Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-08-12
A Baby's Whisper

OF which ihe poet writes, hers bad
come rpon her itho1t earning. o.
the 18th aunisers Ny or her marriage.
her huebrnd h9i lef home IN bis
usual happy spii its An hour la.er
that be was ID the hospital. dying.
lie had beer Inspecting sonle work
on the new boiling OF his factory.
which WAS IN the pro.sess OF ccnstuc-
tion. whcn II. sthgip % oke and be
received mort-I injuries.
The shoct OF his ;ddeu death
had almost fnied her. For weeks she
lay at deaths door. and when con.
Rcionsness g nc back aRd they tod
her sha world live she hid her face
sObbing, in the pillow and earnestly
prayed TO de
But care snd cons ant attention. to-
gether with wonderful vitality. won
the battle over giief and despair aud
now FOR two weeks she was able to
go about once more.
AS she sat In her cosey sitting room
before tie ruddy grow OF the open
fireplace and hstened to the low moan.
ing o. the trees outside. she wonder.
ed why she could not die She had
nothing to live FOR and 10 desire to
live. It was true she had wealth. but
that does not heal the wound caused
by the death OF those most dear. She
! grew to miss her husband more and
more; to miss hts loving care and at
tention and manly protection. for he
had been a prince among men. II
| only one little child had come TO bless
her life. she would have some oDiect
10 live for. but now only weary, lone
some days stretched ahead.
Her maid appeared at the door in
some excitement. There had been
an accident outside. Richard, the
chauffeur. had not noticed the little
boy standing just iRside the gate until
his childish screams foil on his ears.
When he jumped from the car. the
| little one Law unconscious on the peb-
bled driveway. They had brought him
Into the house and the maid wes sent
to notify Mrs. Van Buren and ask
what they would do.
A wave Of sympathy and motherly
love swept away the child OF desola-
ton that had settled on her heart,
and TO the maids utter astonishment
she announced that she would see the
child herself They had laid the little
boy. who was ABOUT three years old
on the seat In the hall and the house
keeper was gently rubbing his tiny
cold hands. On the approach Of her
beloved mistress. her eyes lighted up
on ntoing the look OF interest that had
taken the place OF Indifference on her
beautiful face
as he seriously hurt, Jane?" asked
Mrs. Van Buren.
"I do not think so" replied the
housekeeper Richard went at once
for doctor. as I thought the poor
child needed immediate att 4ation. and
I sent Kitty to notify you"
You did right, Jane. Do you know
whose child It is?" sbe asked. gazing
on the white face sud golden ouris.
Slowly the brown eyes opened and
wonderingly be looked at tho heauu-
ful face bending over nin Thon h
emile lickered across the tins, and
the words pity mamma" came to
her in whisper
Tears welied 10 Mss. Vha Buren's
eyes and rolled down her pale cheeks
She knelt bee'd the toy and pushed
back the tangled mass OF cuFis witt
her soft white hsads. White jene nod
ded her approval Of the whole tn IN.
, at Kitty over her mistress head.
When Richsrd returned with =.
! doctor, be fonnd the injuries w-r
not fatsl. but wonld need the ut'ro-
. care He said. II possible. he shonl'
! not be moved for few days. and Mr.
Van Duren eagerly consented 10 kce'
! him, until be WAS perfectly welt She
Instructed Richerd 20 go at once ano
! search for hts parents and tell them
OF the accident
, Before be could comply with heI
request the bell rang and Kitty an
nounced that 4 woman was at the door
, looking fer the boy. When ushereC
. into the hail she was weeping bitter
, ly. No. she WIS not his mother. Pool
child, hts mother had died but two
/ weeks before and she had Just re
, celved word from the hospital thai
/, his tfaher. too. had passed away
!, | They had both been taken With ~
phoid and the woman. always frail
had succumbed without a struggle
> The father he'd fought the battle fol
i, two weeks. but he. too. had answered
A the summons. and the boy was lef
: alone. She was only q neighbor wh'
2 had cared for Edward and she wa
beside herself with grief 10 thinl
I harm had come 70 him. Mrs. vaI
: Buren, cue ned tef closely as Il
? relatives. and sas said she sneW o
no one. The child. II he recovered
would have TO take his place in hom'
for orphan children. for while shi
loved the boy as dearly as her own
she could not possibly keep him.
When Mrs. Van BuFen returned Il
the open fireplace. everything seeme'
=, 70 have grown brighter. The vim
4 had ceased its sorrowful moan in tn
a lreetops. The glowing embers an
soft-shaded lights cast q warm ligh
over the room. AS she sat once NOR
gazing at the cracking logs. be
thoughts were not those OF lonelines
and despair The baby's little whii
/. per Pity mamma" had been like
!, breath OF heaven that had fame
4 the almost extinguished spark in he
/, bosom into a glowing flame OF love
. Surely an all wise providence ha
a drorred this little stranger into he
life to prove she had something 70 liV
for-MARY RAY.
The Penalty
Judge 1t seems to ne that hav,