The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1916-08-04


ThGt was the beginning OF tho
strange experience. The mans work
room was at the end OF tho flat. Q
large room filled with glass OF all
shapes and sizes. Angels heads start
cd out from between strips OF lead.
The floor was Bplashed with colorlng.
When the nurse came CIauson shut
himself up and refused to see her.
Weeks passed. They hardly eyer
met. Clauson had given her key and
knew her hours, She would hear him
at work In his room as she tended
Muriel. Gradually she began TO see
that certain affection had sprung
up between tho child and the father.
She began TO pity the lonely man.
Once. when they met. she showed this
sympathy, and she fancied that the
look In his eyes was like that OF
dog, starving for affection. hut thou
the mask fell again, and no was gruf
fer than ever when they next met.
r One day, as she was leaving, he
came In and stood beside her.
We'll. how long iB this going onf"
he asked.
AS long az ON needed" she an
swered with spirit.
The man seemed suddenly to
change. sit down a minute" he said.
Il want to tell you that---that am
not ungrateful for what you have
done. You are fond OF tho child. but
you don't know what she means TO me.
IL want to explain my rudeness.
1T will take lot OF explaining"
thought Nurse Winifred: but she only
waited for what he was going TO say.
Il want TO tell you,' he continued.
that the childs mother Ia still alive
Then why don't you bring heri"
demanded Nurse Winifred starting up
In Consideration.
because she wouldn't come" he
answered. She never wanted the
child. She hated the idea OF giving
life 10 her. She only cared for--soct
ETY., and such things"
"Oh!" murmured the nurse. begin.
ming to sense something OF the trag.
edy.
Il wrote to her after she had left
me. She ran away--she left note
for me saying that she couldn't live
in poverty. was not successful then.
II was hard work to live. But she
never cared for the child. wrote to
her. begging her to come back for her
sake. But she refused. She secured
a divorce from me In the West md
married n rich man. The child meant
nothing to her and docs not remember
her.
After that experience ! hated all
women. I vowed that no woman should
ever enter my home again. resolved
TO bring up the child alone, to try 10
make her better than her mother was.
But she had TO 20 10 the hospital, and,
and"
Il understand,"s answered Nurse
Winifred gently.
Then, when you came hero ! do
termined never to see you. hut you
showed me that there were some
women who were different. And am
sorry. know how you have given all
your spare time In spite OF the work In
the hospital. So I want TO make you
q suggestion. am not III to care for
the child. Take her away and bring
her up az yours. win pay you. !
am doing well, and can sign an agree.
ment--"
Nonsense. Mr.. Clauson," answered
the nurse promptly. Il am willing to
continue coming here. Muriel likes
me, and--it 10 my greatest happiness.
Her eyes filled with tears. He made
no answer, but went out OF the room
quickly.
But after that she had, more and
more frequently, giimpses of the real
man beneath the mask OF Indifference
and selfishness. Il was slow process
II began when they put their heads
together TO plan for the girls welfare.
But It might have been Infinitely slow
had not Nurse Wlnifrad suddenly
failed to appear one afternoon.
The next day Clauson was at tho
hospital They told him that she had
been struck down with pneumonia
from overwork; that there was no
hope for her
Nurse Winlfred, lying in coma,
was wholly ignorant OF the man who
sat beside the bed He had been there
from morn TIL night for seven days
There Ii one chance In q hundred"
the doctor said. 1T Ia the critical
period. II she awakens but
she IL not likely 10 awaken
As the angels OF death and life
struggled With one another the sound
Of q mans grief reached the nurses
mind IA its misty recesses. Family
she opened her eyes.
"Livei" he was Whispering. Live
for Muriel---and me-"
With ali her effort she focused her
consciousnses upon the words.
'sYesi / will iiyel" she Nhisperad