The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-08-18
a a.: s:s : sss; s1 By Amelia Wofford

vague dlsquletng rumors had the elder sister
heard of her. First, had tidings of the birth
OF child, of a second, third; then rumors OF
the deaths of the two elder. Always were there
stories of the husbands profligacy, of increasing
want and distress, of constant fittings from town
to town, from city to city. Again and again she
had written to the exile, but never line had
come in reply. The youngest of the little trio
should be about the age of the child she lead.
Suppose-suppose some strange miracle had
brought that unseen child of her blood TO her
door? Her hand folded his closer; she looked
down with new tenderness upon the little round
head
Over his cakes and milk enjoyed on his hostess
lap, on the verandah, Basil waXed communicative,
bubbling out with happy laughter ana then,
for pure joy at his physical well-being
fapa's dawn-dawn way Off he first
nounced, waving short comprehensively
opening wide eyes the distance. Hes dawn
way up in de SKIES his small face rejecting
the shadow that darkened the mothers face when
she so instructed him. as the lady rightly guessed
Mamma ty. Baby ty too' leaning back and
looking into the face above to the effect OF
this wonderful news
After some more cake and milk had been dis
posed OF, he drew his sandaed feet up on the
white apron that had with the feast to
guard the dainty house gown, casping the stubby
toes in either hand as he talked, quite at home
Use dot fanny wabbit-an-anner We'd horsey
-an-anner little white dog. Sanity Taus brung
UNI. Does 90 1--WE fanny Taus? Has 90 dot a
fanny wabbit-an-anner wed horse" and so on
while the bright afternoon slipped away until the
blue eyes dropped and the yellow head rested in
sleep upon the lady's arm.
rTliE long ashes, dark upon the rosy cheek the
child was the little sister of LONG aeo-her iv-
ing image. So had she slept upon her grading
arm. And in those moments while the boy slept.
his tiny foreinger true to its baby tricks between
his rosy lips, she lived over in all their sweetness
and poignant pain. the days that began with the
hour that the young mother, but few years older
than herself, lifted the baby to her, whispering
with failing breath:
TOO parlino
You are wise and true. You will take my place,
l know
She had; not once in smallest 1.-THE had
failed the dying mothers faith
The child stirred Mamma! want mamma
he planted. The fretfu tone and pouting lips
threatened tears.
Sleep, baby Sleep she soothed him. Mann
mas coming
Stung with sharp conjunction for the pain her
dreams had caused the absent mother, she made
to summon servant to dispatch him to the po-
lice station with description of the lost child at
her home
The old gate creaked. Up the walk. between
the bordering lines of snowy lilies, figure came
that sent the blood from her cheeks and Quick
ened to suffocation her heart beats. Some of
the buoyant, girlish grace in its step-but
pale-how pale, the thin cheek! How weary sad
and dull the large, dark-rnged brown eyes. Those
lean, work-wom lines We're ghosts OF the girls
rosy roundness. The plain, shabby. black dress
the wrath OF the rose-hued fabrics the young
sister always wore and that became we'll her
spring freshness
She would rise to meet her, to welcome her
with the tears. the caresses. the kisses OF long
denied love- but the shaking limbs refused com
pliance with her will She sank back, weak trem-
bling. in her chair. But the love light in her
eyes, her whole eager bearing, eaped out III
glad. sweet welcome.
Down by the chair the wanderer knelt the poor
tired head upon the blue-robed shoulder
20, Pauline you have my baby she whis-
pered, sobbing. You found him and kept him
for me. How sorry have been for all my harsh
ness my ingrattude l got all your letters but
l would not answer them. | was ashamed of my
ingratitude. ashamed of my mistake, ashamed OF
my dire poverty. | would to you even
when in this city, and poor that bread was all
had, and sometimes not that
Celeste! Celeste! Celeste." The horror OF the
tone and the strong spasm that seized the lis
tener shocked the prodigal.