Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-12-12

SllJE ~ IA INV
child was found in the room with his
body-dreadful, wasn't it? And such
a dear little thing, too-tell the lady
your name, dear"
"Tildywinks," lisped the child.
Perhaps her name Is Matilda,
ventured Mrs. Spaulding.
Suddenly the child stretched out
her arms-"Mamma," she cried
'"Tildy's mamma Oh, what music
in that word to the heart of the
childless woman; it was the keynote
to the doorway of her heart.
Only in dreams had the woman felt
the clinging baby arms, the warm
pressure of baby lips-only anticipa-
tion-never till generalization.
Come, Tidy, kiss the lady good
by" 1t was the matron's voice she
heard.
She was moving on, expecting her
visitor to follow, but Mrs. Spaulding
was standing still, a peculiar express
sion on her face as she said:
II don't think l want that girl !
spoke about; I've changed my mind.
/ think" hesitatingly; I'll take
this one"
Once outside the gray stone build
ing she wondered at her doing.
Staid, middle aged Bessie Spaulding
taking a baby for adoption. She
smiled as she thought Of her neigh
bors' criticism. She was prepared for
it all.
Thirteen years passed. The child
that Mrs. Spaulding had taken to her
heart could indeed be classed as "a
good sized girl" She was in her six
teenth year. A tall, beautiful girl,
with dark, flashing eyes and rich
brown complexion.
She proved to be a great comfort
to her foster parents. Through the
livelong day she sang joyous notes,
like the calling Of a bird.
Once a stranger passing, paused to
listen to that sweet voice, and lis
tening, exclaimed:
Bravo! Bravo!"
She wondered what he m~eant-she,
this innocent child of nature.
Such a strange man, mother" she
said when she sat at her feet in the
twilight. do l sing very wefl?" she
asked.
We'll enough to please mother
came the soft answer, and she was
content.
The next Sabbath while she sang in
the village choir a dark face was up
lifted in mute admiration; it was the
man who called out Bravo to her
while she sang.
She saw him stop and speak to her
foster parents. She watched her moth
er place her hand on her heart, while
the color died from her face.
That night as she lay awake she
heard voices from below. 1t was
her foster parents. She caught the
words:
I'VE must keep her from the
choir, John. My God! he'll take her
from u.s."
She had a vague impression that the
dark stranger was a relative. She
knew the history of her own origin,
that her rightful parents came from
Italy. Perhaps he had come to take
her away. AS, but she would not go;
no, never.
For a time she ceased to sing. When
the spring came, all her joyousness re,
turned. She sang with the birds,
notes sweeter than the nightingale.
How could she be otherwise than In
harmony with nature?
She was sitting in the garden sing.
ing a bright little melody; 1t seemed
to come from her very heart. She
was conscious of a presence, and rails
ing her eyes saw the stranger-he who
would take her away.
Gathering up her work and garden.
hat, she would have rushed into the
house, but he stood in her pathway.
"Ah, mademoiselle, listen" he plead
ed. do you want to become rich, ia
nous, queen among women"
She caught the words rich, ia
nous" Her breath came in little
gasps, Then she bent her dark head
and listened. She was only a woman
To be praised, admired, gifts cast al
her very feet; to become a prima don
ma. All, the temptation was toe
great.
GIVE me time to think" she plead
ed; only time to think"
i One night before the footlights
would bring sufficient money to pur
chase the farm. No need then for ia
Their to toll and mother to worry. II
seemed the path Of duty.
The little white bed with the GOV
erlet undisturbed. told its own story
with the tear-stained note pinned OF
the dressing case.
TIN going away It read, ITO stud,
music and have my voice cultivated
When I've grown rich and famous,
will come back. Not till then. For
give me and good-by. Tidy
Gone" cried the frantic mother
gone to become an actress"
TO the mind of these simple coun
Try folk her future career was LOOKED