Little Falls herald., 1917-08-03
WEI ,DED
LIN KS
BY BARBARA PHIPfS

III BY 6A16AfNA FfuffS
They had passed through a bitter
quarrel, the first real storm that had
ever broken upon them.
A few hours later they met and
agreed to separate. There should be
no divorce-at least not at present.
and they would divide the children,
the boy to go with the father, the girl
to remain with the mother. The father
vas now packing his belongings, some
thing he had not done for long while,
and it came hard to him, not only be-
cause he was not used to it, but be-
cause Of the sadness Of breaking up a
home.
The mother was In the nursery with
the children. Her little boy was on
her lap, the mother caressing him in
way he did not understand. Now and
again she would start to go to her hus-
band, fearing that he would not get his
packing done Alright. But the specter
of discord interposed. All that had
passed forever. She could endure the
separation stoically were it not for the
children. Poor little things, uncon-
scious of what was before them! Ev-
cry harsh word that had been spoken
between their parents was to bring a
pang to their young hearts that would
j.; wear upon them till they were grown
! and had families of their own, and
even then it would be spot sore to
| the touch.
A conveyance was to call for the IA
ther and the boy at o'clock. The
! child's belongings had been collected
! by the mother, and as she deposited
! them in the trunk each article seemed
to fall like a clod on his coffin. The
! playthings he loved smote her to the
heart. Finally she got them all In.
But it was not like disagreeable work
done and relegated to the past; 1t was
! the beginning of a horror that woulo
never end.
i At 4 O'Clock a carriage drove up to
the door,. She heard its wheels on the
pavement and, going to the window
looked out. Tears started afresh. She
| stood facing the window to conceal
them. Her husband came to the door,
and she heard him say:
'Ethelv'
How many times she had heard her
name spoken by that same voice, al
ways lovingly, until the day OF the
quarrel, when it had burned like
| lightning. Now, she fancied there was
| in it a deep sadness. She waited to
dry her tears, then turned and faced
him.
"Say goodby to Robbie"
| Goodby to Robbie; better goodby to
life.
She steeled herself for the parting.
Approaching the boy, she clasped him
in her arms. The children looked at
their father and mother and saw that
some trouble hung over them, but they
knew not what Releasing her boy,
she went to a closet, took down bis
overcoat and his hat and began to
put on the coat
"Where am going, mamma?" he
asked, with a trembling voice.
She tried to tell him, but she could
not speak the words. A look told her
husband to do it for her.
"You are going away with me, Rob-
bie," he said.
'When am coming back?"
There was an 0minous silence.
I'm not going away" said the boy,
refusing to put his arms in the sleeves
Of his coat. His sister went to him,
threw her arms about him and, look
! ing up at her father, said:
'You shan't take Robbie away"
The mother gently tried to separate
the children, but they clung to each
other and to her. She looked a roseate
appeal to her husband for help.
"Come, come, little girl,' he said,
laying his hand On the soft little arm.
But she only clung the tighter to her
brother and her mother.
| "Papa," said the boy, "take mamma
and Ethel, and I'll 60 with you.''
"No, no." said the girl; ''you and
! papa stay here with mamma and me-"
Selling her fathers hand, she tried
to put it round herself, her brother and
her mother. The boy, seeing what she
was endeavoring to do, caught his
mothers hand and tried to do the
| same. The mother looked at the IA
| ther. The eyes Of both were wet.
! Then the father arose and beckoned
his wife to join him in another-room.
"Sweetheart," he said and paused.
The words he would speak were chok-
ing in his throat Finally he found
voice to 60 on: "Give me another trial.
. I was-well, crazy, to talk to you as
did. Forgive me. I think can go
forever Without
he could not bear to designate the
brutality of what he had said.
She covered her face with her hands:
he went to her and put his arms about
her.