Arizona republican., 1911-07-04


ping. Her apparel was poor, her face
thin. her eyes deep wells of grief.
Withal she was pitiful thing to look
upon.
"What-what are you doing here?"
gasped John.
Never mind, John. There's no time
to waste in talk here Get into the
cab and I'll tell you on the way"
Inside the cab she drew down her
veil and sobbed softly into it for a
couple of blocks. Then she began TO
talk, low and jerkily.
John, l must tell you now-I only
learned Ii myself month ago-little
Margaret, the girl you have been TAX
ing care of, given home. is my little
girl. Jim Storkley's child, the one that
made you leave me. was hard UP
and had letter from folks East,
old friends Of mothers, asking me to
come out there to work. l couldn't
take the baby, and mother had died I
was sending her to folks in Portland,
near there, friends OF mothers, too
mother had lots of friends, John, but
all poor like herself: that's how they
came to be her friends; she'd helped
'em-the folks up there said they'd
give Margie home until could send
for her. But when they wrote me she
was drowned at sea, gave way and
got sick; and | came back here on &C
count OF the climate and SOS could
look for Margaret, for / never felt sure
that she was lost. About a month ago
found her. But was afraid to let
you know, John, though | would have
sooner or later. And never told her.
though | been visitin' her nearly every
day; | guess she's told you about the
lady that comes to see her so much.
Yesterday, when she fell sick,
couldn't hold in any longer, and | told
her. She's nearly five, and, thank God!
she understood. I'm tellin' you now
because she's dyin', John, and it's no
time for bein' backwards; we must
both be with her"
She crouched low and began crying
again. John said nothing, and in the
gloom of the cab his state of mind was
not discernible on his face. He had
not yet spoken when they reached their
destination.
A doctor, trained nurse, and the
wife of Johns friend, who had Mar
garet in her care, we're in attendance
on the still little form in the bed.
Drawn of face, John knelt at her side,
and Jane knelt at his elbow. As John
kissed the snow-white lips and waxen
brow Of his young idol, he saw that
she was unconscious; but, whether 1t
was the sorcery OF a mighty love or
merely that rally before the end that
physicians know Of, the little girl
opened her eyes. She smiled-oh, the
dear. wistful smile OF her, Uncontrol-
liable agony and all but ungovernable
rage possessed him as he encountered
the smile But when he saw her white
lips framing words, he summoned up
the strength of other days and bent to
listen. The first word was inaudible,
but he caught it from the motions of
her mouth-'Daddy." That was what
he had taught her to call him. He
answered her, but only by a super
human effort and in few words, for the
breath seemed to have gone out OF his
great body-"Margaret-my Marlie."
She spoke again, in an audible whis-
per: "Mama's tum home"
Yes, darling. I'm glad"
'T's dwad."
A look In her eyes impelled him bur
riedly to kiss her again, and his lips
fevered to a faint response.
rs dwad," she said again. John
was conscious of James head beside his
and he gave way to ber A moment
later the little head lurched on the
pillow while the doctor was feeling her
pulse. John remained kneeling with
his head in his arms for upwards of
an hour, Jane never leaving his side.
Jane" he gutturaled humbly at last,
i've fought my last battle with my
self The long night hasn't come yet,
and I'm a broken man, beaten-my
strength Is dead thank God that
Jim Storkley lived and loved you. else
I'd never have known my little Marga-
ret-my Marble, nor ever any other lit
tie one In the way that I've known
her" -
He buried HIS face on the breast Of
the dead child, his arms stretched out
across the white sheet that partially
covered her, while his huge frame was
rent with sobs that made jelly of the
soul that was once adamant. Jane,
looking at him in wondering Joy. laid
an arm across his shoulders and set
her cheek against his, saying:
Never mind, John; I'll stand by
you" .
The workaday words thrilled John
from head to feet with dOIOrOus low