The Press., 1907-01-23
Elcie'C
Little Miracle
By Anna Steese Richardson
Copyright. 1905, by May McKeon

IL was pretty SCAcAdAIy uAuSA S'NDU
that the Billy Daltons were drifting
apart. There was no particular reason
for this state of affairs, save the lack
of something better to do.
You see, they had just enough money
so that Billy did not have to work nor
Janet to worry about making both ends
meet. They had danced their way
through several seasons into a lazy,
good humored and comrade-like engage
ment, thence into matrimony. After
that Billy had continued to lead CO.
tillons and Janet to dance them, but
generally with other partners.
Matters between them had reached
the point where the rumor laden soci
ETY. papers had suggested cOvertly that
when Billy went to England and Scot
land, where he had nothing in partic-
ular to do, Janet would probably take
I'D her home in Nevada or South Da-
kota. there to remain until Norman
Stanley returned from Africa, where
he was fighting ennui by hunting big
game. 1t was even whispered that
Billy Dalton had insinuated to Stanley
that it was rather better taste to stalk
big game than another mans wife, es-
pecially when the other man was per-
fectly willing to make 1t clear sailing
for his wife If it would make her any
happier.
OF course, this sounds bit strong on
paper, particularly to the old fashioned
folk who still believe that marriage is
q contract for life and not q mere cpl
sode In the set to which the Billy Dial
tons belonged the situation was ac-
cepted as a matter Of course, and when
Janet asked a lot Of people down to
their Long Island place for the auto
mobile races and the week end no one
thought of refusing just because the
Daltons might separate within a fort
night after the gathering.
Such was the situation when the
Dalton car broke down on the Jericho
turnpike, and It's occupants-Janet,
Mrs Greenwalt, Joe Jeffreys and
"Marsh" authenticated to cut
through the woods to the Dalton place
and leave the car for farmer to guard
until the mechanic who handled the
Dalton garage could be dispatched to
the scene Of the accident.
Perhaps it was not entirely impa.
thence which led them to take the
short cut through the woods, but the
call of a hundred autumn voices in
rustling leaves, rich, warm colorings
and the chatter of squirrels laying up
winter stores. And thus it was that
they suddenly stopped in their tracks
and listened to q sound that was not
of the woods, but of the nursery-the
plaintive wall of child. Janet 1t was
who found tia bit Of white faced,
staring eyed humanity rolled up snug
ly in a great shawl Of Iceland wool.
While she held the baby in her arms
and tried to silence it's walls with IN
certain and awkward little pettings the
quartet held conference. The child
was too young to have walked there.
Mrs. Greenwalt said it was not day
over two months old. 1t was too far
from the road to be heard by passing
travellers. Ah-there was the answer,
a wisp Of paper tied to the end Of tho
shawl:
"Please take care of little Elsie. 1t
was not her fault that she came into
the world, and can do no more"
"Tve always said that the govern
ment ought to regulate the question Of
marriage among the poor" remarked
Mrs. Greenwalt severely. "Here is
case in point"
"You are jumping at conclusions"
said Huntoon dryly. "Let's take it to
the town marshall
"And what then?" asked Janet with
out lifting her gaze from the child's
face. The baby had clutched her fin
ger with it's tiny fist and settled down
as if it had found anchorage.
ooh, there are asylums and homes
for youngsters like this. You'd better
hurry along home with it before it be-
gins to howl. One Of your men can
take it to town before dark. Shall /
carry the little beggar for your
ooh, no. She's not a bit heavy, and
she is quiet now. She might cry II we
changed her position"
They trudged on through rustlina
leaves and soft Indian summer haze
three Of the party chatting gayly; two,
the young wife and the baby, looking
into each others eyes as If searching
for a new key to the problem Of life
Sometimes Janet wished that the child
would close its eyes. She did not like
to meet that trustful, clear eyed gaze.
"Have you disposed Of the young
sterY asked MARSH Huntoon as they
sat down to dinner that night.
Janet started and looked across the
table at her husband. He lifted his
eyebrows inquiringly.
Huntoon's good humored laugh broke
the awkward silence.
"What? Don't you know that our
party was increased by one during our
ride this afternoon? Rather a small
'one,' but, my, what lungs it hasv'
Janet drew in her breath sharply
81 wish you would not talk any more
about it at present, good people," she
said, trying to speak lightly. give
started inquiries in a quiet way.
don't want the thing to get into the
papers-because IL no one claims little
Elsie 1 think IL shall keep her."
Keep herr' gasped Mrs. Greenwalt
''Why, my dear girl, the place for
cn1lQ WITHOUT name Ii LOunuuu8
asylum"
Janet spoke very softly, yet every
word was heard, so complete was the
silence
''I shall give her a name because
Onee-just once-I saw a line Of chill
1ren walking, rows and rows, by twos,
from al orphan asylu.2. can't send
her there"
Mentally she saw again those clear,
trusting blue eyes.
"And 1 know you will all be kind
enough to keep this very quiet untir'-
there was just a slight, tense hesita-
tion-"until we decide what shall be
DONE"
Naturally it was talked about, how
ever. In boudoirs and at clubs the