Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-07-23
rs those of nlotherhood.

erything 1t is scientific-and sunny
Just the place for him. 1 wish l had
known Of it before"
Never"
She caught sight of Little Sage try
ing to climb an easel, and ran to him
before he could discover whether or
not it was an impossible feat.
Sage was resolute in the face of her
sudden anger. His recent visit to the
large, homelike place full Of contented
babies, gave him courage.
'In the first place." he said, "a day
nursery is a sensible and scientific So
luton of our problem. The French
have learned that art or work Of any
kind is in danger from children
Lucia's indignation increased.
"And In the second place." he went
on, "the French have too much respect
for children to leave them altogether to
the care Of inexperienced mothers"
Lucia deposited Little Sage on the
fur rug and went to her husband with
look of primeval rage in her face.
ado you think | am an inexperi-
enced motherT' she asked.
Hes your first baby"
Lucia ignored the reply.
Haven't | devoted all my attention
to him. done everything that ought to
be done for him. she demanded.
Forget the baby then" he said
"Never." she interrupted fiercely.
"You are h"artless. You ought never
sort of man who should have children!
fl had known her lips trembIed
81 mean," he said quietly, Forget
the child's side of the question for
moment-and think of YOURSELF
Il have no right to do that. I am
responsible for him. A mother has no
right to think of herself"
Her husband began putting his paints
and brushes into the box he carried on
his sketching expeditions.
Lucia watched him in silence; then
she went over to him and leanel her
head against the back of his shoulder
You are Il man, and, of course. you
cannot understand what a difference it
makes in a woman to have little
helpless child to care for"
AT that his anger famed.
THANK God | am not a woman and
not able to trick myself the way you
do; to pretend to myself that | can no
longer be an individual worthy of my
own self respect, with work in the
world. because i have child to pre-
tend that my children only thrive and
prosper under my own hands"
Lucia was still AMI rigid
You are jealous" she said.
He pushed back an easel nOisily.
Eyes; | am jealous he replied. 81
am jealous on your account. Before /
loved you felt you had great talent,
and l believed you We're going to show
it to the world. | believed as much in
you as-as | believed in myself. And
when saw how hard you could work,
what endurance and persistence you
had, | knew you would succeed. But l
ought not to have married you. / see
now that you cannot be q mother and
an artist. You could be if you wanted
to-"
She came and stood between him and
the easel.
you love Little Sage. 1 know you
do" she said soothingly.
He put his hands ON her shoulders
and looked intently into her eyes,
you know that l do" He spoke
slowly. Lucia tried to draw away
from him, but his hands on her shout.
ders frightened. But do you know that
you are forgetting me; that you think
first and only of him? And is that
right? Do you not owe me something
as my companion?'
Her eyes tried to deny what he said,
but after a moment they fell before
his.
Lucia" he said, IF | have to choose
between being just bis father or your
lover
She trembled little and kept her
eyes on the floor.
IF he is going to destroy your flu
ture and take you from me- he said.
"Don't!' she said quickly. Don't
threaten anything! You-you don't UNI
derstand."
She moved as though to hide her face
ON his shoulder, but he stepped back.
perhaps not" There was no trace of
feeling i'll his voice, but there was
something very final in it. "You have
made your choice. | shall tell Lacroix
that it is impossible"
Its cruel of you," she said. think
Of Little Sage with strangersw
at is I who will go among stran-
gers"
The words may have been little alb.
surd and childish in his own ears, but
the thought behind them was Of his
loneliness and of the impossibility of
staying longer In the studio If 1t were
to become only nursery.
She was facing her definite choice OF
motherhood to tyrant childhood.
He wanted to seize her In his arms
he was willing to leave the child If by
so doing he could regain Lucia and give
her to herself.
There was knock at the door, so
loud that Small Wisdom, who was mov-
ing cautiously past it, sat down very
hard.
Sage had to step over him to open 1t.
The rotund, genial, successful La.
croix came in with enthusiasm.
"The horde of students await us at
the station, | wished to have some talk
with YOU Agth before we offered our