The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-13
AT CLOSE OF DAY.
BY SARA LINDSAY COLEMAN. (Copyright, 1904. by Daily Story Pub

V >-~FS ~os*rs ~s~-s " ~~~--s c~~S W
 The big. many-pillared old mansion sat back from the wide, unpaved street in the beautiful seclusion of it's towering, gIistening 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 Ffetch- CTS. haif afraid that the quiet porten- ded something that he refused to let take shape in his mind, stumbled into the shadowed interior to find 1t de- serted. and went on with slow painful steps up the familiar stairway and down the wide, long hall, led, it almost seemed, by subtle. unseen, compelling hands. He stopped before a door, half ajar, and leaned there heavily-one who had come far and reached his journeys end.
 Tho white, wasted little form of his child was held by a capped and apron ed woman, who rocked him softly back and forth as she sat in a low chair by the Ire.
 The room was in shadow, and the child gazeds. dreamily into the fire flames to murmur: 'Nursey. I mem bersw-"
 WAAts thIhAo uHts
 That's you's muddie. Muddie," a contented little hand went up to her chesk.
 The woman gave a little gasping cry that was stided in It's birth.
 The child had said those words be- fore 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 nerre--a capital nurse, too-she's too intense. too in sympathy with the little chap. She couldn't feel 1t more If he were. her own. And that, by the way, fs what I want to ask you. Mrs Fletcher. where is the childs mother?" But Mrs. Fletcher had stiffened visi- bly, and swept her proud, unbending old figure out of the doctors pres ence.
 T fought you went to Heaven" the boy went on. Don't muddie's ever go to Heaven? When worried my gran nie. she said they didn't Then what do little boys do wifout 'em?"
 The woman's hand closed the ques- tioning mouth. "Go to sleep, 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 up into the lovely AACS tOuCacu Dy the nTeBIOw. 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, rub bing him and calling to him in soft, breathless whispers, and pulling him back from the black rolling waters Into which his tired little body want ed to slip.
 'Muddie"
 The woman reused herself with an effort. ''Daddy's coming" she said. gaily. He's coming just as soon 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 finds his little son so lonely he'll never go away and leave him again mewer."
 "Ands 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 are sick; nursey must go back and take care of them.'
 ''Muddie. muddie. the child turned in her arms and flung himself upon her in a strangling embrace He be- gan to cry pitGously: Stay wifi your little boy" he begged.
 "My baby, my baby!" the woman cried gaspingly.
 But the child. comforted by her warm nearness to him. had crept to her shoulder and nestled down in sleepy content.
 The woman, her fair head bent low, crooned a lullaby as she rocked the child softly back and forth. The fire