The Colfax chronicle., 1904-07-30
AT CLOSE
OF DAY
lcopyriRht, isOl. By Daily story Pas. Co.,
By SARA LINDSAY COLEMAN

II =
J sat back from the vide, unpavet
street In the beautiful seclusion of itl
towering, glistening magnolia trees. TIL,
door stood wide open to the misty early
spring night that was settling down ovel
the town. and Fletcher, who had beer
standing hesitatingly on the threshold
that had sheltered SO many generations
OF dead and gone Fietchers, half afraid
that the quiet portended something that
he refused TO let take shape in his mind
stumbled into the shadowed interior to
ind 1t 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
peiifng hands. He stopped before a
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 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
uurmur: "Nursey. members"
What. little one?"
That's you's muddfe. Muddie." a
'ontented little hand went up to her
cheek.
The woman gave little gasping cry
that was stiaed 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
mad slipped from the child's room to
have the doctors comment follow her
going with: "She's losing her nerve
Q capital nurse, too-she's too intense.
too In sympathy with the little chan
She couldn't feel 1t more II he were her
own. And that, by the way. is what
want to ask you, Mrs. Fletcher where
Is the child's mother?y But Mrs /
Fletcher had stiffened yisibly and
swept her proud. unbending old figure !
out Of the doctors presence
Il fought you went to Heaven" the
boy went on. Don't muddie's ever 60 |
to Heaven? When worried my gran
ME. she said they didn't Then what do i
little boys do wifout 'em?" !
The woman's hand closed the oues-
tioning mouth. ~Go to sleep, my lamb !"
she entreated, and at the sound of her i
voice Fletcher's shaking hand went ont
and grasped the door for support.
The boy stared up into the lovely face
touched BY the freglow. 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 CALI
Ing to him in soft, breathless whispers
and pulling him back from the black
rolling waters into which his tired little /
'ody wanted to Slip.
Middle"
Tne woman reused herself with an ef-
'ort "Daddy's coming,n she said
ally. Hes coming just as big as the
'ig boat viii bring him. The doctor
ent over the sea to tell him that his
lex little boy needed him, and when he
lnds his little son SO lonely he'll never
% away and leavehim again-uever."
"And will you stay ven?"
The woman kissed the questioning
1outh.
Why, you see." she began, with a
rave attempt at mirth, "there are so I
lany little boys that are sick; nursey
aust 90 back and take care of them"
'Muddie, muddiei" the child turned c
her arms and flung himself upon her i
! q strangling embrace. He began to b
~ piteously: Stay wifi your little
oy," be begged. Ia
MY baby. my baby!" the woman y
He'd. gaspingly. it
But the child, comforted by her warm b
earness to him. had crept to her shoul- q
or and nestled down in sleepy con-
mt II
The woman, her fair head bent low. Il
'ooned lullaby as she rocked the child
'ftly back and forth. The fire fiared Il
nd sent strange, unearthly shadows n
vaying softly on the walls. 1t showed h
70 mothers face tremulous with unshed j
ars; It showed Fletcher's eyes hungry. o1
one who .hungers for bread just be-
md reach.
Suddenly Fletcher crossed the room G