Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-07-16
AT CLOSE
OF DAY
Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story PUB. Col
By SARA LINDSAY COLEMAN

HE big, manipulated old mansion
sat back from the wide. uupaved
Btreet in the beautiful seclusion of it's
lowering, glistening magnolia trees. The
Goor stood wide open to the misty early
spring night that was settling down over
khe town, and Fletcher. who had been
standing hesitatingly on the threshold
khat had sheltered so many generations
pf dead and gone Fletchers. half afraid
shat the quiet portended something that
ne refused TO let take shape in his mind,
stumbled into the Swallowed interior to
md ii deserted, and went on with slow
painful steps up the familiar stairway
and down the wide, long hall. led. il al
most seemed, by subtle, unseen, COM
polling hands. He stopped before a
&oor, half ajar and leaned there heavily
-one who had come far and reached his
3ourney's end
The white. wasted little form Of his
ehild was held by a capped and aproned
woman, who rocked him softly back and
forth as she sat in a low chair by the
are.
The room was in shadow. and the child
gazed dreamily into the fire flames to
murmur: "Nursey, | members"
} What, little one?"
That's yous muddie Middle" a
eontented little hand went up to her
pheek.
The woman gave little gasping cry
that was stifled in its birth.
The child had said those words before
20 wiring that cry from her Once with
the little betraying cry on her lips she
had slipped from the child's room to
have the doctors comment follow her
going with: she's losing her nerve
q capital nurse, too-shes too intense.
too in sympathy with the little chap.
She couldn't feel il more if he were her
own. And that, by the way, is what
want to ask you, Mrs. Fletcher. where
Is the child's mother?" But Mrs.
Fletcher had stiffened visibly and
swept her proud. unberiing old figure
out OF the doctors presence
81 fought you went to Heaven" the
boy went on. Don't muddie's ever go
20 Heaven? When worried my gran
ME. she said they didn't Then what do
little boys do wifout emp
The woman's hand closed the cues
doning mouth. GO to ,leep, my lamb"
she entreated, and at the sound of her
voice Fletcher's shaking hand went out
and grasped the door for support
The boy stared un into the lovely face
touched by the fireglow. In the days and
nights Just gone through with she had
never left him. Always she had leaned
over him, giving him medicine, putting
ice on his head. rubbing him and call
Ing to him in soft, breathless whispers.
and pulling him back from the black
rolling waters into which his tired little
body wanted to slip.
Middle"
The woman reused herself with an eff
fort. 'Daddy's coming" she said.
gaily. Hes coming just as big as the
big boat will bring him. The doctor
sent over the sea to tell him that his
sick little boy needed him, and when he
nnds his little son so lonely he'll never
60 away and leave him again-never."
'And will you stay ven?"
The woman kissed the Questioning
mouth
why. you see," she began, with a
brave attempt at mirth, there are so
many little boys that arr sick; nursey
must go back and take care of them"
Middle. muddie!" the child turned
"a her arms and flung himself upon her
m strangling embrace. He began to
cry piteously: Stay wifi your little
boy" he begged
My baby, my baby!" the woman
cried. gaspingly.
But the child, comforted by her warm
uearness to him had crent tn bar .bo,,,
der and nestled down in sleepy con-
tent
The woman, her fair head bent low
= crooned lullaby as she rocked the child
softly back anG forth. The fire flared
band sent strane unearthly shadows
swaying softly { the walls. II showed
ihe mothers face remulous with unshed