The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-12-20

open the door he was n cd to see
the hands ON the old fashioned clock
pointing 10 J.
Sir. we've come 10 get lr. Hare
The baby's dying, and my VIE wants
Il minister" announced one of the two
men who stood ON the step facing the
tired rector.
The memory Of his vivi nightmare
had not recurrcd II him since the morn
ing, but at the words "hahN'S dying" il
il all flashed before his Mint and he
hesitated an instant with some misgiv-
ingS. Quickly pulling himself together
aud throwing of the vision. he eN-
claimed
lin Mr. Hare. Where is your bat
by" In Il harsh voice the larger OF the
two men mentioned the out,h rts of the
city. where the houses small and
low and widely scattcrc
Again pushing aside IT, warming of
his apparition. the rector ceased him
self in warm oNercoat and .rcticS and,
locking the door behind him. hude the
men lead the way For several blocks
an occasional house showed lights from
top to bottom or Il stray light in the
scco nj story gave evidence that an ca
ger youngSter was awake examining
Santa Claus gifts. Then the houses
became dark, and the three men trudg-
cd on through the gently failing SNOW.
Hare's questions received but curt.
abrupt answers. while the memory of
his grewsome dream grew clearer with
each step of the long dark walk till he
reached he Identical colt 90 of his
nightmare. with one liz I shining
through the window. \ su SgCStion OF
cold pcrSpraton stood on his forehead
and n SILVER ran down H., spine AS he
thought of the sinister - and the
suspicious and forcbodinG chances Of
the men in that dim scene which lie
had passed through before So rcaliS-
ticallN
Entering the house behind the larger
man. he looked instantly toward the
corner for the cot and the child. They
were there, The Thin face of the child
showed the same palor of death, but
the mother WAS not in the chair beside
the bed In her place sat Il girlish fig
urp. holding vial in her delicate tin
gers
THANK you So much for coming
said II soft voice, and the Ruth of his
day dreams lifted her eyes to his with
wistful. shy glance of comfort AMI
relief The mother never would have
been consolcd for her neg oct in not
having had her child baptized. and |
felt ST sure you would come, even
though il WAS ut this late hour"
SO the dying baby received the bless
ing of the church. and rs the sun rose
between two distant hills the child
passed into its Saviours arms. Two
hearts were peaceful from Il sense OF
finished duty. ucnuScolSly radiant
with Joy nj being together, the man
and the girl passed from the low rooted
cottage into the clear frosty air of the
blue canopicd earth with - fresh car
petlng of pure white snot. \ Christ
mas happiness such rs tin, had never
known before Illuminated The world
for these two alone in the snow clad
woods
Il. WAS some time before he young
rector felt inclined TO spcN. and then
II WIS L. recount his nign mare with
its realistic reproduction up to the
point where he had found her beside
the dying child.
and the knife aimed at Your heart
that must have been a dreadful
dream
John Hare paused. holding her with
his strong magnetic gaze.
"Thc knife is in your hand If you
cannot love me. your no viii be the
deathbow to my hopes and ambi-
lions
She smiled mp INFO his eyes and held
out both hands.
"See-there Is no knife