The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-05

waited for him at the foot of the stars.
Between MS we must have laid the mat
ter before him. though ! do not IN lhc
Icost remember what we said, but some.
way we made him know, for he nodded
and smiled in a surprising fashion,
eyes" said he, kindly, yes real.
" nm persuaded that it would be an
act az of charity for you to keep that baby
with Won tonight.
son our niece S account, you know,
said ] with dignity,
..Certainlv, said he gravely. and
caught up his hat and rushed away All
the time IL seemed 10 me that lie was
curiously moved about something, ana !
feared that Milliccntc might be very
i'll. Iii.
AS for Pcleas and me, we could hardly
wait TO 90 upstairs OF course Nichola
had TO know: she brought up the milk
and the alcohol lamp and we were
obliged to tell her. To tell NIchola that
you mean to do something winch she
thinks is foolish is very much like
coufession that your whole point of view
is ignorant and diseased Still in some
fashion Pelcas and ] together told her,
Our old servant regarded us with the
disapprobation which it is her delight
not ia disguise. Then on her brown
fingers she checked matters off.
Ono sleep for neither one o you,
she cast up the account, headaches TO.
morrow. Death o cold dancin in an
out o bed AM smothered baby by
nornin'.
''Oh. no. Nichola." said we gently
but swecpingly,
| brought the baby in our room to
undress her. Our room WAS cheerful
and warm Peleas had lighted all the
candles as we do on the rare occasions
when we are dressing for some. great
| L. Era NO
On table beside the bed stood the
milk and the glasses-strangelv enough
they looked, where only my Bible and
my medicine have lived for so long.
The baby was asleep when we took her
from MlIcentc, but she walked and
smiled iu;partially and played with the
ribbon Of her ring i'll perfect peace. L
took of the little garments feeling
all the old skill come back to my poor
hands-idle to all such sweet business
for more than forty years. Peleas IN
sisted upon taking off the tiny shoes
and stockings; and when ] saw the lit
tie feet IN his palm. almost could have
| believed for one swift moment, that
the years had indeed rolled back. Then
we wrapped her warmly and laid her
in the great bed And Peleas spent a
long while happily tucking in and tuck
ing down and pretending TO be very
useful.
We had thought to read for Il little
while. and indeed we did try; but
neither of us could keep our eyes any
where near the book. or could listen
To the other read aloud. Once her lit
| tie hand was thrown up over the edge
Of the covers What did we care about
the friezes of the Parthenon then?
Old Nichola looked IN,
Best leave a lamp burnin' she
said. crossly-as if we needed advice
can if il should cry, You call me-
BY which, as Peleas said afterward,
she by no means intended to provide
| for the possible emotion of the lamp.
To tell the truth. | was longing
to feel that little head in the hollow
of my arm. | laid it there presently
and tucked my hand between the two
| pillows. as ! had been wont. and held
away the covering from the little face.
! There was the dark hair. and there was
the tiny hand upliftcd. and-as | live!
there was the identical ruffle of lace
that always used TO bother about the
little chin. In that first ecstatic mo-
ment | looked up MT Peleas almost
frightened. and half expected the buoy
ant, youthful face and the dear eyes
that were wont to look down upon
Cedric and me. And the dear @ Ies
smiled. fors they had never changed.
! lay very still, listening to that quiet
breathing, TO the little rustic and turn
own. When one is seventy. and closes
one S eyes. it is wonderful now the
whole world grows youthful. And when