New Britain herald., 1918-08-17


 Kin her mothers arms. AS
 m etiptoe, Lillian stirred
 lis t?" she whispered.
 S8Ylt over her and explained
 erine's message in a low mono
 (which I am fortunate in being
 to use. I have found it to be
 less disturbing to a sick person
 a whisper. And there is little Ss danger of awakening a sleeping hpersSn with it's use.
 Help me get up," she whispered.
 Marion was lying cuddled up to her mother in such fashion that there was great danger of awakening her if the mothers arms were withdrawn. But I comprehended instantly what Lillian wanted me to do. She wished me to substitute my arms for hers, to cuddle the child in the same fash ion, so that the little thing even in sleep should not miss her. With infinite pains we made the substitution, and before Lillian left she looked down at us with gaze I shall always remember. There was a great love for her child in it, but there was something else, comprehen- sion, aye! and compassion for me. She did not kiss either of us, for both she and I feared @ single awk- ward movement might awaken the sleeping child. But the long look she gave us was a caress and a benedic- ton.
 In another moment even the frou frou of her skirts had grown indi- stinct, yet another and l could hear no sound in all the house save the child's soft, even respirations and my own rather hurried breathing
 And then the waters of Maral closed over me.
 For Marion, still restless, even in her sleep, threw one little bare arm around my neck cuddling her tiny hand into my hair.
 Mamma, Mamma" she mur- mured sleepily and then was off into slum berland again.
 And I, quivering with the old, old longing that never would be stilled. lay staring out into the long years in front of me, years which might never be blessed to me with the touch of childish fingers.
 The Mother Acco1ade. With my arms strained around the soft childish figure of my friends little daughter I tried, foolishly enough to lose myself in the illusion that it was really my own child in my arms, that I, too, had been given 1 that accolade of a woman's life motherhood
 But to no avail. Little Marion, dear to me, beloved, was still my friends child not mine. And I found that it was torture to pretend.
 Another thought, insidious, black crept into my mind. Even if Diclzy. always so prejudiced against children, should change his feelings upon the subject, would I now want to bring into the world the child of a stacker? It was a bitter thought, an awful thought, but as it crept unbidden into my mind, so it remained, even against my protest. Because he was just old enough to escape conscription, Dicky had stood back and seen all his fol- lows march away to the great war. Is Madge Thankful? 1, Alfred Durkee was but one of those who had gone Even Frank Lester, the man I liked least, the man I had always characterized as a "bounder" was in the aviation corps, while his wife and child were with her people, fortunately possessing of enough means for comfort while he was 1 away.
 Only Harry underwood and Dicky 1 remained of the old merry crowd. 1 Harry Underwood was little better than traitor, if he wasn't actually l conspirator aganst his country, while ! my husband-What was the reason 1 that kept him puttering around il- 1 frustrating an aviation serial when his ] comrades were giving life and every 1 thing that makes life worth living to [ the cause of world freedom? I For the first time I felt thankful l that I had no child Better to have empty arms all life than some day