Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-25
The Gates of Silence >
By Meta SmmtnS, Author f"HH5hed Up"

ing To lose Now she knew that she had
10 lose tie dearest thing in the world
Aesh Of her flesh. her own child and, in
losing him. all hope Of over regaining her
husbands love.
Al it couldn't be true 1t was only
cold. the child was fretful with feverish
chm Her thoughts raced madly and
ever beating our among Them like a
burden or the refrain Of a song, her nus
bands words. He is the shield between
YOU and your shame The repetition
maddened her. It was not # herself she
desired To think not of herself and her
feelings 1t wasn't decent it was not
seemly Her thought should be all of the
chfld and his sufferiues ana the end Of
everything,
She bent closer ana scrutinized the child
with anxious eyes Wherein lay his
magic that magic which bound Tony to
him with such passionate love and devo-
ton when SHE. the mother who had
borne him. was Iepudiated hated de
Spisedo
a paug of Jealous ange~ against her
own child contracted the wletched WON
an S heart
Ashamed and terrified She turned away
with q stned sigh Slight as the sound
was it woke the child He moved un-
easily and uttered a fretfal, waling cry
The cry went to Edlth's heart. until
that moment the heart of Jealous wife
rather than OF the loving mother She
went swiftly to the cot and bent over the
child. He stared up, his fever bright
eyes stii held by sleep, then with a glad
cry OF "Muzzy!" held out his hands to
her.
Sweetheart" She bent over him with
soft, grooming words. and would have
taken him In her arms hut the nurse for
babe her with a Mortified exclamation
May | not -why?" Edth's voice was
hot with indignation where is his own
nurse where as Mamma p Mamma" was
Mama Gabraith. the old woman who had
been her own nurse, who had taken the
child from birth
Resting" said the nurse shortly. "You
mustn't take him up Mrs. Darlington No
darling Lie down"
She settled the clothes over the little
body and kept up a running volley Of
tender baby talk, which amazed Edith
How did this woman who was not
mother, know Just what to say and how
80 say it, while she whose child this was.
stood by tongue bound before the love and
desire that stared at her out of the baby
eyes? Her jealousy was ridiculous and
unnecessary. for the child struggled feeblv
and kept up an ncessant cry of "Muzzv-
Muzzy !"
Edith slipped on her knees bv the cot
Phil, be good. nv lamb Mother cant
take YOU up-let her hold vour hand "
She spoke as she might have snolken
to some grown-up child instead ~ tho
morsel of humanity that moved ga rest-
1cssly on the hot pillows and The nurse
contrasted her in her mind With tho bio
man who. ali through the long night ha5
kept the child quiet and wonderfnIlv con.
tented. This dressed-un. aou his u,ifo
this babv's mother,
Then at a Glance al Ms porr,,,,.,,,,..
face. her thoughts changed Tue eves
that looked out of tho white fa.o ,,,1or
the evo,lisitely dressed hair wero tho o,.es
of woman who has looked into no ,,or,.
heart 81 paiu
EARN cro,,ohiry an ,,o eoor eo,. -.
baby fingers tirbtcn round hor avn and
the touch unIocknd rho eood-gatos oe bar
heart proat n.a,.a of ,enllorrose sn.a,,,
over her carr,.in, vim if on hitta-ro.i..
mn thonrbt ar coli win o,,. -,
H.. ~ ~ tes"l ~
u.s. ~ lne nurse remohstrdnce, She
caught the child up and gathered him
close against her hungry breast
Tho child nestled fboro co,to,,+ MA q
was in that refuge he spent the wcar,