The St. Mary banner., 1908-03-14

pPfLUHCtols regret
will you DO something for me
first she added presently. Give
me one day of freedom. / don know
where | shall go-to town probably
but ] want to get away from this
house and everything about it for one
day. And This will be my last chance
until the baby is at school. she
added with a faint sigh. Mary agreed
gladly
Spring was pouring in al every
window as Anita tied on her widow s
bonnet The baby, lying on the bed.
seemed 10 find everything enchanting
and kept mp a steady flow OF conver-
sation. When his mother paused be-
side him he broke into wide smile.
SO human, SO full of cheer and good
will that Anita laughed and kissed
him impulsively. Then, hearing Mary
coming, she turned away. The taclt
reproach of her friends tenderness
to the boy hardened her into perver-
sity. When he was held up at the
window for last goodbye she hur-
ried away. pretending not to see.
The tulips were out in the squares
and the whole city seemed to be
smiling at the days perfection. 1t
was impossible not to catch little
Of the exhilaration. Anita went about
with a new step. doing her small err
rands, and at noon felt herself deli
ciously hungry, a forgotten sensa-
ton. When she had finished her lun-
cheon she fingered contentedly at her
table by the open window, staring at
the sidewalk throng.
Il wonder if he's asleep now" she
thought.
"And I was just about to write to
you!" said voice at her elbow. One
Of her husbands associates stood
looking down on her fresh mourning
with kind eyes. Il have only three
minutes, but" He drew out the
chair opposite and plunged into his
subject. 1t was work for her. work
that would take all her thoughts and
her energies. and that she could do
we'll. The pay would not be high: it
was the chance to get away from her
present life that held her attention.
The door that she had believed shut
was held open to her, and she accept
ed eagerly.
When he had hurried away, she
sat facing the idea, wondering vague
ly why she was not more uplifted. 1t
was what she had longed for; why
should her heart be suddenly heavy?
With a responsible person to take
charge of the boy A woman passed
in the street below with baby
against her shoulder, and then all at
once Anita fel. little head in her own
neck. Involuntarily she bent her
cheek down and her arms frightened,
as though they held something. A
warm tide Of feeling crept up through
her, bringing quick tears to her eyes.
Why. she could not do it, give her
baby up absolutely, never see him all
day! Her little boy-how could she
shut him out? Why had she done it
for so long,. Oh. she did want him
she wanted him at that very mo-
ment! There was new heaven and
a new earth, and all the bitterness,
all that was cold and resentful, was
swept away in an overmastering rush
Of tenderness. She knew now what
he meant, her little Arthur; In her
inmost soul she had known 1t weeks
ago. but her rebellious spirit had
stood aloft and denied the comfort.
And now it was hers, all hers.
She had meant to stay until even
ing, but she scribbled a note explain
ing that she could not accept the Of
fered work. and took the next train
home. The trip seemed hours long
to her eagerness, and she almost ran
from the cars to the house. He would
be asleep-little man! But she
wanted to be near him. She wanted.
too, to apologize to Mary, to go back
on her knees and gather up the friend
ship she had been willing to throw
aside. BY the opening of the door
she had learned that she did not wish
to escape. The day had broken and
the shadows had fed away.
Mary met her in silence and drew
her into the living room, closing the
door. Anita dropped into chair and
waited. not daring to speak. The
baby had been taken ill-very ill.,
There was trained nurse with him,
and the doctor had been there nearly
all day. Mary told it very gently and
courageously, but her hands trembled
visibly. Anita took the pins out of
her veil and disentangled her bonnet
What does the doctor say?" she
asked. Her voice sounded dry and
perfunctory, and Mary's blinded eyes
could not see her face. The stified
anger Of weeks broke out