New-York tribune., 1912-01-07
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JANUARY 7. 1912

tears rolling into his little face. Bilys sobs buried IN
her bosom grew fainter the loved voice 9ooe4 i''
Who can tell what his thoughts were; -.
"Rill, where's your father; questioned Sister ADl-
gail She had fallen into the same intimate way Ci t'-E
Ing with him that his father always used. oiScr hD&ml
pcered anxiously round. 1t was not po79'Dc ''a'
Billy should be alone there.
Vo i WAS not possible There a dark form hud-
died close TO the rails in the gloom OF an area"a ana II
was a form that Sister Abigail and Biy knew. oHIF
Abigail closed her eyes and clutched By more CC?.
20 God in Heaven, she prayed, grant that Bl!y
father has had an accident that he here because he IS
hurt not. Heavenly Father, bccause- Here Billy
felt her breast hcave with sobs' ana MS chuDDy ser
stole from his mouth to pat her face.
Sister Abigail took quick step nearer Billy father
who lay there in a heap and her toe su55ed agalns,
Does # not seem strange that the prayers Of good
woman are unanswered? Il is one Of the unexplained
relations between God and the world that 50 puzze 'e
sister Abigail did not hesitate long Il would never
10 for RI, father 10 be found there by others than her
self She quickly stopped when Billy was not looking,
nclcd I'D the bottle and hid it carefully IN the gutter.
Then she rctraced her steps to the corner where she
knew policeman would soon pass.
Officer will YOU kindly help me, My man, she
breathed very hard, has had an accident and | want
to get him home: ,..t...
drove off "that we're gOin' in the right direction. II
may be that the lookup is the place for i'm DinnIs:
me wife often says to me- says She you're that soft
hearted"'
SISTER ABIGAIL sat up all night watching by the
- side of crib where restless baby, his face flushed
with fever his little throat choked with cold, cred IN
termtenty and gasped for breath In the room aboEe,
surrounded by tiny cribs and cradles, Billy iather
mOancd in dclrlun Never nad me LAY \I'ISeIE "V'
to emergencies it held such night session be-
Sister Christiana. her old gray face wrnkled with
troubles Of the past, shook her head graVey as NAe
looked at Billy bv the early light Of the dawn and 10
Sister Abigail her whole heart in her anxious eyes as She
hung over the crib and tried to relieve Billy suffering
The doctor had prescribed everything ne could. lie
knew Sister Abigail OF yore her wonderful nursing
capacitv and he knew by the look in her eyes that no
one on earth would DO more for Billy than would She.
Take some rest for little while, Sister urged Sister
Chrstiana But Abigail shook her head. She turned
her dark eyes to Sister Chrisuana.
The baby must live, she said slowly. IT the baby
dies the father will have killed him-and he will Kill
himself. know it! He has nothing to live for but
Billy and Billy is the only power on earth that will keep
him straight.
what is this man to YOU; asked Sister ChrlStl'na
@Nothing replied Sister Abigail. Then she added in
a whisper But tBilly-s-everythng."
Twcnty-four hours later Bilys dear little eyes were
closed and his little mouth witchc he gaspci for
breath. His thumb hung Imply down; he had not
strength to raise his hand.
Billy darling Billy. murnurel Sister Abigail as she
knclt beside the baby. 90 God, let little Billy live tor
his fathers sake-for my sake, if thou wilt"
Dear little Billy opened his eyes and looked al her
long. She gathered him to her breast, close 70 her
heart And there few minutes later, Sister Chrst,Ant
found them. Sister Abigail had tainted away-aui
Billy-dear, dear little Billy
PILLY'S father sat up in bed. Was he dreaming?
- What had happened? Where was Billy, AMI why
did he have 50 many cribs? What did it al mean.
Gee. | must have been drinking to double 50
much" he said YEARLY. He laid back and closed his
ewes to make the cribs disappear; then he opened them
again-thcy were still there. Then slowly little by lit
tlc his confused brain remembered only
that he had proved false to Billy.
Il can and | WILL for Bily's sake