The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1904-06-24

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| Jim's little daughter! She would bring
it up with her own Alice, and it should
be new and powerful link to bind her
brother to her more closely than ever.
| Poor little motherless mite! 1t should
never know the lack of mother-she
| and Jim would see to that! And wher-
ever his child was, there would be his
home and his heart.
| The house did not look like the house
of mourning. The blinds were all up.
| Jim's sister-in-law-her name was
Mary-met Helen at the door. She had
done everything there was to be done.
She was very calm and self-contained,
and Helen felt miles away from her, in
| spite of their common sorrow.
The baby was to be christened that
afternoon. Jim was upstairs in the
| nursery now, with the child. Helen's
heart frightened with passionate feeling.
| She longed to leave this quiet woman,
and to rush to those two whom she
! loved, to claim them-hers! But while
she still sat, controlling herself, step
sounded on the stairs, and Jim came in.
why. Nell, you here he said, al
| most in his old voice And Helen was
ashamed of the sob which broke from
her as she saw his face-so changed in
| these few short days-so worn with
| grief and watching.
Later when they had talked things
over quietly-Jim was very quiet, and
unselfishly concerned as always for the
comfort of every ore but himself--she
asked if she might see the baby.
Her brother started a little. "Of
course, of course he said. Il forgot
that you had not seen her. She was
just waking up when came down"
He rang the bell, and the nurse came
in presently with the little thing in her
arms.
Helen took her from the nurse. ''You
may CO." she said. Il will send for you
presently
The feeling of baby in the arms
the soft, warm, helpless bundle-no
woman can withstand the mysterious
influence of this appeal. Helen re-
sponded to it with all the ardor of her
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. Il feel as if she were
mine already. Oh, Jim, you need not
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 her, you and L
we will never let her miss her mothers
| love"
He did not reply for a 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 great leap, 1ndlg-
nant, apprehensive, defiant.
ooh, 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
question-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, andthe ap-
| peal still in her face, Mary entered the
| room
She looked quickly, comprehendingly
at Helen and Jim, at the child in the
other woman's arms. Then she spoke
without prelude, her voice quiet, yet
| singularly breathless.
1--WE have no children" she said. I'VE
have never had child, John and l. we
have always wanted one. And this IS
Katherine, my only sisters child. IL
would be like my own to me-What my
own might have been"
but le is Jim's child,' Helen broke
in, land Jim is my brother. | have
little daughter of my own, too, and
she will be a sister to this one. They
will be brought up together in Jim's
home No one could be what can %
Jims child"
Unconsciously she pressed the little
creature closer as she spoke, and she
broke into sudden cry. The dull
quiet of Jim's face changed and gave
way. His hand clenched itself at his
side.
Katherine" he said, with a groan,
"poor little Katherine!"
His voice broke: and Helen, hearing
that and seeing in his face what sne
had not seen there before, the despair
ing anguish of 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
IL