The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-05-13
The MISSION OF
LITTLE QUIET
BY ELIZABETH CHERRY WALTZ.

tcppyrghs. 1891. b. Authos sys1ae~ss9
In the neighborhood of Diamond
Row." as some one wittily dubbed
the long block of snowy, pressed
brick houses, Little Quiet's advent
caused no end of comment and burn
ing curiosity. Lawyer Hodges, the
keenest lawyer of the city, had once
been a waif and made his own way
upward. His wife was an invalid and
they were chiIdless. When one day
a child of year old and a nurse maid
were installed at their house the
women of the block were not satisfied
until each had made friendly call
and elected such crumbs of informa~
ton as Mrs. Hodges would impart.
Pieced together IT was meager in
formation. The child belonged to
one of Mr.. Hodges clients and he
had promised to give it his personal
supervision. Mrs. Hodges did not
know who the parents were nor why
the child was there. The child was no
annoyance to her, because it was
quiet. In fact, they called her Little
Quiet, although her name was Mary.
The good matrons of Diamond
Row." eager to do and be real society
people, felt and resented the subtle
differences between that baby and
their own less dainty and beautiful
offspring. For Little Quiet was deli
cate and pale, she had starry eyes
and a small, red mouth. Her curls,
now light brown. would one day be
as dark as her Iashes. Her skin was
fine and her hands and feet daintily
formed. Money was lavished on her,
money from somewhere. She was
little queen, even if isolated with her
nurse in the tsIird-stOry front of the
pressed brick. She was not neglect
ed. Before Lawyer Hodges took his
hat each morning he mounted the
two flights of stairs, cast a suspicious
eye over the nursery and bedroom,
inspected the child gravely and kind
ly and eparted-satisfied
Little Quiet could not talk well, but
she chose to show appreciation or
affection by little smiles or move
ments and gestures. Her nurse, who
had something like conscience after
e long siege of troublesome charges.
soon adored her.
There never was a baby like her"
she would say ten times a day.
wherever her people are, they are
missing the sweetest one God ever
sent below"
Even lawyer Hodges thawed as the
f. L.
visits. He showed it by sharper
scrutiny and a dozen useless com
mands, impractical and accepted by
Nurse Brown with charity.
One gloomy day Lawyer Hodges re
ceived a cablegram of some length
I over which he looked sore. While he
was knitting his forehead, the head
clerk ushered in woman The law
/ yer glanced up, suddenly pushed back
the cablegram and rose. His keen
eyes met eyes quite as keen, but
beautiful and imploring.
/ Madam"
/ You are surprised to see me, OF
course. have recovered. 1 am here
because want my child"
''YOur husband must inform you
madam. am merely his lawyer. ]
act by his instructions"
And he is in Europe. I know the
child is not with him and you know
where she is. I would not let my
lawyer come-nor can wait. 1 mus
see my child-do you hear? 1 mus
see the child"
ssp,,% r,,.I,n
"You need not say one word.
defy you. am not afraid now of tbs
whole world, because have the clev
to the tangle. Harold was and is {
madly jealous man. He married ms
from the stage with no deceit or guile
on my part He was always Jealous
always suspicious. And when I was
i'll, he thought he found those sus
picions verified, seized the child and
fed to Europe. But God is good,
am now well and 1 win not be god
den to the dust. Harold did not TAX,
baby to Europe. She is hidden some
where and you know where. Thinl
of it, think of it, Ny child torn from
me and am wholly innocent. Car
you deny me her one moment? Thinl
how her mother must feeli"
During this impassioned appeal tn,
lawyer stood 'peering out at her a.
if appalled,. He had not the leas-
doubt of her innocence, for he knew
men and women well. But the hus
band was his client and he mus
stand on the other side. Something
made him hate himself as he said
, slowly:
Madam, you must settle this witt
! your husband. I cannot act save a.
he instruets me-"
AS you instruct him, you mean.
know lawyers ways. Harold is ricl
and is your client. But 1 tell you that
in the name of humanity you dare moi
refuse to tell me If that child is SAT,
and we'll"
j He meant to shake his head and be-
done with it-but there came a sud
den memory of Little Quiet's elapping
her hands at the sight of her that
J morning, her starry eyes aHght, a:
were these others before him. HS
IL