The Washington times., 1910-01-05
And a Little Child
Shall Lead Them

Sla4G LGaQ 4uClL-
Friday.
It seems strange 20 me that today
have cried for hours. ike q fool. sup
pose. and yet I, too, have lost a little
child, and I can never have another
for my child was a love that comes
but once It came TO me as q ray OF
light in loneliness and darkness and
sorrOw, and before I knew II, II had be-
come the binding light Of the SUM-
which lit up all my life and dazzled
ne Now I know that what must do
VIII put out the sun forever and leave
ne alone in blaCker darkness than I
have ever known; but that must 90
Il, know. II Is hard TO get 81 the
heart Of things. like those queer little
japanese boxes that you open and open
and open until you despair OF ever ind
ing the last box, but there always Is
a last one, and I have reached II. I
have thought II al out slowly. and
henceforth upon that road where only
two can walk. there Is no place for me.
On jim, Jim. II only could see you
once more, not as an. but as 1
ever again, must go out OF your
life so much Richer and so much poorer
than I was before, Jim, BY what I
have found and lost
I must give up studio work, and 80
awsy-the play viii be tried out next
week in Philadelphia, and whether II
succeeds or fails 7 shall leave New
York at once How Inevitable the paths
thought mine another walks upon-the
one OF sOrrow. IN which q stranger
walked, has become my own
God grant that they may yet find
happiness together and that little
child nay lead them
The woman IN the chair let the sheets
OF the diary fan Unn0ticed into her lap,
upon her arms and sObbed COnVuIsfyeIy.
II was nearly 4 O'Clock already the
rumblt1g Of the milk wagons as they
came up from the ferry resCunded
was silence save the ticking OF the
clock upon the manteI and the sobbnE
Of the woman A long time after, she
rose CROPPED her way uusteadIIv 10 her
room. and throwing or her kimonO, re
placed It with q uighIdress, ana kneIt
beside the bed IN prayer. AfteTwar5
she Crept Ditffully beneath the covers
and the dawn, when 4 penetrated dfuIv
into the room, disclosed her lying in
the deep sleep OF exhaustion With sharp
lines Of suffering stIu showing IN her
childIilSe face.
Something Greater
Than Love for Her.
At noon she was awakened BY her
maid, who brought her some breakfast
which she sent away untasted- She
arose, and, going to a sewing basket,
took from II a tiny white flannel sack.
and, getting back into bed, began 70
sew upon Il with trembling fingers.
She was thus engaged when she sud
denly started at the sound OF some one
opening the door Of the apartment fol-
lowed BY the TeIl-knOwn footsteps OF
her husband She followed his move
meuts with bitter eaEeTness as he en-
tered the lii -ary. and the long silence
aiming the scattered papers upon the
table and floor. A moment later he
stood IN the doorway his face ashen,
his eyes CuiveTing with excitement
You know everything he demanded
YES she replied steadily. every
ing
what are you going TO do7" he
asked, gazing in wonder az her calm
what I an doing now" she answer
/ ed slowly, and glanced al IN ebaby sack
| in her hands.
Her husband followed her glance. md
understanding He staggered INFO tbs
room. and fell upon his knees beside
the bed NY GOdr' he cried II did
not know, I did not know" He buried
I his face IN the bedclOthes.
] The woman proceeded calmly witt
her sewing, her eyes fixed upon he
work eft makes no difference" sft
J thing greater than love 70 live fo1
now and the tears, dropping slOwl!
/ from her heavy eyes, made Ettle spot
upon the bit Of white flannel she bel,
1 IN her hands.
THE END.