Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-05-02
IN The NIGHT
BY JACK LAYTON.

| Of q strange, haunting cry. Regularly
| for three nights 1t had come echoing
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 n 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 Off 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 ut table, yet Marcia could
see that the question confused the
landlady.
Now she determined to investigate
the low moaning sound. Marcia found
small inner chamber. in the center
Of which, upon a crumpled bed, lay
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 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 child's voice broke
off in a wall, "the sickness has done
| something to my ear, an it palms,
"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, son7"
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.
| Shannon's pretty fat. When she Gun,
she comes up. Now she's gone to bed"
II never heard of such a thing" in
| dignantly murmured Marcia quilt and
| all she lifted the lad In her arms,
rocking him gently in broken arm
chair.
"Who are You. dear?" she asked,
land how do you come to be here7'
"1'm Ted" the boy replied. With n
little grateful sigh he cuddled against
her cheek. "NIy mothers in heaven
Father don't like ME because she had
to go when I came here. SO he left
me with Mrs. Shannon. Mrs. Shannon
used to work for my mother" Ted ex-
planned. "before I came into the
world"
Marcia held him closer to her heart
tears filled her eyes
"Oh!" she breathed, "the pity of It'll"
But Ted was rambling on.
"Tve 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 q good doctor
who doesn't scare little boys and who
| brings them candy"
Indeed" answered Marcia her
caustic tone escaped the chld-''he
does then have some idea Of RESPONSE
bility.
"What Is daddy's name, Ted?" she
asked.
"Its Mr.. Langley" Ted responded.
Mrs. Shannon says daddy's her best
boarder."
Marcia was staring straight ahead
In the candle light. "Mr. Langleyw
she gasped. and for a long time the
two sat still. 1t was SO hard to be-
lieVe. Why-she had not known Of
John Langley's marriage-much less
or 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 b0arder." A
fol ~ eli
heart. She had been 80 strange and
difident 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 lookcd-for pleasure.
Mrs. Shannon. who had vOuched 40
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-before 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 nm
answer, she wanted to wait-andl
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'll" the man exclaimed, his eyes
lighted joyously. 80 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 90.
ing to STAY and aAn Tad .hza..-.