The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-08-29
CHAPTER XXI.
The Union Of Three


She lay like a little winter
snowdrop which had struggled
through the dark and cold, and
come out into the sunshine. and
was resting it's dropping head up
on a soft bed of snow. Every
thing about her was SNOWY bite,
except the dark halo of her hair
against the pillow.
He bent his head down TO the
pillow and his lipe touched her
hair.
She murmured his name. but he
Guild not speak. and she lay still
for few moments and then whis-
pered:
Put your arm under me and
lift me mp. / want 10 feel my
head In the old place"
He raised her until she lay
with her head pillowed in the h0l-
low of his shoulder.
Her eyes searched his face.
eagerly, pleadingly. you have
quite forgiven me, haven't you?"
My darling, there was nothing
to forgive"
She sighed a long sigh of con-
tentment.
That was what you said.
had been so unhappy because
had not been able to tell you my
secret. l was always struggling
and struggling to tell you. MY
head was always burning, aud |
could not find the proper words.
And then-suddenly I seemed TO
waken out OF that dreadful night
mare, and | saw you standing
there at the foot of the bed. And
you held out your arms. and you
said-'My darling. l forgive you.
There is nothing | would not for
give you"
Something wet fell on her
cheek.
My poor dear" she whispered.
so difficult not to love too much.
Isn't it?"
She laid her cheek against him,
breathing cmfort into his ear.
It is not that we have loved
each other too much. 1t Is that we
have not given our love room TO
grw big enough. That is It. Dnt
you think so? We will begin allr
over again. And now that there
Is no secret-that you know ev-
erything-we will try to do some
good with our love-if we are al
lowed" she added.
She lay still; the long lashes
dropped low, and, watching her,
he wondered IL she had fallen
asleep. He bent to listen to her
breathing, and she opened her
eyes wide and bright.
"You-you have not said a
word-not a word about your
SON
"I-haven't-"J Jock halted and
stammered.
HE is very tiny, OF course. !"
she said anxiously. But that was
not his fault, and Christina says
she has seen far timer babies
grow into great strong men. / do
so want him to be like you"
She smiled radiantly, and then
She smiled radtantly, and then
her mouth dropped.
HE 3 got a foster-mother. I'm
so jealous of her. jock" she said
beseechingly, don't you think
you could steal him. l want him
so dreadfully badly"
Jock hesitated, and she flashed
up at him one of her hooking
smiles.
"You for a Highlander Not to
know how to steal your own son."
He laid her down gently and
left the room. Christina was no.
where to be seen, but Sheila
proved a willing aecomplice to the
theft. She placed the small white
bundle in his arms and watched
him out of sight with a glad light
in her soft dark eyes.
Angela was alert and watching.
And when she saw Jock and what
he carried. her lips parted in a
tremulous little gasp.
Very cautiously, in fear lest the
precious bundle should slip
through his fingers, he laid the
child in her arms.
Lift us both up higher" she
said, and he raised her In his
arms.
Now you must kiss him." she
said. Just thereon his cheek.
You must be very careful, be-
cause there isn't much room"
And Jock kissed hts son.
I'VE can never grow hard and
make our love a selfish thing
when we hav this. Can WEI" she
said.
For answer he drew her very
close and kissed the sleeping
child again of his own accord.
She looked nm at him. smiling
tenderIy. and then touched with
her lips the downy head lying
Graded on her bosom.
my little Bawbee." she muir
INJURED softly.