Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-04

baby he resigned his rights! Really l
had we'll nigh forgotten Low extraor-
dinarily humble men are in such a pres
ence.
/ took her in my arms, and she settled
down with that contented little gurgle
which always attends a babys changing
hands. most subtly flattering the new
nurse until the storm breaks afresh.
harder than ever before. This the storm
did now, and / looked at Peleas little
wildly. For whatever was to be done, l
must do.
Go first" said Like Caesar to his
torchbearer on the lip of the Rubicon-
land open the kitchen door,
We went down the stairs, one foot at q
time. and when Peleas opened the door
the sight warmed my heart. The kitchen
was cLeery and brightly lighted, hot fire
was blazing in the range, and the tea kee-
tit was singing away to make the most
miserable at peace. Some time I shall
write an essay containing advice to those
who are bluest, and tn. sum of 1t will be:
go and put on the tea kettle.
sat by the fire while Peleas, by devious
ways of pantry and refrigerator, sought
out the milk, and we were very merry
over warming 1t, for it was a very won
derful occasion. Peieas spilled a great
deal on Nicholas perfectly polished grid
dles-oh, l could no: have loved him If his
hands had been firm and Indifferent in
such a. pleasant excitement Then he
came and sat beside me, and the baby
drank with little soft snuddering breaths
at the painful memory Of how hungry
she really had been. I bent above her,
and SO did Peieas, our heads quite close
together as we watched her, and heard
the little soft noises and signs, and met
her eyes grave, wondering criticism. So
lOng-so long. 1t hau been since / had seen
that one serious eye lifted to me as a little
face lay against my breast!
Peleas put out one finger, and the little
funny hand caught 1t and chung to it.
Peleas wrinkled his eyes at the corners
and smiled up at mel had almost for
gotten how he used to do that and then
wait for me to scold, him and to tell him
that at that rate l never could get Cedric
to sleep. Someway. when Peleas had done
that now, we sat silent For very little
babies are never unlike. and if 1 had
really let myself l might have imagined,
and so I think might Peleas have mag
ined that which, for more than
forty years, We have only dreamed.
At last the baby moved her head,
gurgled a brief grace. and stared up at
US unwinkingly, and then wrinkled her
face most astoundingly. Peleas rose
wildly and looked about franticaly for
tho matches-one would have said that we
were fugitives from justice, crouched be-
hind an open panel. and that our safety
depended upon keeping that baby quiet
during the passing of the men-at-arms. l
cannot tell how it is with others, but when
one is seventy a paby affects one quite
like this. and to Keep it from crying seems
oil the law and a fair proportion of the
prophets. So that when Peleas came with
a box of paraff1n matches and lighted
whole handfus before Millicente's baby's
eyes I could say very little. She did stop
crying, though she looked at these humble
pyrotechnics somewhat haughtily and is
If she knew far more about them than she
cared to give out.
The stair door does not creak, and
Nichola was quite in the kitchen before
we heard her. She INDUCED in one COM
prehensive glance, which did not even
omit the matches, and she passed us on
the other side of the room.
Its mother want, 1t right straight off,"
she remarked. with he back toward U.s.
Peleas and l rose promptly and meekly
made our way upstairs. Old Nichola die
tates to us all day long in matters in
which, as think, We are really far wiser
than she; how then should we not yield in
crises of which we may be supposed -
know nothing. Though I am bound to
confess that I felt m.self as wise as little
Millicente, who, as have said, Is baby
herself. And this brings me to something
about which I have often wondered:
namely, when the actual noon Of mother
hood may be? For. as live, it seems to
me that all the mothers Of babies Of my
acquaintance are either themselves babies
or else I catch myself thinking Of them
that they are too old and even spinsterish
in their notions to be able perfectly 20
bring up the child. And yet it cannot
very we'll be that l was the only mother
neither too young nor too old to train
youth properly
laid the little thing in Millicentes bed,
and Millicente smiled-that tender, pitiful,
young mother smile that somehow breaks
ones heart no matter how happy the
young mother be. And an hour later,
while the doctor was with Millicente, an
idea came to me that SET me in a delicious
futter. I had forgotten that there are
such sweet excitements in the world. I
Rugged the hope In silence for a moment
and then shared 1t with Peleas.
Suppose" said. that Millicente should
need her rest tonight?'
I looked at him Tentatively, expecting
him to understand at once, as he almost
never fails to do. I did not remember
that 1t is far easier to understand in a
matter of books or philosophy or the like.
Which have occupied us these many years.
than to adjust oneself without preparation
to. the luminous suggestion that I was
, harboring.
Il hope that she will have a good
night" advanced Peleas with appalling
density.
But suppose I persisted. that she
should need her rest, and that the doctor
thought that the baby would be certain
to disturb her?'
III it cries." suggested Peleas then.
with magnificent generosity. you might
go in and rock 1t a while"
"Peleas.'' l cried in complete scorn.
don't you see? Maybe we can have the
uaby with us all night
Peleas looked up In surprise; then his
dear face shone.
Gould we. do you Think" he asked
softly, as we ask when we want a thing
very much.
I'VE will.' / promised.