The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-10-27

ress. To him came the echo of the
verdict Of his felloWs-that he was
cold, hard-hearted, selfish, mfser and
a screw True he always had
laughed at the verdict and pointed
ever to the utter and exact justice
OF his dealings with his fellows If
they were less WISE thrifty and self
denying than he-Why that was their
look out. such was his philosophy.
But somehow tonight this philoso-
ply did not seem SO satisfactory as of
yore Somehow into the vision of his
gold bags and his mortgages and his
land and f1ocks and herds, there crept
the picture Of the baby across the
street with its gladsone laughter and
the trusting smile of the woman and
the proud and protecting expression OF
the man in the dingy clothes, respond
ing to the woman and the child. And
also there crept into the vision OF his
dueats the sorrowful, wondering, re-
proachful eyes Of the one woman VINO
could have crowned his life with joy
and would have done so had he not
thrust her aside for the golden calf.
Savagely he sprang to his feet,
thrust the poker into the log sending
up a shower of sparks and striding 20
the sideboard gulped down glass OF
wine
Fool, fool" he muttered, you're
getting in your dotage. You have won,
won man-can't you understand. Whst
Of all this b1ithering NONSENSE"
The door bell rang and moment
later a woman was ushered into the
room. She was poorly clad and on her
face was written desperation.
Mr. Dickinson, she said in low
voice, sI lied to get in here, but the
cause was SO urgent i I-. In fact
I came to beg My baby is starving
and there is no fuel in the room. My
husband is dead
Il never give to individuals" he
/ interrupted, harshIy. Il contribute
libcrally to organized charity. You
should apply to the Relief society or
to the poormaster. l.
4 AT this moment she threw back her
head with characteristic gesture and
raised her eyes straight to his. he
stopped as though he saw a ghost.
mabel, he cried fercely. My God,
is it possible? Tell me, am i sane?"
Eyes, Donald, it is T. she said
quietly. .tAnd you must know the ter
rible necessity which could drive me
to ask help from you. Nothing but
mothers love and terror could have
done it. / have tried the Relief So
ciety and they have the case under
| advisement' The poormaster will
Investigate tomorrow In the mean
time my baby will freeze and starVe.
So I come TO you and lay my pride,
my se1f-respect, at your feet. ! am
poor, desperately, pitifully poor and
you are rich. Donald, help my baby,
you can, you must
Poor, Mabel poor" said Dickinson
8 slowly. you don't know what it is to
be poor. You who have known the
love of husband and child. You are
rich, rich beyond the dream Of avarice.
It is I who am poor-it is who needs
charity in my lonely, wretched ex-
istenee"
She gazed at him in open-nouthed
wonder.
you say your husband is dead?" he
went on.
Yes, these two years. she replied.
ellis life insurance sufieed for time,
but / knew nothing of business and
bad investment and the bank failure,
left me stranded
Mabel" he said slowly, can you
forget and forgive the past and give
me the right to care always for you
and your child? I have sacrificed
!, everything for gold and now that
have it I hate it-hate it. [ learned
it only tonight. Only tonight your
: face coming out Of the freight made
me to know I had grasped the shadow
! and lost the substance. Come to me
, Mabel. 7 need you more than you can
!, know, and can give you and your
child many things
Donald said the woman, steadily
! placing her own hands into his out
!, stretched ones, e never have ceased
! to love you. God help me, I married
a good men. but could not give him ny
j heart.
, The log in the CRATE burst afame
). and the shadows vanished into the
i corners.
Nov have / won. indeed" Dickin
) SON cried triumphantly as he took hel
ia bis arms. Now is success mine"
d Together they went forth to thf
e child.