Smyrna times., 1903-08-12

"O'H' HOO QUITE IHOuSu Sn6 laQ trleQ
to do so. The man and the child had
been growing old together-w without
love or happiness while she had
laughed and sung. There was nothing
young in the house-not even the
little form she held in her arms.
Denise was sitting alone one even
lug IN the faded drawing room when
her husband came. AS rule she saw
very little of him; they seemed to
avoid each other by tactic consent.
There is something l wish to say
to you if you are at leisure, he be-
gan.
II am quite at your service, " she
answered. "Little Michael is in bed
and asleep, and have nothing to do"
TT Is about him 1 wish to speak,
he began as he sat down. He is al
most we'll 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 lherself, with
thrill of fear.
Gas you say, he needs a great deal
of care" he answered slowly. "he
also needs more comfort and different
surroundings to what can give him.
l have wOndered-I have wondered,
he repeated, eff you would like to take
him with yO1 when you 60"
Like to take him?' she echoed, her
face lighting up with JOY. Need you
ask me?"
mo, perhaps not. I thought that
you seemed attached to him."
Attached" she repeated again with
a laugh. 81 love MIN with all my
heart. couldn't bear to be parted
from him now But don'tyo mlnd?"
looking at him with inward resent
ment at his Indifference. won't you
be very lonely without him?"
cit will be best for the child to be
with you for a time at least, 1 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. 1 ought to have gone be-
fore, flushing at his evident anxiety
to get rid of her. "We will go as soon
as the doctor says he can travel. u
Then as he was leaving the room, 81
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 seemed best fol
the boy" he answered, as he closed
the door.
"Of course, there would be nc
thought of me in it, she said to 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 MI
more than a little in his curious re
strained way"
1t was still early when she went up
stairs to bed, but she was tired of he
own company. And as she lit tn
candles the boy opened his eyes-h'
slept in little bed in her room now
= and called to her.
4 81 am not a bit sleepy. Come an
talk to me, mother" he said, Sh
o sat down in the low chair and laid lie
head on his pillow, as he liked to hav
n her.
: GIVE got something to tell yor
e sweetheart" she said, tucking one
L his hands under her cheek. "Wh;
Q do you think has happened? You al
: to come with me to mothers hom,
n How will you like that?
= A wiser and more prudent motht
}. would have hesitated to excite IL
g child at that hour, but Denise was
creature of impulse.
70 "Go away with you and see all IL
y. beautiful things you have told n
a about? Do you really mean it, mott
k er? How lovely!" sprlnging up in be
lr with shining eyes. "And is faith
at coming, too?"
"Father does not want to com
le darling" The childish face gre
e, grave.
L cit will be dull for father all alol
here" he said seriously" You al
in him to come mother; he'll come f
re you"
RS "Not for me-for me perhaps lea
ge of all, " she murmured, forgetting tn
en- she was talking to a child; but lit
ot Michael was wiser than his years.
ou $50, now mother" he said Goa
lfe ingly. ''Try Wa
go I'll tell you secreA 1t can't
wrong to tell you. FatL keeps pi
ture of you |;,S g5c a 4 mp, a, an saw hi
c looking at Le light, ,stfA es ar's
- owa1 xubfopaM tlr1F ,sxIs q