The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-01-27

be of a character to warm up their
chilled spirits, and drive out that
spectre which already wore the garb
and appearance of inconsistencies and
persistently sat in their inmost souls.
Shown to their room, which~was a
model of comfort and convenience,
they rested and refreshed themselves
and waited as they had been requested,
till summoned to dinner, where they
met their son for the first time in ten
years.
They had no real reason to COM
plain of any lack of warmth in their
sons greeting, and he was genuinely
glad to see them. The mercury of
their spirits ran rapidly up; but still
they had not seen baby.
Grandma felt that she was being de-
frauded, and ventured to speak of the
desire of her heart.
Baby? Oh, yes! Nurse shall
bring her down for half an hour after
dinner" was the smiling reply, and
down to zero again dropped the mer-
curry of grandma's hope, and grandpa
sympathized with her
But oh, when that half-hour came!
Trail, but fair and sweet as one of
her own day lilies at home, grandma
thought, and her heart went out to
the little girl with a longing to love
and care for it in the .old-time ways
in which she had nurtured her baby,
her only one, the father of this one,
but as different to it as the ox-eye
daisy to the forget-me-not.
Hester Cross chung to the child with
loving tenderness, 10th. when the limit
of time was reached, to give it to the
nurse, who waited for her charge.
We'll see," she said, when she and
Jacob we're alone again, well see if
am not to have any comfort with
Henry's baby. That nurse girl shall
not have everything her own way, but
there's one thing she may have, and
that's rest"
Jacob looked thoughtfully and said
little. He saw further into matters
shan his wife. She, without being con-
ceited had more confidence in her own
ability to do things for others in her
own way satisfactorily to them, as
well as herself, and in this case, as
once or twice before, he felt that she
was going to be disappointed.
Before he had time to speak a word
in reply a door opened and closed
somewhere near, and they heard the
softly modulated tones of their daugh-
ter-in-law in conversation with her
husband
They are dear old people" she said
in reply to question of Henry's, 'but
am afraid a difficulty will arise in
regard to LENA. l cannot have nurse
interfered with in the care of our
child"
Undoubtedly mother will find her
5reatest pleasure in devoting herself
20 the interests of baby; what is the
objection, my dear?"
oh, Henry! in these days of en-
ghtenement, l wonder you have not
learned better than to ask such a
question. Without being actually dis
aased, your mother is old and prob
ably in a weak state of health. If we
allowed her to nurse baby and caress
her as she did today, to any great ex-
tent, we would without doubt be sub
jccting our delicate baby to almost GER
tain infection that would be seriously,
perhaps fatally, injurious to her
health; don't you think so?"
Il am afraid, my dear, that this is
one of the few subjects upon which
we differ slightly. When babies and
their grandmothers are separated from
each other by the new-fangled-notion
Gou are learning at your meetings and
clubs, there is line drawn beyond
which my sympathy will not reach"
The door closed sharply and they
card the step of their son pass out
long the hall and down the stairs.
The ola couple looked at each other
nd each read in the eyes of the other
The same thought. 1t was left for
Hester to give expression to it, how
ever.
Jacob, our luggage is still at the
depot; it shall never be brought into
this house by my consent. l want to
go home"
His lip Quivered, but he smiled ac-
quiescence, and fastened out to inter-
cept his son, who might be going to
attend to the matter of having their
boxes brought to the house.
To say that Henry Cross was aston
ished and hurt does not express his
state of mind when his father caught
his arm as he was turning a corner,
and hurriedly informed him of his
mothers decision. Hurriedly, because