Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-07-04

he heard an ambulance changing down
an empty avenue. The sound smote
him sharply. cut his heart. it seemed to
reveal to him all the pain of the world.
In how many other rooms over the city,
in all the cities, over the hills and
plains. over all the continents, was not
just such a scene as his being en-
acted!
He was not alone in his pain. It
softened his heart strangely. and then,
looking on the rosy checked boy, a pity
filled him, a terrible pity mixed with
love. that so sweet, pure. innocent a
child should be struck down.
He rose; he paced up and down; he
endless. still. palpitating. He paused
now and then to gaze on his wife. and.
as he did so. he felt that nowhere on
the earth was there another such di-
vine woman He felt his newborn pity
swelling large within him. and he
he had married and MANNED her life
these last five weeks. For what? Be-
cause he might lose his Job.
1t amazed him now. In a few days
he might lose his child. Face to face
with that stupendous elemental fact.
his job became a petty trifle. There
was something of grandeur n power
mighty revealed in the hour OF crisis.
Looking at the heavens he felt The he
had that within him hat made the
stars SMALL. The real man fears no ad-
versity; he grapples with life: he takes
zest in the strenuous fight; If he can't
live in the city, he strikes out to the
country; If he car do one thing, he
tries another. And. after all, why
should he lose his job? Oh. Billy was
SO precious to him; too precious to al
low him to be weak.
Suddenly his heart seemed to stop.
There was a lOud cry:
Daddy"
He turned, rushed to the crib. No,
no, no! After such a terrible night,
after such a fierce fight. he could not
BILE disease. Had he not been fighting
hour by hour? He leaned over, faint,
exhausted. The little boy was trying
to sit up, his eyes wide open and shin
ing, and he was crying:
"Daddy!"
Tom. Selling the little hand, MUIR
INJURED pulsingly:
Yes. Billy, here's daddy!"
back, smiling. Then he closed his
eyes.
Tom rose slowly; he pushed aside the
forehead. In that m he felt as if
he could faint with blessed love-pity-
miraculous wonder. His lips twitched.
He stepped over to Agnes.
Agnes! ne whispered brOkenly,
Agnesi"
She sat up sharply.
What is it-oh!" she cried.
Look" he murmured.
She crawled over to the crib and
looked down. Then over her frightened
face came a GREATNESS glory:
us he" h hardly dared breathe.
asleep" he murmured. Feel him."
She felt. The cheeks were cool.
Tremblingly then she laid back the
nightgown. The rash was almost zone.
She slipped from the bed weakly. She
smiled at Tom; Tom smiled at her.
And then they sobbed crafty like any
two overwrought babies. He flung his
arms about her: drew her close.
Hes all right" he cried. A right,
Agnes! And IL"
YOU" she cried, looking UP, a new
light in her eyes. "You?- Toni"
both we're cured t%ogether!"
And your job"
Hang my job! I've got you, I've got
Billy-you've got me! And there are
bitches to be dug, If nothing else"
She held back his head with both her
hands. 1t was a wild ome Of
thanksgiving and owe and joy.
ooh, Tom"-her heart seemed to
burst-"Billy made you mine again"
And as they looked down on that d.
vine child, the dawn, creeping through
the city streets. stole into the room and
lit their faces with ineffable light.