The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-19
"How, then, did it die?'

God W1lled.
"Ah, yes" he sighed heavily. "God
takes many. When did he take it?"
1.-Two days before Corpus Christi"
Him. There was a story that some
one left coffin In the plaza on that
day; was it your"
She took the spoon out of the beans.
Il laid it down a minute
He rested his chin in his hands. Did
you find 1t?
"Oh, yes; I buried it."
Now Gil Withdrew from the window
to spit, and chuckled in the street, and
presently thrust in his head again.
Then it was that the emotion of Bar
baro, reused to double strength by
Martina's Indifference, broke out; he
arose and cried, passionately: you
talk about your baby as If he were
a dog-heartless woman! I'll tell you
then what you don't know. found that
coffin, 1 found that baby. took it to
my nina who had just lost hers; and
what do you think?" His eyes were
glittering. Our baby was alive-alive"
She turned slowly toward him; the
spoon fell into the beans. us it so2'
she said. surprised.
$50! My God-it is there still-ny
nina has it and thinks it hers, for
| changed them!'
| The woman stared a moment.
| WELL" she said, God willed."
| He gaZed at her in an agony at her
I callousness. She gaZed on him; Gil
puffed, sending little clouds of smoke
across the room. Then Martina turn
| ed and stirred the beans. Barbara,
| sinking to his chair, sat there with his
head in his hands. At length he said:
! Martina, don't you want that baby?"
''Why, yes" she said, "only its prob
ably well placed"
| Martina, if you'll take it back, I'll
come back. I'll be faithful. I'll work
| hard I'll take care of it. Martina
want that baby, l want that baby"
Barbara saw but one chance to win
| her. Come and look at it,"
| She seemed anxious to do so, wrap
| ped her rebozo round her head, and
went away with him. Behind the vines
| in Luisa's patio, they stationed them
| selves and now Luisa, the maid, and
| the child, came out. Beside an urn
| they made a glorius group. Luisa,
dressed in pink and white gown that
| chung to her and showed her throat
sat and nursed the baby. Her big eyes
were half closed, her face was full Of
| happiness. The baby's clothing was
dainty and rich; the place was one
Of luxury.
Surely, thought Barbara, that picture
must win Martina, yet felt within him
perverse hope that 1t might not.
Martina, holding the vines apart with
her hands, stared long. At last she
| turned to him and said God has done
| all, and well. Evidently he wills that
| 1t stay"
Barbara drew his breath out long
| and slow, with his lips pursed as IL
to whistle Life was changed. He led
her out Of the door; and she went off
alone to the cobbler's street, where the
cobbler stood at her window, putting
| his cigarette waiting And q load was
lifted from Barbara.
When he could he came timidly into
the patio again and approached his
mistress with his dog-like worship in
his eyes. The baby was asleep, and
Luisa smiled at him. He stood ten
feet away, twirling his big hat in his
hands. Nina" he said.
what is 1t, Barbaro?"
1.-THE baby-it is all right. 1t is-it
is a good one, no?'
She laughed sweet laugh. Eyes, 1t
| is a good one, Barbara"
Nina
What is it?"
II want to work for you forever;
want to be the mozo here and never
go away"
I'm glad. Barbara. Be faithful and
you may"
You'll let me stay?"
''Till you die, if you want to-"
A pause.
Nina"
"Yes"
II love that baby, Nina"
Il know you do, Barbaro."
Because" said he, lit seems God
willed that I should bring it to life"
Yes, Barbara"
Charles Fleming Embree.
San Francisco, September, 1902.