The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-01-22
ly designed room. He and it both
seemed thrown away under their
present circumstances.

Il am quite at your service" she
answered. Little Michael is in bed
and asleep, and have nothing to do"
''I5 is about him 1 wish to speak,"
he said, as he sat down. HE is al
most well again now"
''He is very delicate STILL" she said,
quickly. HE needs a great deal of
| care--he could not stand much"
! Could he mean that they wanted her
no longer? she asked herself with
thrill of fear.
AS you say, he needs a great deal
! of care" he answered, slowly. HE
| also needs more comfort and diff
ferent surroundings to what 1 can
| give him. | have wondered-I have
wondered" he repeated, eff you
would like to take him with you when
you go?"
Like to take him?' she echoed,
her face lighting up with joy. Need
you ask me?"
mo, perhaps not. I have thought
that you seemed attached to him"
"Attached?" she repeated again
with a laugh. 81 love him with all
my heart. l couldn't bear to be part
ed from him now. But don't you
mind?" looking at him with inward
resentment at his Indifference.
won't you be very lonely without
him %
at will be best for the child to be
with you for a time at least, think,
as you are willing to have him. AS
| you say, he is not strong enough to
| stand any shock, and he would miss
you. 1 suppose your engagements
will necessitate your returning to
| town soon?"
Eyes, l ought to have gone BEFORE"
| flushing ct his evident anxiety to get
rid of her. eve will go as soon as
the doctor says he can travel" Then
as he was leaving the room, II
should like to thank you very much
for trusting me-for letting me have
him"
There is no need. 1 have been
| thinking it over and it seems best
for the boy" he answered, as he
closed the door.
"Of course there would be NO
thought of me in it," she said 10 her
self, bitterly. 81 wonder why he
hates me so much now? Once upon
a time" the rose color in her cheeks
growing deeper, 81 am sure he cared
for me more than little in his curl
| Gus restrained way"
1t was still early when she went
upstairs to bed, but she was tired of
her own company. AS she lit the
candles the boy opened his eyes-he
slept in a little bed in her room now
and called to her.
I'm not a bit sleepy. Come and
talk to me, mother" he said. She
sat down in the low chair and laid
her head on His pillow as he liked to
have her.
give got something to tell you,
sweetheart" she said, tucking one of
his hands under her cheek. What
do you think has happened? You are
to come with me to mothers home.
How will you like that?"
go away with you and see all the
beautiful things you have tod me
about? Do you really mean it,
mother? How lovely!" springing up
in bed with shining eyes. And is
father coming, too?'
Father does not want to come,
| darling" The childish face grew
grave.
ct will be dull for father all alone
here" he said, seriously. You ask
him to come, mother; he'll come for
you"
'Not for me, for me perhaps least
of ALL" she murmured, forgetting
that she was talking to a child; but
little Michael was wiser than his
years.
go, now, mother" he said, coax
| ingly. Try. Wait, I'll tell you a Sc
cret; it can't be wrong to tell you.
Father keeps picture of you locked
up; | saw him looking at it one night,
and-and," in an awed whisper, "he
kissed it before he put it away. Peo-
pie must love a person very much to
kiss their picture, mustn't they,
| iilCbhCI NloSCS htd DcCu rare luA-
uries in his life.
kissed my picture? Are you sure,
little Michael?" The child nodded,
watching her intently. Denise
thought of how she was going to
make the desolate home more DESC
late, and the tears rushed to her
eyes.
III try my sonny-I'll try for your
sake" she cried, and she went from
the room. Her heart was beating
fast with fear and excitement as she
| hurried down the stairs before her
courage failed her. What il he
should be angry; what if he should
repulse her? She shivered at the
thought.
She softly opened the library door,
where he was in the habit of sitting
at night. A lamp was burning dimly
on the table in the center of the
room, and its light fell on the bowed
head of a man; some books and pa
pers had been overturned as he threw
out his arms, and mutely emphasized
that aspect of despair. Denise for
got her fears.
Michael" she cried in sobbing
! I. 1 I