American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-04-18
IN THE NIGHT
BY JACK LAYTON.

lOf tAttN hAbAA' ~
through the stiffness. What could 1t
bel
There was no other boarder upoh
the third floor OF the boarding house
She had come to the city In q 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 wat more
content In the big room on the empty
third floor. But that cry left her
vaguely troubled. Last night she mao
been sinking on into sleep when II
sharply aroused her. Mrs. Shannon
assured her In the morning thai there
were no boarders In the house beside
those seen at table, yet Marcia couiu
see that the question confused the
landisdy.
Now she determined TO investigate
the low moaning sound. Marcia tounu
a small inner chamber, In the center
Of which, upon q crumpled bed, lay a
child, blinking at her In surprise. lie
WINS a beautiful boy with dark, tear
stained eyes and golden curls.
"OhP' 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 80
the boarders wouldn't get scared an
10. Now" the child's voice broke
of In a wall, "the sickness has lone
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, sonr
mo one" the child answered re
Ugnedly, "'cept Mrs. shannon when
she has time. They's n good many
stairs to climb, you know, an Mrs.
s~hnnnon's pretty fat. When she can,
she comes up. Now she's gone to bed
III never heard OF such n thing" in
diuanfiy murmured Marcia quilt and
ali she lifted the lad In her arms,
rocking him gently In a broken arm
chair.
"who nre you, dearT" she asked,
"and how do you come to be heref'
I'm Ted,' the boy replied. with n
little grateful. sigh he euddi"d against
her cheek. my mothers In heaven
Father don't like me because she hat
to 70 when | came here. SO he iefl
me with Mrs. Shannon. Mrs. Shannon
used 10 work for my mother" Ted OK
plalned, before l came into tn
world"
Marcia held him closer to her hear
tears filled her eyes.
"oh I" she breathed, "the pity of Ill
But Ted was rambling on.
i've a nice daddy" he said; III
comes up here ever when I'm sici
An he brought me things, an tomoi
row he's going to bring n good docto
who doesn't scare little boys and VIII
brings them candy"
Indeed" answered Marcia - he
caustic tone escaped the child-"h
does then have some idea OF respons
b!ity.
what Ia daddy's name. Tedf' OF
asked,
.It's Mr.. Langley Ted responde
.Nrs. Shannon says daddy's her be
bonrder."
Marcia was staring straight ahe'
IN the candle light. "Mr. Langley
uhe Ensped. and for a long time U
two sat still. 1t was 30 hard TO
iieve. why-she had not known
John Langley's marriage-much le
Of his little neglected son. He, W
had neemed to the lonely girl In
city 30 kind and manly, was but u pc
thing after all.
Mrs. S%hnnnou's best boarder''
stab OF pain shot through Marcl
heart. She had been ~ strange q
din1dent among them all, and In
many ways he hnd helped her. La
those evenings at the theater or
opera in his company had become
one looked-for pleasure.
Mira. Shannon, who had vouched
smphntically for his worthlness,
forgotten 60 mention the fact OF
Injustice to his own child and the
which had embittered him. And
Inst nlght-before the awakening
the CRY which had led her to the tr
John Langley had asked Marcia 4
his wife. She had not given hin
answer she wanted to walt
make sure for them both. Sadly
sta planned that answer, And
the candle fared ms the bedroom
was softly opened.
Before her stood John Langley
self. he whom Ted's loyal heart
called his nice daddy.
"Youi" the man exclaimed. his
lighted ~joyously. : you found
Marcia, the poor little Walt. He dc
know that he Is TO undergo an o
ton tomorrow upon his ear. III
ing TO stay and see Ted thr
Motheriess, with a heartless {
roaming around ths globe, he
need of friends. came on him
accidentally and we've had
meetings up here ever since. WI
ing to tell you about him, Marcia
.But you" murmured the cir
-unw en- carS vou hts daddy