Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-11-23
the TWINS
sy FANNY GRAY.

over to the NEXT town to stay day IL
two and help settle up the affairs 81 !
cousin who had died the week befof%
leaving twin babies. six months ole
Her husband Ind always been shlfl.
less man. and seemed, OF course. Leo
resourcefuI in his hour Of grief fliaa
ever before.
Siias was not enjoying his suppa&
He and Mary were very fond Of each
other, and seldom had cause 20 be- sep
nrated, and he missed her. They had
been married ten years and had %
children. which was a great disannolns.
ment TO both OF them. Now that II
seemed likely that they would alwayt
have to be denied the Joys OF parent
hood, they seldom spoke Of IT.
So, as Silas rose from the table, and
took his pipe out on the steps while
supper WAS being cleared away, me was
thinking little bitterly OF the unkind
fate that had bestowed twins upon .
couple who couldn't provide aud then
took away the mother.
He wondered how Mary was max
ing out, and he pictured her playing
mother to the babies. How he wished
he dared propose 70 her TINT they
adopt a child He secretly had want
cd Il for some tune, but MaFy--well.
he fnncied Mary wouldn't care much
about any child that wasn't her own.
Many . time he had tried 70 talk about
Il with her. but somehow the words
stuck In his throat.
How little We sometimes know - the
thoughts and visions u those nearest
and dearest 20 uai While silas vaa
sitting smoking his lonely pipe that
summer evening Mary was rocking tbs
twins 60 sleep. one against each arui,
looking and feeling very mothcriy and
happy. As the chair swayed back and
forth. and she sang softly little lula.
by, she was thinking Of her own child
lessness and the rift Il was making in
her life.
she reflected that undoubtedly Siiaa
didn't care 10 much. ''belng q man. =
and chat no didn't appreciate how sha
longed for n little baby 70 love and do
for. II seemed 10 her she Just couldn't
so on any longer without one. III be
only would be willing Tor me 10 take
one and keep itr' she thought. 'But.
then. suppose he couidn't enjoy hsv-
ms a child around that wasn't his own.
I can't blame him"
As she rocked snd sang and looked
At the sleeping babies. an idea popped
into her head. - daring that IL almost
made her heart stop beating. Suppose
thay were 10 adopt the twlnRi Poor
little thlnaai They we're god stock
and related 10 them, and II would be
mercy now the mother vas gone.
fBut twinai silas would never con.
senli
Mary's Idea took root. however. and
grew rapidly The neat day she dis
continued her efforts to nad house
keeper and waited for sllas whp was
20 drive over In the afternoon and sec
n abe was ready 10 60 home. wbea
he cRmr, she somewhat tipidly sgR.
gested that, NJ she had been unable
to and responsible person. they
should take the babies home with them
for a week or ~, while she looked
around at her leisure.
silas. somewhat aEtonished. aud adj
mirinK her for her seIf.sneriiice. agreed
TO the proposition. only cnntionlng her
not 20 fatigue herself And His inter-
est Ia the twins grew every minute,
A. the days passed Mary seemed
very busy in her horne, snd sllas OBJ.
served that she was not exertinR her
self TO ind the muchtnlked.of house
keeper. He was secretly delighted. for
the babies wers winding themselves
around bis heart. Often and often he
watched Mary as she tended them. and
the same thoughts that were IN her
mind grew w IN HIS, He would Ike
TO keep the twinsl hut what would
Mary thinkf
One evening, after the babies had
been put 20 bed. Silas and Mary were
sitting on their porch, little busy
body Of neighbor ran IN Tor a chat.
Finally, the visitor, who WINS nothing
II not frank. suddenly chirped up:
"'SpoEe you know everybody says
you're goln' to adopt those young ones.
told my husband just didn't believe
II. and when l came over here was
goin' TO ask you outright II Amt 80.
Is III"
There was silence for moment.
then Mary spoke, rather tremblIngly
at FIRST, but gathering courage MS she
went on. Eyes, we've about decided.
I have wanted for long time to take
a child. and this seems a special OPP
portunIty. being relatives and aIl--if
the father is willing"
She glanced timifly at her husband,
but she could scarcely see his face In
the gathering darkness. What would
he say or dor Had she risked too
much7 Her heart seemed TO stand
stiIl At last he spoke.
Sure we're going TO keep them. We
Intended that, ris:.t along, after their
mother died. But things like that can't
be decided offhnnd.v
The gosslpy neighbor hurried away
to spread the news. and the husband
and wife sat alone on the porch. After
a little. Silas rose and went around
to Mary's chair and took her hand
gently In his. She lifted her face to
his, and he kissed her. Caresses had
not been as frequent an usual with
them ~ late.
Meantime. the neighh0r. having
stopped In at the next house, was say
Ing: SWELL. it's good it's twins. They
can each have one to fuss over
Copyright, 1916. By the Mcclure Newapn.
Der Syndicata.l