The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-04-04
The Baby of Incubator Four
BY Dennis H. Stovall
ecopyrIght. by pally story pub. 90

tomorrow evening for while
1T is against our rules to give any
one the address of our baby care
takers; though, if you will allow 1t,
can take the baby from here
No" Dimmick replied firmly. TEL
her that whoever takes Billy must also
take me. Bring her here yourself to-
morrow night"
So it was decided, and after the
nurse had gone, and Billy was sleep
ing snugly in his basket Dimmick sal
Il long time before the fire. He was
thinking of those other days when his
house was not the shallow apartments
of a bachelor When Nellie, the girl
he had loved and won, sat with him
in the warm glow of the open ire
Thee years of domestic happiness
then the storm came-the storm that
wrecked their home and drove the
one whom he believed would always
be true to him out of his life. She left
him, deserted him, to satisfy the de-
sire to go on the stage. Dimmick
made but little protest. He let her
go. 1t had been year since she left
! him.
To Danish the unhappy thought OF
that parting. he tiptoed to Billy's era
die and gently raised the covering.
The lips We're working as il the nipple
was between them A smile played
over the baby's face Billy was haT'
ing pleasant dream. Dimmick smiled
too, but tear dropped from his eye
as he stole quietly to his room for
the night
The following evening Billy was
dressed his prettiest and given his
meal little early that he might look
his prettiest when his mother came.
That the woman might visit heI
little one undisturbed, Dimmick took
his pipe and novel to the library, ald
let his housekeeper receive the two
women He heard a cry of surprise
from the hall when the door opened,
then other cries of rapture, almost
hysterical, muffled by Billy's cover.
ing.
Poor woman" said Dimmick to the
title page. He settled deeper into his
chair and turned to the book-mark
with a determined effort to get in.
terested in the story.
'Oh, you darling, you darling" cried
the woman aloud You don't know
your mamma, do you? Bless your
heart, little one. | know you're hap.
py here"
Dimmick closed his book sharply
and sat erect in his chair Who WIS
this woman. weeping and laughing
over Billy? The bitterness, born of
desertion and hatred fell upon him.
The sweetness of other days tingled
at his heart; truly, hers was voice
he had heard and known before.
He crept softly to the door Billy
was laughing now, and the woman
was suffocating him with kisses. Yes,
sweetheart, know you're happy, ever
so happy"
Dimmick stood in the door Billy
was playing havoc with the womans
hair, and her face was buried in the
boys fat cheeks.
j He scowled and clenched his fists
as if the little fellow was in a tigers
grasp. His first impulse was to order
her from the house But his fists re.
Taxed and the scowl left his face, for
again that delightful sweetness of 9th.
er days tingled at his heart.
The woman became suddenly aware
of his presence, and, laying Billy in
his bed, covered and shrunk over the
cradle, begging pity.
'EnrpiUa oh
pleaded, but | had to see my baby.
did not know he was here. Must |
go?"
Dimmick scowled again, and silent.
ly indicated the door The woman
sobbed moment over Billy, and, kiss.
ing his cheek, detached herself from
him. Il am so glad he is here" she
said lowly, looking about her and alb
sorbing the comfort of the room
Goodbye, sweetheart" said she.
turning to the door. Tears glittered
in her eyes, and her fingers trembed
when she pressed them to her lips to
toss farewell kiss to the Growing
baby. Goodbye, little sweetheart, |
must go"
N" i"ShSu ailel HeI when S1e
reached the hall. "Oh, Nellie, Nellie. -
he cried, don't leave him-don't
leave me again You viii stay, won't
you? Say you will stay"
When she returned to the door,
Dimmick stood with arms outstretch.
ed before the fire, pleading with his
old-time fervor: won't you return.
Nellie? We need you, Billy and l."
Il want to come back" she sobhed
as he clasped her to his bosom.