The daily tribune., 1907-07-19
tomorrow evening for a while" :"

takers; though, II you will allow 1t,
can take the baby from here
No Dimmick replied firmly. Tell
her that whoever takes Billy must also
take me, Bring her here yourself to.
morrow night"
So 1t was decided, and after the
nurse had gone, and Billy was sleep
Ing snugly In his basket Dimmick sat
a long time before the fire. He was
thinking of those other days when his
house was not the shallow apartments
OF bachelor, When Nellie, the girl
he had loved and won, sat with him
In the warm glow of the open fire.
Three 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. Dlmmick
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 If the nipple
was between them. A smile played
over the baby's face Billy was hay
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 prettest when his mother came.
That the woman might visit her
little one undisturbed, Dimmick took
his pipe and novel to the library, and
let his housekeeper receive the two
women. He heard cry of surprise
from the hall when the door opened,
then other cries of rapture, almost
hysterical, muf!led 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 determined effort to get In.
terested in the story.
"Oh, you darling, you darling" cried
the woman aloud. You don't know
heart, little one. l know you're hap
py here"
Dimmick closed his book sharply
and sat erect in his chair Who was
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 a 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.
He scowled and clenched his fists,
as II the little fellow was in tigers
grasp. His first impulse was to order
her from the house. But his fists re-
laxed and the scowl left his face. for
AGAIN tuat uNilEutiui oWeetntSs vi Oln
er days ungled 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.
Forgive me. forgive me-" she
pleaded. but had to see my baby.
did not know he was here. Must
go?"
Dimmiok 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" sho
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 trembled
when she pressed them to her lips to
toss farewell kiss to the Growing
baby. Goodbye. little sweetheart, I
must go"
Dimmick rushed after her when she
reached the hall. oh. Nellie. Nellie"
he cried. don't leave him-don't
leave me again. You will stay. won't
you? Say you will stay"
When she returned to the door,
Dimmick stood with arms outstretch.
cd 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 sobbed.
as he clasped her to his bosom.
A Four.Footed Bird.