Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-20
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ANNA ALICE CHAPLIN

"Aber. dere ss Fritz But you do not him mind.
ncht? He the kinder lovesl ! go to Miss Bratton,
Ach, she iss one old maid!"
Regina ran down the stairs and, Slipping nast tha
excellent Fritz, who was sitting curling wigs in n.
front room installed herself and the baby in the
tiny slk-hlled back where Mrs. Hanse kept
all her surplus. as we'll as her new supplies.
There. by the light Of a dingy gas-burner Regina
made the softest of couches for her small charge
Sashes. kerchiefs scarves and even laces she used
TO make bed such wee fairy princess might
have enjoyed Upon this rainbow couch she laid tbe
oapy' ana then secure from Interruption she hung
hungry over the wee little form and poured cut to
1t some OF the pent-up mother-love which her own
baby was too many long eternties away to hear.
And as the little one dropped asleep the minor
tragedies OF her restrained life since the babys death
came to the fore with sharp distinctness
He seemed to care" she murmured vsci,-
lating between tears and hardness 81 could have
borne t-oh I think | could have borne it---f he
ndu only seemed 10 cafe!' 5t
Upstairs she could hear the tramp of feet Soon ,hs
Little Mother-Woman would come to rob her. the
spurious. niake-believe mother-woman Of her trass
ure. She got her knees and casped the slean,nr
baby to her breast. The child stirred and whimpered
softly, opening and shutting an aimless hand: its
mouth was haf-open, moist, and as pink as a moss
fair Hair
very young kitten, was damp. Still sleepiy crying
she cudded closer into the soft nest or negina,s
bosom, and. in a moment, had drowsed off again
"Look, where the little stars play"
sang Regina, brokenly. controlling her wild lonsfn.
to press the sleepy baby closer to her heart
And call to the flying Sun:
Come back Sum- from your love, the Day.
There was a firm and extremely hurried stem out
side and mans wife speaking quick word to Fritz
But Regina did notice. She laid the baby gentv
down. singing, beneath her breath:
For your work is now-all-done-"
Suddenly there shadow at her side she was
caught, clasped and held hard hard against very
stormily pounding heart.
Regina"
She looked up trembling into the earnestness in
sandy's face, and crushing down her agitation at
what she saw there whispered:
Hush, You'll wake hertz
The little phrase brought back to them both with
pognancy that was knifelike, the many times in
the past that had used it to the other tipoeing
with hushed laughter about their tiny nat, when the
baby was asleep and they were helping each other
get dinner
Regina. you with that baby" he said
again with very unsteady voice II did not know
did not realize"
''You fcrgot!" said Regina, with reproof that was
the sharper for its gentleness
He shook his head, dumbiy, yet humbly; for he
knew better than she how near he had been to
forgetting. Then with manly determination he said.
vehemently and contritey.
Il will never forget again. Regina
Hush. hush you'll wake the baby" whispered Re-
gina, happily; and Sandy acted the rest silently
"oh, Mrs. Cairns" gasped the anxious voice Of the
Little Mother-Woman at the door, "where is
Then she caught sight of the heap of silks and what
lay upon them. and darted forward, with ejacula-
tion of relief
IL hunted for you everywhere" she explained az