Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-04-25
IN THE NIGHT

Marcia, ready to turn out her light
for the night, paused again, at SOUND
of strange, haunting cry. Regularly
for three nights 1t had come echOing
through the stiffness. What could 1t
be7
There was no other boarder upon
the third floor OF the boarding house.
She had come TO the city In a spirit
Of courage with "a heart for any fate
determined to do her best to become
an illustrator.
Clad in her blue apron, sketching.
and singing the while, she was moro
content In the big room on the empty
third floor. But that cry left her
vaguely troubled. Last night she mad
been sinking OF into sleep when ir
sharply aroused her. Mrs. Shannon
assured her in the morning that there
were no boarders In the house beside
those seen at table, yet Marcia could
see that the question confused tho
landlady.
Now she determined to INVESTIGATES
the low moaning sound. Marcia round
a small inner chamber, In the centes
OF which, upon crumpled bed, lay a
child, blinking at her In surprise. he
was a beautiful boy with dark, tear
stained eyes and golden curls.
"Oh!' he said, you'd better shuf
the door quick before Mrs. Shannod
comes. Or maybe you'd better go Que
I've had the sickness that's catehin',
you know, an she put me up here, 50
the boarders wouldn't get scared an
20. Now" the child's voice broke
off In a wall, "the sickness has dons
something to my ear, an it pains"
you poor little thing" cried Marcia,
the candle was on the old dresser nov,
and she was smoothing the boys head.
'sWho takes care OF you, sonT
'No one" the child answered re-
signedly, "cept Mrs. shannon when
she has time. They's good manf
stairs to climb, you know, an MIS-
Shannon's pretty fat. When she can,
she comes up. Now she's gone to bed.
II never heard OF such thing" In
djgnantly murmured Marcia quilt and
all she lifted the lad in her arms.
rocking him gently in a broken arm
chair.
"Who are you, dearl' she asked
"and how do you come to be hereT
I'm Ted" the boy replied. With
little grateful sigh he cuddled against
her cheek. MY mothers In heaven.
Father don't like me because she had
TO go when l came here. So he left
me with Mrs. shannon. Mrs. Shannon
used to work for my mother" Ted ex-
planned, before came into the
world"
Marcia held him closer to her heart
tears filed her eyes.
oh she breathed, "the pity Of it +
But Ted was rambling on.
I've a nice daddy" he said; "he
comes up here even when I'm sick
An he brought me things, an tomor-
row he's going to bring a good doctor
who doesn't scare little boys and who
brings them candy"
eIndeedl" answered Marcia he
caustic tone A-eecc.I1ed the child-"hs
, aoes then have some idea Of response
bility, Z
"What is daddy's name, Ted" shs
asked.
Its Mr.. Langley" Ted responded,
! Mrs. Shannon says daddy's her best
boarder.'
Marcia was staring straight ahead
in the candle light "Mr. langley
I she gasped, and for long time the
two sat still. It was so hard tps3oe-
Iieve. Why-she had not lsirown Of
John Langley's marrisg e-much less
of his little neglected son. He, who
| had seemed to the lonely girl In the
city so kind and manly, was but poot
/ thing after all. =
Mrs. Shannon's best boarder. A
stab Of pain shot through Marcias
| heart. She had been so strange and
| diffident among them ALL and In 80
many ways he had helped her. Later,
| those evenings at the theater or the
/ opera In his company had BECOME her
one loOked-for pleasure.
Mrs. Shannon, who had vouehed 80
emphatlcally for his worthiness, had
forgotten to mention the fact of his
injustice to his own child and the loss
which had embittered him. And only
last night-before the awakening OF
the cry which had led her to the truth,
John Langley had asked Marcia to 30
his wife She had not given him az
answer, she wanted TO wait-and
make sure for them both. Sadly Mar
ella planned that answer. And thea
the candle fared as the bedroom doos
was softly opened. y
Before her stood John Langley hing
self, he whom Ted's loyal heart had
called his nice daddy.
''Youl" the man exclaimed, his eyes
lighted joyously. $50 you found hi4
Marcia, the poor little waif He doesnE
know that he is to undergo an operE
ton tomorrow upon his ear. I'm g#
ing to stay and see Ted through
MotherIess, with a heartless fathsA