The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1915-06-09
BABY BROUGHT PEACE
BY EUsTAcE LIVINGSTONE.
Copyright. 1915. by w. @ chapman)

think twice, Betty"
81 have thought till my brain is
weary and my heart is sore. l have
decided-it is the better way"
Very we'll" said John Randall. go
the road you have chosen. will take
mine. There need be no scandal
you are lady, l try to be a gentle
man. Remember, though, neither VII
ever turn back to retraverse the mis-
taken path"
The woman put out her hand as II
moved by some pleading influence. but
the man was gone Before nightfall
the home they had shared for eight
years was in the hands of carpenters
masons and decorators. Before a
week had passed by partition, roof
high, divided the big double house into
two parts. On one side lived the wife,
on the other the husband. Then peo-
pie began to talk.
There's something under the sur
face" spoke Mrs. Judge Bascom TO
her husband-"some dark drama"
Get II out OF your mind, wife" was
the blunt retort. There are no two
better people in the world than my
worthy friend Randall and his wife"
Then, why"
Pride Neither will seek to remove
the barrier they have raised in their
own self-willed natures. Mrs. Randall
would die by slow tortures before she
would unbend from what she consid-
ers to be true womanly dignity Her
self-centered consciousness has re-
PEELED Randall and has made him be
lieve she no longer cares for him. One
good heart-to-heart talk would settle
everything-such as you and I en-
gage In when we're not fighting our
usual family battles!" and the good
natured Judge laughed in his whimsi'
cal way
The old 1urist was correct in his sur
misses. but he had not gone deep
enough into the proposition. When
John Randall married Betty Morse
they had been very much in love one
with the other. Then there had been
a disappointment. No children had
blessed their family hearth.
The judges wife was distressed at
the news that came to her. Once the
family. With a woman's ready wit
she delved deeper into AFFAIRS than her
happy-golucky husband. Within her
own mind she framed up a plan to
remedy the outlook. It Nigh, prove
an experiment, but she hoped for the
best
One cold winters night John Ran
dali sat in his CHEEKY but lonely liv-
lng-room, gazing stolidly into the blaz-
ing CRATE FIRE. He knew that on the
other side of the partition his wife
was probably passing her time in the
same spell OF gloomy reverie.
What is that" suddenly exclaimed
Randall
II was hard, harsh sound, as OF
someone pounding with a club or
stone on the front porch. Randall
arose and went to the door and opened
Il. FIRST turning on the porch light He
tancied he saw a woman's figure sour
rying past the gate. He looked down
10 note a basket containing a blanket
and Counterpart covered with filmy
scarf. STOPPING, his heart beating
rapidly. he knew not why. as he drew
this aside.
"a babyl" he exclaimed-"aban-
nonedi"
At that moment the next door
opened. Mrs. Randall, too. had
heard the noise on the porch. She
came into view. she caught a glimpse
Of tho child in the basket. A great
cry of pity. yearnlng. love burst from
her lips. With hungry heart, Jealous.
snwrapt in possession. quickly Ran
dali snatched up the basket.
81 saw 1t firstl" he cried, almost
freely. TT is mine!"
Then he went in with the child and
closed the door against the longii
woman. BE stirred up the fire, >
turned on all the lights. Suddenly 4
new motive for living found birth in
his heart. He felt as one intrust'
with a great treasure. Planning Il q
many things he must do with Il
morning-secure nurse, buy an Out
At for the baby. provide for all Its
care-Randall hustled about. Tho
child woke up II began to cry
The door opened. For the first time
In two years Mrs. Randall stood with
in the room.
"Oh. John!" she cried poignantly. 81
can't endure it, The cries of this