline.
To all that was rough and burly and
hearty in him, did the dainty little girl
appeal, with the unconscious strength Of
childhood. The first word, and the first
step, and the first tooth were events
never to be forgotten In John New
combs life, so tightly about his heart
did the little Madeline weave the meshes
Of love, giant meshes woven by baby
hands.
The partnership proposed, the cottage
was almost entirely paid for, and Johns
reputation for the practical part of his
work, as well as the theoretical, for he
had been known as an excellent draughts-
man, grew apace, and was the source of
some modest pride to John and of much
wifely pride to Alice. The home coming
of John at night was the joyful part of
the day to all Of them, and as the little
one grew to more of the pretty ways and
words of babyhood and childhood, more
and more did John look forward to the
restful evening time at home.
One night it was soon after Madeline