Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-09-23
IN THE NIGHT
BY JACK LAYTON.

through the stiffness. What could it
be?
There was no other boarder upon
the third floor of the boarding house.
She had come to the city In 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 more
content in the big room on the empty
third floor But that cry left her
vaguely troubled. Last night She had
been sinking or into sleep when it
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 the
landlady.
Now she determined to investigate
the low meaning sound. Marcia found
a small inner chamber, in the center
of which, upon q crumpled bed, lay
childo blinking at her in surprise. He
was a beautiful boy with dark, tear
stained eyes and golden curls.
"0hw he said, you'd better shut
the door quick before Mrs. Shannon
comes. Or maybe you'd better go out.
I've had the sickness that's catchin',
you know, an she put me up here, so
the boarders wouldn't get scared an
go. Now" the childs voice broke
off in q wall, 1.-THE sickness has done
something to my ear, an 1t pains"
"You poor little thing" cried Marcia,
the candle was on the old dresser now,
and she was smoothing the boys head.
"Who takes care of you, SOM"
mo one" the child answered re-
signedly, "'cept Mrs. shannon when
she has time. They's good many
stairs to climb, you know, an Mrs.
Shannoh's pretty fat. When she can,
she comes up. Now she's gone to bed"
Il never heard Of such thing" in
dignantly murmured Marcia quilt and
all she lifted the lad In her arms,
rocking him gently In a broken arm
chair.
"Who are you, dear?' she asked,
''and how do you come to be here?'
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 60 when ! 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 filled her eyes.
"Oh. :" she breathed, ''the pity Of 1t %
But Ted was rambling on.
1--we nice daddy" he said; she
comes up here even when I'm sick.
An he brought me things, an tomor-
row he's going to bring good doctor
who doesn't scare little boys and who
brings them candy"
"Indeed!" answered Marcia her
caustic tone escaped the child-"he
bility.
"What is daddys name. Ted?" she
asked.
s"It's Mr.. Langley" Ted responded.
boarder"
Marcia was staring straight ahead
In the candle light "Mr. Langley ~
she gasped. and for q long time the
two sat still. 1t was SO hard to be-
lieye. Why-she had not known Of
John Langley's marriage-much less
of his little neglected son. He, who
had seemed to the lonely girl In the
city so kind and manly, was but poor
thing after all.
Mrs. ShannOn's best boarder." A
stab of pain shot through Marcia's
heart. She had been 80 strange and
difrident among them an,s and In SO
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 vouched so
emphatically 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-befors the awakening of
the cry which had led her to the truth,
John Langley had asked Marcia to be
his wife. She had not given him an
answer, she wanted to wait-and
make sure for them BOTH Sadly Mar
ella planned that answer. And then
the candle fiared as the bedroom door
was softly opened.
Before her stood John Langley him.
self, he whom Ted's loyal heart had
called his nice daddy.
"You" the man exclaimed, his eyes
lighted joyously. $50 you found him
Marcia, the poor little waif. He doesn't
know that he Is to undergo an opera
ton tomorrow upon his ear. I'm GO
ing TO stay and see Ted through.
Motherless, with q hesrtless father
roaming around the globe, he is in
need OF friends. came on him quite
accidentally and we've had secret
meetings up here ever since. l was GO
ing to tell you about him, Marcia"
But you" murmured the girl per-
plexedly, "he calls you his daddy"
John Langley laughed. 1T pleased
Ted to adopt me-" he explained. ia
Their doesn't like me- Ted said, so I
don't like father. You'll be my
daddy"
Gently Marcia put her sleeping bur-
den back In his bed. then she turned
TO the man with 0utstretched hands.
.Iahn - she said ssvou and ura
must both see Ted through"
Copyright 1919. BY Western Newspaper Uaion.)