Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-05

Herod an sic like. Mon, but he's hot
heided laddie an lacks discreemeena.
ton"
"what about Herod, Geordie?" 1
asked.
"Aboot HerodT" with n strong tinge
of contempt in his tone. "Aboot Herod :?
Mon, hae We no. read in the Screep-
turs ABBOTT Herod an the wur-r-ms in
the wame O. him?"
ooh, yes, I see," I fastened to an
swer.
AYE, fule can see what's tapped
in his face" with which bit Of pro-
verbal philosophy he suddenly left
me. But Geordie thenceforth content
ed himself in Mr.. Craigs presence at
least, with ominous head shakngs,
equally aggravating and impossible to
answer.
That same night, however, Geordie
showed that with all his theories he
had mans true heart, for he came in
haste to Mrs. Mavor to say:
"Ye'll be needed over yonder, I'm
thinkin'."
why? Is the baby worse? Have
you been in?"
"Na, na," replied Geordie cautiously;
but yon puir thing ye can hear ootside
weepin' an moanin'.
She'll maybe need ye tae," he went
on obviously to me. "Ye're kin O.
doctor. / hear" not committing him
self to any opinion as to my profession
al value.
But Slavin would have none of me,
having got the doctor sober enough to
prescribe.
The interest of the camp in Slavin
was greatly increased by the illness Of
his baby, which was to him as the ap-
pie of his eye. There were few who,
impressed by Geordie's profound con-
victions upon the matter, were inclined
to favor the retribution theory and con-
meet the baby's illness with the venge-
ance Of the Almighty. Among these
few was Savin himself. and, goaded
by his remorseful terrors, he sought re-
lief in drink. But this brought him
only deeper and ficrcer gloom, SO that
between her suffering child and her
savagely despairing husband the poor
mother was desperate with terror and
grief.
"Ah. madame" she sobbed to Mrs
Mavor, my heart is broke for him.
He's beet noting for tree days, but jis
dreenk, dreenk dreenk."
The next day man came for me in
haste. The baby was dying, and the
doctor was drunk. l found the little
one in a CONFUSION lying across Mrs.
MAYORS knees. the mother kneeling be-
side 1t, wringing her hands In dumb
agony, and Slavin standing near, silent
and suffering. l glanced at the bottle
Of medicine upon the table and asked
Mrs. Mavor the dose and found the
baby lad been poisoned. My look of
horror told Slavin something was
wrong, and. striding to me, he caught
my arm and asked:
"What is it? Is the medicine
Erong?"
I tried to put him off. but his grip
frightened till his fingers seemed to
reach the bone.
THE dose is certainly too large. But
let me so. l must do something"
He let me go at once, saying in a
voice that made my heart sore for him,
He has killed my baby; he has killed
my baby" And then he cursed the
doctor with awful curses and with a
look Of such murderous fury on his
face that I was glad the doctor was too
drunk to appear.
His wife, hearing his curses and I'M
derstanding the cause, broke out into
wailing hard to bear.
'Ah, mon petit ange! It is dat whees-
rheri, mon amour! All. mon Dieu. An,
Michael! How often l say that whees.
ky he's not good ting"
1t was more than Slavin could bear,
and with awful curses he passed out.
Mrs. Mavor laid the baby in its crib,
for the convulsion had passed away,
md, putting her arms about the wall
Ing little Frenchwoman, comforted and
soothed her as mother might her
child.
"And you must help your husband"
I heard her say. HE will need you
more than ever. Think of him"
"Ah. oui, I weel," was the quick re-
ply, and from that moment there was
no more wailing.
1t seemed 40 more than a minute till
Slavin came In again, sober, quiet and
steady. The passion was all gone from
his face, and only the grief remained.
AS we stood leaning over the sleeping
child the little thing opened its eyes,
saw its father and smiled. 1t was too
much for him. The big man dropped
on his knees with a dry sob.
"Is there no chance at all, at all?" he
whispered, but I could give him no
hope. He Immediately rose and pull
Ing himself together, stood perfectly
quiet.
A new terror seized upon the mother.
"My baby is not-what you call it?"
going through the form of baptism.
AN he will not come to la sainte
Verge" she said, crossing herself.
do not fear for your little one" said
Mrs Mavor, still with her arms about
her. THE good Saviour will take your
darling into his own arms"
But the mother would not be comfort
ed by this, and Slavin, too, was uneasy.
"Where Is Father Goulet?" he asked.
"Ah, you were not good to the holy