The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-07-12
AT CLOSE
OF DAY
Ccopyright, isos. By Daily story Pub. cO.I
By SARA LINDSAY COLEMAN

/ HE Dig, manipulated old mansion
1 sat back from the wide, unpaved
street in the beautiful seelusion of its
towering, glistening magnolia trees. The
door stood wide open to the misty early
spring night that was settling down over
the town, and Fletcher, who had been
standing hesitatingly on the threshold
that had sheltered so many generations
OF dead and gone Fletchers. half afraid
that the quiet portended something that
he refused to let take shape in his mind.
stumbled into the shadowed interior to
find II deserted. and went on with slow
painful steps up the familiar stairway
and down the wide. long hall. led. it al
most seemed. by subtle. unseen. COM
pellisg hands. He stopped before
door. half ajar. and leaned there heavily
one who had come far and reached his
journeys end.
The white, wasted little form Of his
child was held by a capped and aproned
woman. who rocked him softly back and
forth as she sat in low chair by the
fire.
The room was in shadow. and the child
gazed dreamily into the fire flames to
murmur: '.Nursey. members"
What. little one?"
That's you's muddie. Muddie," a
contented little hand went up to her
cheek
The woman gave a little gasping cry
that was stified in its birth.
The child had said those words before
to 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
a capital nurse. too-she's too intense,
too in sympathy with the little chap.
She couldn't feel II more IL 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. unbending old figure
out of the doctors presence
81 fought you went to Heaven" the
boy went on Don't muddie's ever 20
to Heaven? When I worried my gran
ME. she said they didn't. Then what do
little boys do wifout 'em?"
The woman's hand closed the ques-
tioning mouth. 60 to sleep. my lamb, :"
she entrsated. and at the sound Of her
voice F1etcher's shaking hand went out
and grasped the door for support.
The boy stared up 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.
"Muddie"
The woman reused herself with an ef-
fort "Daddy's coming" she said.
gaily. He's coming Just as big az 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
| finds his little son so lonely he'll never
go 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 80
many little boys that are sick; nursey
must go back and take care of them"
'Muddie. muddiei" the child turned
in her arms and flung himself upon her
In a strangling embrace. He began to
cry piteously: Stay wifi your little
boy" he begged.
My baby. my babyi" the woman
cried, gaspingly.
But the child. comforted by her warm
nearness to him, had crept to her shoul-
der and nestled down in sleepy con-
tent
The woman. her fair head bent low.
crooned a lullaby as she rocked the child
softly back and forth. The fire fiarsd
and sent strange, unearthly shadows
swaying softly on the walls. II showed
the mothers face tremulous with unshed
tears; 1t showed Fletcher's eyes hungry.
as one who hungers for bread Just be-
yond reach.
Suddenly Fletcher crossed the room