Tombstone epitaph., 1917-10-14


now by Rodney with full conviction.
were too much for her. When she
broke down and cried. as she couldn't
Lelp doing. Rodney sOOthed and COM
forted her. assured her that this no
tion Of hers about the expensiveness
of 1t all. was just q notion. which
she must struggle against az best
she could. Shed see things in a truer
proportion afterward.
Very fine and small and weak. Rose
Stanton. lying In a bed with people
about her let her eyes fall heavily
shut lest they should want her to speak
or think. Then. for long time.
nothing. Then presently. a hand. q
firm. powerful hand. that picked up
her heavy. limp wrist and two sensi-
tive finger-tips that rested lightly on
the upper surface Of 1t. After that.
an even. measured voice-a voice Of
authority. whose words no doubt n-Ade
sense. only Rose was too tired to think
what the sense was:
That's Il splendid pulse. She's do
ing the best thing she can, sleeping
like that"
And then another voice. utterly un-
like Rodneys and yet Enthusiastically
his-a ragged voice that tried to talk
in a whisper but couldn't manage 1t
broke Queerly.
That's all right" 1t said. But I'll
find 1t easier to believe when"
She must see him-must know
what il meant that he should talk
like that. With strong physical ef-
fort. she opened her eyes and tried
to speak his name. She couldn't: but
someone must have been watching and
have seen, because a woman's voice
said quickly and quietly "Mr. Aldrich."
And the next moment. vast and tow.
ering and very blurred in outline. but.
like his voice. unmistakably. was
Rodney-her own big. strong Rodney.
She tried :" h"iH :..e. arms up to him,
out Of course she couldn't.
And then he shortened suddenly.
He had knelt down beside her bed.
that was II. And she felt upon her
palm the pressure Of his lips. and his
unshaven cheek, and on her wrist q
warm wetness that must be-tears.
And then she knew. The urgency
Of sudden terror gave her her voice.
"Roddy," she said. there was go
ing to be a-baby. Isn't there7"
Something Queerly like a laugh
broke his voice when he answered
'Oh. you darling! Yes. It's all right.
That isn't why I'm crying. It's Just
because I'm so happy"
But the baby" she persisted
"Why isn't 1t here?"
Rodney turned and spoke TO some
one else. ''She wants to see" he
said. May she?'
And then a woman's voice (why,
1t was the nurse. Of course! Miss
Harris. who had come last night said
In an indulgent. soothing tone: "Why,
surely she may. Wait just a minute"
But the wait seemed hours. Why
didn't they bring the baby-her baby?
There. Miss Harris was coming at
last, with n queer. bulky, shapeless
bundle. Rodney stepped in between
and cut off the view, but only to s'.Je
an arm under mattress and pillow
and raise her little SO that she could
see.
And then, under her eyes. dark red
and hairy against the whiteness Of the
pillow, were two small heads-tw0
small, shapeless masses leading away
from them. twitching. sQuirming. She
stared bevildered
There were twins, Rose" she heard
Rodney explaining triumphantly. but
still with something that wasn't quite
laugh. "a boy and a girl. They're
perfectly splendid. One weighs seven
pounds and the other six"
Her eyes widened and she looked
up into his face so that the pitiful
bewilderment in hers was revealed to
him.
But the baby" she said. Her wide
eyes flied with tears and her voice
broke weakly. II wanted a baby"
you've got a baby" he insisted.
and now laughed outright. There are
two of them. Don't you understand.
dearT
Her eyes dropped shut. but the
tears came yelling out along her
lashes. please take them away" she
begged. And then, with a little sob.
she whispered: II wanted a baby,
not those"
Rodney started to speak. but some
sort Of admonitory signal from the
nurse silenced him.
The nurse went away with her bun
die. and Rodney stayed strOking
Roses limp hand.
In the dark, ever so much later.
she awoke, stirred a little restlessly.
and the nurse. from her cot, came
quickly and stood beside her bed. She
had something In her hands for Rose
to drink and Rose drank 1t dutifully.
"Is there anything else" the nurse
asked.
II just want to know" Rose said;
''have I been dreaming. or Is 1t true?
Il there q baby, or are there twins"
twins, to be sure" said the nurse
eheerfully. The loveliest, hveliest
little pair you ever saw"
Thank you" said Rose. II just
wanted to know"
She shut her eyes and pretended
to 90 to sleep. But she didn't 1t was
true then. Her miracle. Il seemed
somehow. had gone ludicrously awry.