The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-08-27

his face in every Elusive picture, but
had not the courage to ask for him.
| Would you like to see Edgar?"
my mother asked, and l started at
the sound of my own name. They
had called him, then, after me. Her
voice was very gentle, as If she would
tain not startle me, but she smiled
when L said yes, and left the room.
Presently 1 saw the maid, with
sun-bonnet on. go down the drive.
But where is hes"
"Oh. with Jessie, a new friend
of his and ours" she said. 'She
came up here and borrowed him.
She is very fond of the little lad.
| So am I. So we all are, so you
will be. Yes. and proud of him, too.
| While 1 was sick Jessie was here
and she cared for him. 1 could not
bear to think 1 might die and he
need the care of a mother, but L
could leave him with Jessie. Yes, I
should be we'll content" Then a mys-
terious light came into her face. I
vemember it set me to thinking of
4
She bent over, either to whisper
or to tell me something strange when
the maid came back with my boy in
her arms. How he startled me. Fiji
teen months old. just walking, with
the magnificent physique of a. bronze
savage, yet 1.-the and white and lis
some as a wild creature. And with
Miriam's eyes of deep blue, her hair
of yellow gold, could anything live
and be more beautiful? | choked
with the sensations that clamored
through my being. He had been
taught well. The little chest swelled
proudly when he looked at me.
Edgar, darling, here is your
papa. Your name is not unfamiliar
to him." my mother said, with a GER
tain pride; The has heard of you
every day of his life Go to your
father. my boy" she added, softly.
The boy obeyed, like a little SER
aph. But he came slowly. A gust
IT fatherly pride prompted he to lift
him to my knee, to smother him with
kisses. Never shall 1 forget his look
as he stood we'll up, his little thumb
| pressing against my waistcoat, his
whole body thrown into an admirable
| pose, his head lifted, his eyes looking
widely into mine, a subdued dread
in the sad blue orbs, and still he
pressed my chest with his hand, q
strong hand, and regarded me intent
| ly. Then he looked backward once
to his grandmother, and then, with
n condescension that was proved in
the action, he bent his head and
kissed me-
lavished embraces upon him. He
was so noble, so beautiful, so brave
no fear in his manner. / might have
been with him all his life and he the
frOlicsome elf he seemed from day to
day. l saw that my mother was sat-
isfed, pleased, delighted. The intro
duction was complete. There had
been no failure on either side. Only
perhaps l had been awkward in try
ing to reproduce the easy graces of
fatherhood. Well, the rogue grew
into my good will rapidly. We
| played and romped till exhausted.
At least 1 was. and he fell asleep in
my arms while l had hardly spoken
to my mother.
| There were so many questions to
ask, so much to say on both sides,
that 1 could hardly contain myself,
but when the boy, breathing lightly,
fell asleep, why then would come my
opportunity. But, no, he was laid on
cushions in one corner, while l was
relegated to an old-fashioned couch
| in,
silence.
Il have so much to talk about"
said my mother, with smile of su-
preme mystery, when you wake up"
So / allowed sleep to come, If that
can be called sleep where drowsy in
tuitions are almost dreams, for my
heart was with my boy and / could
see him out corner of my eye, his
rosy, dimpled limbs, the outline of
his superb figure. the wondrous tint
ing of his cheeks, and he was mine,
all mine. Where had my soul been
sleeping all this time that l had not
sought him out before?
My couch was placed so that /
could see the door. For slight pro-
lection from the light my mother had
pulled the expansive curtains across
over my face. and 1 suppose l slept.
| Suddenly there was a rustic like
the flying of wings, and 1, startled
and awakened, was looking drowsily
out. There in the open doorway
stood Miriam, my angel wife. The
yellow, curling aureole of hair sur
rounded and yelled her face. The
laughing eyes. blue as the bluest
heaven. her rose-lipped face, her
smile, all real, so real that my heart
for the second time stood still. and I
was n tha -snist Of bewildermerG,