Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-12
The Daily
Short Story
WHAT THE CHILDREN nm
BY F. w. Mitchell.

ny r. W. Mtcnel. III
1t was .springtime. Not the e,y,v
spring. but June, when the leaves - !,
flowers are fully developed. A IN
and a girl stood leaning on . fanes
looking over a slowly rolling stre,n
beneath them, with broad fields =.
yond, then range of mountains. Tn,
had had their first lovers ouarref
There they made it up, there be tolA
hsi story, there he took his first lov.
er's, kiss. That was the happiest ma.
ment in their lives.
Slowly they walked on. The sns
its setting, spread \ vi
law carpet in their path. 1t tinged ~
leaves above them; it gilded ~
stream beside which they walked
lighter up the dogwood blossom: 4
gave a deeper. hue to the wild rose. Il
flooded the meadow, 1t placed
crown of glory on the mountains. Ana
it seemed to them that all this splen.
dor was to give more spiritual -
to that betr0thai kiss.
I've will never quarrel againf' Il.
said.
I'VE will never quarrel again" H.
replied.
A bird on a limb beside the road m
which they walked burst into SOM
of infinite happiness
do you know what it is saying.
she asked. -
mo, what is it,"
I'VE will never quarrel again."
Ten years passed. They were n.
ranging for a separation. Quarrel had
followed quarrel, and much Of ia
time the demon of jealousy held full
sway in the mind of the once happy
wife. Now the husband was soinr
away, leaving with her one Of their
children. a girl Of four. The father
was to take the boy, aged seven.
All had ben arranged and thew
were now to break the news to tie
children.
They had not thought how dificult
this would be.
Call them in" said the father final
ly, trying hard to keep his voice
steady.
"How would it do for you to 70 70
their playground and tell them there,
l am sure will break down and that
would make 1t still more dreadful for
all of u.s." said the wife.
He hesitated.
We'll, perhaps It is best that
should be present." she said. IF yuu
will go and bring them here I will Do
what can to bear up"
He found the children romping, and
they bounced upon him.
"Oh, daddy. dear, do come and play
with us; we are having a beautiful
time"
Then something in his face seemed
to quiet them, and when he said gent
ly: Come with me. chicks" they each
took the fathers hand and passed out
Of the room. The little girl. however,
unable to keep the dance out Of her
chubby legs. skipped along by bib
side. As they entered the living room
their mother faced her husband and
said:
Il am ready; tell them"
He drew the little boy to his lap
and said: John, you are to 60 and
live with me in another house. and
Alice will stay here with mother"
"Then will mother come every might
to undress me and hear me say my
prayers?"
mo, dear, some kind woman win DO
that for you. Mother will be here With
Alice; perhaps I can undress you for
a few nights"
Now, daddy" demonstrated the boz,
you don't know how to undress me-
and l Cont want some strange woman
| to do it."
Just then sobs broke the stiffness
of the room. Little Alice buried hsf
head in her mothers lap and wall
ing voice said: II don't want any
, naughty woman to have brother. ]
want brother to stay here and play
with me-"
Then she crept from the arms Of her
sobbing mother and going to her
brother, put both her little arms
round his neck, saying:
"No, brother can't go away from
Alice"
The two children chung to each 9th
err; they seemed to feel that some @,
}amity overhung them. They looked
from the serious face Of their sobbink
mother and wondered what 1t could ~
mean. They ran over to their mother
and putting their arms around her. the
little girl said: Mother. don't NJ
daddy take brother away, and ! donl
want daddy to go, either; we will q
lonely without daddy" and she dastea
for her father, taking him BY the
hand and pulling him over to ner
mother.
Mother, you tell daddy not to g.
away; it makes you feel so awlui
bad"
The mother raised her head ana
looked directly into the eyes OF nei
husband, who was kneeling near net'
His arm Joined the children enctrclns
her and in a voice he could NOT con
troll he said: -
agnes. for the sake OF these w.
dear little ones, can't We try 1t assn'
This terrible suffering has wiped AVN
all anger from our hearts, ana ny.
for the sake Of all We hold deal. y
us forgive and forget. l have go
thinking OF the kiss took that gay y
June when we made up our nrst ~
ers' quarrel. You remember! \.
Strange, was thinking 81 ~
too"
| Let us repeat that kiss and let J
be the pledge to hold together
four now. instead Of the two tnen' !.
And so saying he EMBODIED the sn.
in his arms. at the same time piacss.
tenderly a kiss full Of affection On =
lips of the wife.