River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-06-16

Sponded TO 1t with all the ardOr Oh neI
impulsive nature Her brother watched
her as she stood looking down at the
child with tears in her eyes. Then he
turned away to the window.
DO YOU want her, Helen?" he asked,
very low.
Want her? OF course do" she cried
passionately. 4 feel as if she were
give her up, you know-she will be al
ways yours; but you will let me have
her to take care of and keep for you.
We will be SO tender of Der, you and II
we will never let her miss her mothers
love"
He did not reply for moment. Then
he spoke again, with something of an
effort, and duly, his face still averted.
Mary wants her, too?' he said.
Helen's heart gave a great leap, indlg-
nant, apprehensive, defiant.
"Oh, Jim," she said; all her protest
was in the words and in her voice as
she spoke them. 1t was NO use to argue
with jim Gentle as he was argument
had always made him obstinate. he
would do as he chose. To ignore the
que stion-not to admit that there was
a question-that was the best way with
him. But even while she stood there
with the child in her arms, and the ap-
peal still in her face, Mary entered the
room.
| She looked quickly, comprehendlngly
| at Helen and jim, at the child in the
| other woman's arms. Then she spoke
without prelude. her voice quiet, yet
| singularly breathless.
I'VE have no children she said. We
thave never had child, John and l. we
have always wanted one. And this is
Katherine, my only sisters child 1t
would be like my own to me-WhaC my
own might have BEEN
But IL is Jim's child" Helen broke
in, land Jim is my brother. | nave Il
little daughter of my own, too, and
she will be sister to this one. They
will be brought up together in Jim S
home. No one could be what / can 70
Jims child"
Unconsciously she pressed the little
creature closer as she spoke, and she
broke into a sudden cry. The dull
quiet of Jims face changed and gave
way. His hand clenched itself at his
side.
Katherine" he said, with groan.
"poor little Katherine!"
His voice broke; and Helen, hearing
that and seeing in his face what she
had not seen there before, the despair
ing anguish of a strong man whose
grief forces itself through the iron
bands of his self-control, forgot all
else but him.
| She laid the baby down hastily upon
the sofa beside her, and ran to him.
"Oh!" putting her hands on his arm
and laying her cheek upon it.
But Mary went swiftly and stealth
| lily to the sofa and gathered the baby
in her arms She hushed it's whimper-
| ing cry, lulled and fondled and talked
to it with low murmurs and caresses OF
! tenderness. She was still hanging over
the little creature, absorbed and un-
conscious of the others, when Jim left
his sister and crossed the room to her.
She looked up and started, that ex-
preston still upon her face. Give her
to mel" said the child's father, almost
roughly. And taking it in his arms,
he carried it quickly out of the room.
ut is for him to decide said Mary,
simply, after little pause.
Yes, Helen assented. She was con-
tent to hold her piece after that. 1t
was for jim to decide, and she had "t.
tie fear as to the result.
The wears low voice, the stately
phrases of the baptismal service,
| sounded solemnly in the silence.
Helen bowed her head, and could not
see for tears. There was little stir
among the others. The childs father,
very white and quiet, had taken her
from the nurse and given her himself
into the arms of the clergyman. He
was an old man, dry and lifeless as a
withered leaf but there was a tremo"
in his voice, as he gave the child back
to her father He took her, and with
bowed head went quickly towards his
sister-in-law, to Mary, and laying the
child in her arms, stood there beside
her until the last prayer had been said.
and the last Amen had fallen with
inexpressible melancholy and pathos
upon the deepened hush.
With characteristic energy and self
control, Helen hid her feelings deep
within her heart, and showed, through
out the rest of that day, a composure
and sweetness which would have de-
ceived any but those who knew her
| best. Within herself she was saying
passionately that she should never for
give her brother. Her disappointment
was too keen, her sense of all it meant
to her too deep and bitter. But for the
moment she couIu but accept it silent
ly, graciously, as she knew the other
woman would have done in her place
In the evening, when Jim and his
sister were left alone together at last
for moment in the library, he went
over to Helen by the fire, and took her
hand.
You are disappointed, Helen?" he
asked.
She could not trust herself to speak,
but stood looking down in a silence
that was all too eloquent to the broth
er who understood her so well.
You must forgive me, dear" he
said. 1T was hard, Helen. Heaven
knows-but there was just one thing
that settled it for me. / was thinking
of Katherine-of the baby-and-I
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