Amador ledger., 1903-12-18

htllS uuuu Ill uerS anu leu HlID HrInIy
to the washstand. After he was clean
and dry she sank into a chair, ex-
hausted
81 want up on 'ap," cried a little
voice appealingly.
She drew him up. For awhile he
was amused by her velvet blouse; then
his eyes began to close. Alan Camp
bells head was on Elizabeth's shoul-
der. His right hand clasped hers tight
| ly. He was fast asleep.
Elizabeth had the true artistic nature
which when it feels does so with aban
! don. The soft little body in her arms.
| the warm. sweet breath on her face
touched the very depths of her heart
Meyer in her life had she felt so
strangely happy-happy and yet trou
bled. She was embarrassed before her
own emotions and bent her head. clasp
ing him more tightly. The world
thought of her as woman. She had e
womanly poise and strong character
but her heart a girls heart. could not
understand this awakening of mysteri-
GUS instincts, the motherhood beneath
than both. The flying moments, her
beloved work, everything was forgot
ten as she held the sleeping child.
A half hour passed, an hour. Alan
Campbell suddenly opened a pair of
questioning blue eyes. Startled by
the strange face, he cried: where's
my muvver? l want my muvverr'
His little body shook with sobs.
Rudely aroused from her dream.
Elizabeth felt quick pang of jeal-
ousy. Yes. she was jealous of the wo-
man whose hold on the child even
death was powerless to break. Silent
ly she put ON her wraps, gathered Alan
Campbell, sobs and all, into her arms
and hurried down to the -th street
cars.
Plumley alley proved to be neat
tagged court and No. 10 tiny white
house with green shutters. A little old
man, whose eyes were swollen with
weeping, came to answer her ring.
Alan Campbell called 'Hudqo Gram
py." The poor old fellow tried in vain
to control his grief. The girl shook the
trembling old hand and turned away
unable to express her sympathy Alan
Campbell smiled after her like sun
beam.
Elizabeth closed her studio door with
q sh1ver. Never had it looked more
beautiful, more orderly or more cold
and still.
81 want my muvver," a little voice
kept sounding in her ear All, these
mothers she had been plying. how she
envied them now! 1t was ridiculous to
feel so. and yet, and yet she knew her
arms would always be empty and her
whole body hungry for the presence
the caresses of little child, something
of her own, her very own, to love.
There was hardly time to arrange
her hair and light the spirit lamp be
fore Phil knocked. Hoping that he
would not notice her red eyelids, she
concentrated her attention on the tea
things. She thought she was succeed
ing until Phil said, "What's up, Eliza
bethT'
'Oh," she replied, 81 saw a frightfu
accident this morning. l can't seem to
forget it." Tears rolled down her
cheeks.
Phil longed to take the sensitive girl
into his arms, but he only said cheer
ingly:
There are many cruel things in this
world. We can't help them Try to
forget all this. Put on your hat and
come out to dinner with me- I'll tell
you what-well go and see Wilson in
The Matador;' make you laugh; do you
good"
She only sobbed.
Phil knelt beside her chair and took
her hand.
"Please don't cry. 1t hurts me to see
it."
1t was very un-Elizabeth-like, but |
somehow she let her head droop OH his |
sLoulder and closed her eyes. as Alan |
Campbell had done. 1t was so good to |
feel some one near, some one who was
strong and who loved her. Phil could |
not understand, but was grateful for
the miracle which had made the girl |
he loved seek his arms like a child. |
He spoke low and tenderly.
"pear, won't you let me be your con
soler always?"
He bent his head to her tear stained |
cheek and her little word of reply was
not so loud as the glad beating of his
heart
Only" said Elizabeth, when she
had recovered something of her usual
spirit, don't fiatter yourself it, was
your conquest. 1t was nothing at all
but the eternal feminine"