The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-08-21

onto her face. And 1t was a wonder
full face that look was on to, fe't
like had knowed her forever when
seen her there. -@
Miss Lucy, she was one Of the. KIND
there's no use trying to describe. The
Teller that could see her hathaway
and not feel made good by 1t orter
have a whaling. Not the kind of
sticky, good feeling that makes you
uncomfortable. like being pestered by
your conscience to jine church or
quit cussing But the kind of good
that makes you forget they Is any
thing on earth but jest braveness OF
heart and being willing to bear things
you can't help.
Colonel Tom, he clears his throat.
Like when you are awful dry.
1.-The truth Isl he begins.
And then he breaks off agin. Miss
Lucy turns toward him when he
speaks BY the strange look that come
on to her face there must Of been
something right curious in his manner
too.
THE truth is" says Colonel Tom.
trying it agin, "that I-well. Lucy, the
child may be dead. but he didn't die
when you thought he did
There was a fash Of hope f1ared into
her face that hated to see come there.
Because when it died out in a minute,
as expected it would have to, it look
ed to me like it might take all her life
out with it.
"Why did you never tell me this
that there was child?" says the doc
tor, very eager.
wait" says Colonel Tom, 'let me
tell the story in my own way"
Which he done it. 1t seems when he
had went to Galesburg this here child
had only been born few days. And
Miss Lucy was still sick. And the kid
itself was sick and liable to die any
minute, by the looks of things.
Which Colonel Tom wishes that 1t
would die in his heart. He sure hates
the idea Of it and he hates the sight Of
It. The second night he iS there he is
setting in his sisters room. and the
woman that has been nursing the kid
and Miss Lucy, too, is in the next room
with the kid.
She comes to the door and beckons
to him, the nurse does. He tiptoes to-
ward her, and she says to him, very
low voiced, that 1T is all over
meaning the kid has quit struggling
fur to live and jest natcherally foated
away. The nurse had thought Miss
Lucy was asleep, but as both her and
Colonel Tom turn quick toward hel
bed they see that she has heard anC
seen, and she turns her face toward
the wall. Which he tries fur to com
fort her, Colonel Tom does. but she
stares in a wildeyed way at him ant
laws there and looks desperate anC
| says nothing.
In his heart Colonel Tom is awful
! glad that it Is dead. He can't. hell
feeling that way. and he quits trying
to talk to his sister, fur he suspicious
that she will ketch onto the fact tina
he is glad that it is dead. He goes OF
into the next room.
He finds the nurse looking awfu
funny and bending over the dead kid
She is putting a looking glass to its
lips. He asts her why.
She says she thought she might bt
mistaken after ALL She couldn't say
lest when it died. 1t was alive anC
feeble, and then purity soon it showed
no signs of life 1t was like it hadn'
had enough strength to stay and had
Jest went. 1t didn't show any pulse
and it didn't appear to We breathing
and she had watched it and done
everything before she beckoned tt
| Colonel Tom and told him that 1t was
dead, but as she come back into thu
| room where it was she thought she no
ticed something that was too light tt
be called a real flutter move its eye
lids.
Colonel Tom he Just stands there
and watches that nurse fight fur tt
hold onto the little mist of life she
thinks now is still into it. Finally the
nurse begins fur to cry. Not because
she is sure it is dead. but because she
is sure it Is coming back. Which i
does, slow.
But have told her that it is dead.
says Colonel Tom, jerking his head to
ward the other room where Miss Lucy
is lying. He speaks in low voice anc
closes the door when he speaks Ful
it looks now like it was getting strong
| enough so it might even squall little
! 81 don't know what kind of LOOK
there was on my face" says Colone
/ Tom, telling Of the story to his siste1
! and the doctor, "but she must have
seen that was-and heaven help me
/ but l was-sorry that the baby was
alive. 1t would have been such ar
: easy way out of 1t had it been really
dead!
! ".She mustn't know that 1t IS living,
l said to the nurse finally" says Colo
mel Tom.
"'You don't mean said the nurse
startled.
! "'No, no! l said. OF course-not