Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-04-30

0ivlnlnS tue cause. went tO cupuoaio Y
made of a box. where he found milk
and since there was plenty Of wood
for a fire he soon had the food warm
ed and in the baby's bottle. Then. put
ting It between the pink lips, he had
the satisfaction of seeing his charge
pull Justify.
Ten o'clock came, but no human be
Ing. Eleven passed, and when an OLD
loud ticking Connecticut clock wheez
ed II Crane came to the conclusion
that the baby had been left to die
Lying down beside it, he determined te
remain with it till morning. then take
1t to his own house.
He awol;e to see the sun shining In
at the open door And he saw some
thing else-a woman about twenty
years old. standing, looking down on
him and the baby. who was using bis
breast for a pillow and had one lee
thrown over him. On the woman's
face was an expression Of terror. which
as she looked faded into one Of salts
faction, then broke into smile. For
few moments while Crane was awak
ening he was too confused to speak
When he did so he said:
"For heaven sake. why did you leave
this baby here all night alone?
Are you the owner Of this landr
"Yes."
"Well, we hadn't anything to eat
and took one of your lambs. A herd
er saw me do 1t and took me In.
told him my baby was here alone, bu'
he wouldn't believe me. Just before
daylight he fell asleep. and l got
away"
"Where's the child's father%
Dead"
"Were you his wife?"
mo"
Crane understood. Matrimony In
that region was regarded rather as q
luxury than an essential.
The rancher went home and sent
back to the mother good breakfast
with fresh milk for the child. He had
not yet sufficiently recovered from bis
prejudlces to bring them to the ranch
house. Instead he built them a fine
cabin near by.
Crane considered that he had saved
the child's life or might have saved II
and regarded the fatherless little thing
as under his especial protection. The
mother needed protection as well as the
child. Crane took care to build her
cabin Just far enough from his house to
prevent her troubling him. She was q
comely young woman and, though un-
educated. developed under better sur.
roundings than those to which she had
been accustomed a good deal Of sense.
Crane got into the habit of going to
talk with her, then consult with her,
and In time she became necessary to
his comfort. His books meanwhile had
lost a good deal of their freshness for
him. He visited Ibis kid" az he called
the little trespasser. daily, and he
couldn't very we'll see the kid without
seeing Its mother.
Several years went by, and Crane be-
gan to think Of bringing the trespass'
Ing family to his home-marrying the
mother-so that he would have them
handy. But his aunt's will stood In the
way. He was too honorable to attempt
to get round bis aunt's provision or to
compromise those who were In his
power.
Then he went east for awhile to try
q separation. but he had had few
friends there, and they had scattered.
He returned to his ranch and his
sQuatter family.
1t was hard for him to make up bis
mind to take a widow who had never
been married and hard to give up half
his estate. but as time wore on he
couldn't see anything else for himself
to do.
He was drifting toward the inev'
table. At last he succumbed. His
wife proved treasure to him, and. liv-
ing in q land where there was no social
station to keep up, the family did not
live under a cloud. The child. boy.
grew to be hne young fellow. and
children were born to Crane as we'll.
"My aunt" Crane saids had a re-
markable faculty for looking ahead"
Doubtless the old lady recognized the
fact that man Of extremes must pass
from one extreme to another. At any
rate. she got ahead Of the man whom
she could not influence and made him
nav well for his obstinacy.