New-York tribune., 1903-07-31


Sometimes as she lay with her baby beside
her. realizing him-sometimes Amy would re-
member how she had thought of him before he
was born; how she had half-fancied it would be
sweeter for both of them TO go away into the
dark together at the moment OF his birth; how
she had wondered whether she really wanted
anything except rest. At such times she
laughed or else. hating herself. she murmured
10 him over and over. Il did not know. I did
not know trying to excuse herself 10 him for
the fancies. My dear, baby is only an Incl
dent" Marion Craven laughed once when Amy
had been trying to explain her unconscious
treachery before Boys birth. You mustn't be
idolizing step in evolution. you know"
He hasn't a bit of a mark anywhere on his
whole body" Amy's answer. He is abso-
lutely perfect"
Her JOY in Boy made her often thoughtful of
her own mother, who had only borne the agony,
and hardly tasted the happiness. Amy longed
10 be able TO reach out her hand and touch her
mothers somewhere She would whisper to the
dark. Can you see that very happy now
dear? hope you can see that" She dreamed
Of her mother; and from this rose a strange
fancy that. when Boy was asleep, he, too was In
his grandmother's sight-that his grandmother
was watching him. VIII it be believed that
when this fancy first came TO Amy she expert
enced quick pang of jealousy. and so smoth-
cred the sleeping Boy with kisses that he woke
as she had intended? But afterward she grew
used to the thought. and tried only to sleep
herself. pass the time away until she
might see him again.
Boy grew, and waxed fat if not intelligent;
and cried, and was fed. and slept and woke. and
cried again. There is really less excuse for the
mother instinct in humanity than anywhere else
in the animal kingdom not kitten a puppy
s in iDc IN he nh
server than are the very young humankind.
Boys great uncle was keenly disappointed in
him, Though he loved him fondly. 1t seemed TO
Murdoc9 that Amy's baby should have exhibited
some appreciation Of the world by the end Of the
second day, at least. But Boy remained. like
the rest Of his kind. stupid for an interrninable
time. He had other name than Boy. Muir
doch was fetile of suggestions. but Amy smiled
at them an-except when he urged her to call
the baby Frank He was doing that one even
ing when Bradford interrupted
81 shouldn't like that he said. IF Boy had
been girl. I shouldn't have wanted him named
for Amy. There is only one Amy Bradford for
me. Perhaps Amy feels the same way about
this He looked at his wife. greatly daring.
thinking that she must give him, any way the
cold comfort of an asserting nod. But she only
wrapped Boys shawl a little closer round him
while he slept, and went looking him
Murdoch, however, who was used to her quiet
ness, supposed that she agreed with her hus-
band, and ceased TO clamor for Frank. So Boy
remained only Boy. What need had his mother
for a special name? She had thousands Of
names for him. little inarticulate murmurous
cries. suited TO such a little. inarticulate bit OF
life as Boy.
When he was a trifle older she began TO take
pictures of him It was passion. more than an
amusement, with her. She took pictures of Boy
| in all moods and in all attitudes. but by far the
fewest were of him laughing. He seldom
! laughed. He was more like his mother than
his father in many ways. but especially in this
one. You might play with him. and talk to him.
and sing TO him-he watched you with round
unwtnking stare. estimated your value, and for
got all about you. He not fond of stran-
gers. He even cried when his great uncle held
him. to the annoyance of the estimable pickle
maker. But 1T was Bradford's bit of JOY
that Boy loved him, and would go hip almost
out OF his mothers arms. Bradford did not care
for Boy as he cared for Amy-by no means:
but IL was his nature to expand to the love Of
anything which loved him, and so he expanded
to his little son. Boy was very near to Brad
fords heart He sang little foolish tunes to him;
talked broken baby talk thing which he had
all his life despised much that he bushed in
the presence Of il; he carried Boy for hours
1t was his father who first showed Boy the sun
shine and the trees. the day that Boy three
weeks old. and swore upon his honor that Boy
had laughed at sight Of them. Yet even with
the new bond between them. Bradford was no
closer to his wife. Free as he was when he was
alone with Boy. he turned awkward and self
conscious in Amy's presence. Love for her and
contempt for himself made him afraid
Well, Boy lived six months till the winds OF
December came crying from the north, and then
the baby died as peacefully he had lived:
fretting little. rnurmuring little, moaning
little and so of to sleep. OF what were
those six months? Boy had never said a word
He had not even received a name-the little. in
distinguishable atom among myriads had never
even been marked by the individuality Of
name A bit of breeze. the ripple Of a river.
the leaf of a forest-that was Boy. A little
grave, some pictures and some little clothes.
and the ache in the heart-those were the re-
membranes of Boy. So much space as he has
been given-why it is all out of proportion 10
Boy!
When Boy had been buried FIVE days Brad
ford went TO his wife feeling that he could no
longer stand the life he living
"Oh. my darling. my darling II seemed as
if she must hear. and must know that now he
was in earnest. He had only the single longing
TO comfort his wife, and be conforted If he
could. He wanted to take her in his arms. TO
confess his fault over and over; TO find hts wife
again above the grave OF his son. He had loved
Boy so sincerely. he did not think that Amy
could repulse his desire 70 share her sorrow.
They were alone now; they had only each other
He could offer his wife reparation; he could
not even promise that he would always be what
she would have Enthusiastically; but he knew