The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-22
TWO PROMISES
NJ DOROTHY BLACKMoRE.


Copyright. 1910, by Associated Literary Press.)
The dawn broke slowly over the hills and the lit
tie bay nesting below. In the colony OF houseboats
scattered In the waters all stu save q hammock
that swung necessarily to and fro the deck OF
A woman half lay. half sat among the cushions and
watched the tender lights OF the day play shyly
the hill crests The low. tapping melody Of the
waves seemed subtly TO chant farewell TO the gray
shadows that lifted. one by one, from the green
banks.
In the distance. from the cup Of the hills puns
OF smoke rose and the whistle OF train pierced the
air
The started and 4clasped the little one she
held IN her arms more closely to her; she pressed
own She had sat thus all through the night. rocking
the train whose blue-gray smoke now mingled with
the lights OF early morning.
Was he on that train? she watched 1t crawl from
among the hills and creep along the. edge Of the
bank II whisted--or did It moang--as It wound
plainly Visible Every turn of the wheels brought
the childs father closer She shivered and drew
The baby stirred in her II he. too, pro-
had seen Born on this same houseboat. he had
BEEN all his short e far from the mines Of Mexico
He opened his eyes and looked into the only face
he ne knew-she face q the woman who had taken
The woman rose and descended the narrow stairs
the n 'ne man ,hy 1 oe.ow an less
loved And yet--she had promised the young mother
then be right. She had written the message to
the father many miles away telling him that
his wife--whom he had expected TO join him
had died when the son was born
In the months that followed she had kept the baby
as her own; he her only solace in q life bersft
strangely OF It's all-her lover. Now this baby was
TO be taken from her by man who had never
him him She rebeiled at the thought and casped the
little fellow jealousy breast
Al every sound OF oars or every splash Of water
she started and peered through miniature windows
OF the cabin the harbor the landing
the railroad station, She had written nm--ths
babys father--explicit directions to how reach
them She did not want to meet him; she longed
to keep the baby for her till the
Boats put out here and there from one craft or
another until the busy little bay alive with
beginning OF another aa, Maa,nal fishermen ap-
TOOK their morning plunge from nearby houseboats
and yachts; saucy little launches plowed past with
noise and hustle and odors of breakfast coffee per-
meated the air.
Al last, from the deck hired boat put out and
the woman looked closeiy--there was man In the
stern. The boat headed toward the tiny henseboat
was the expected guest and the was possessed
OF an almost uncomfortable impulse to lower her
small boat and flee with the baby.
She did not even Hospitality to the to re-
ceive the stranger she had not once locked him
Then she listened while ne paid his baatman being
assured that 1t was the right place.
Yes-he stood behind her, Then---she looked
sRosamond.' the man cried
The man clasped the baby until he cried.
"Ypu--Arthur Turnhuii." she could say no more
Before her stood-not the baby's father-bu, her
Il came-for the baby" the said. not know
the little fellow. He-poor Tom never survived shs
shock Of his wife's death and he told the nurse
i the nurse Rosamond said.
The man looked blankiy her There was SO
much to explan--so much have made clear. He
Rosamond fondied the baby. the though, running
riot In her need not give him up that
rlam that she. Then she looked up at the man
and Heeting something told her that the oniy
things she cared for--and which she thought =
moment since had been taken from her-had been
restored, though she seemed far from the be-
side her.
..You-were the Nurse" the man asking.
Rosamond nodded
And Marsdon? What of him Did-dla you not
The shook her head II did not marry any
one she said. After father his money l
go much 1t was to add 10 his already large
fortune that he--he wanted TO marry III
wasn't very--old she added wstfuIly.
No" the said thoughuus. Were older
row. The life In the mines in Mexico is not
Election. II there | poor old Tom Cuth.
bert He used to talk of his girl--hs wife whom he
after this little fellow had arrived. He told me all
about her. and dreamed night and day Of the time
when they would join him-hs wife and baby He
never was strong and the shock too much
hlm na rs Asked Of I'd q e. why had
take care Of him. Tom has people. you know.
mother died when they were all out in Africa. He
a nomad, indeed"
"Baby's is-Tomr Rosamond said
Little Tom. the man echoed "And--ne looked
heipiessly At the infant-what shall do with ha1n4
love him too much ever to let him He-h01
all have.
"Rosamond" the man cried. as he drew nearer
to her.
The silent
'Rosamond," he repeated and as II compelled to-
she raised her eyes TO him. Il have changed
not one partice--in my thought Of you. Can you
remember what that was? I never said much but
you knew Rosamond? You knew how much cared?
how much. Rosamondo"
II knew-then" she said. slowly.
1T is the same to-day" the repeated .the
very same"
And after long silence the woman said "And
the little fellow ?s
his parents and bring him up own
Rack the South
The Clinchfeld railway Is handling the Back 10
the South campaign In practical way II Il sends
ing invitations to return to all former reaidenta 81
the sections It whose addresses have been
learned. There for many who left
the South to look for what they deemed larrer ops
portunities elsewhere They may have benefited from
q change by acquiring broader ideas and eneS-