The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1919-05-17
IN THE NIGHT
&4
BY JACK LAWTON.

Marcia, ready to turn out her light
for the night, paused again, at sound
of a 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 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 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 1t
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
Iandlady.
Now she determined to investigate
the low moaning sound. Marcia found
a 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.
"Ohr' 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 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, son?"
mo one," the child answered re-
signedly, "'cept Mrs. shannon when
she has time. They's a good many
stairs to climb, you know, an Mrs.
Shannon'S pretty fat. When she can,
she comes up. Now she's gone to bed"
"I never heard of such a 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 go when l came here. So he left
me with Mrs. Shannon. Mrs. Shannon
used to work for my mother" Ted ex-
planned, before 1 came into the
world"
Marcia held him closer to her heart
tears filed her eyes.
"Oh!' she breathed, "the pity of it P'
But Ted was rambling on.
i've a 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 a good doctor
who doesn't scare little boys and who
brings them candy"
Indeed" answered Marcia her
caustic tone escaped the child-"he
does then have some idea Of response
bility.
What is daddy's name, TedT' she
asked.
It's Mr.. Langley" Ted responded.
Mrs Shannon says daddy's her best
boarder."
Marcia was staring straight ahead
in the candle light. "NIr. Langley y
she gasped, and for a long time the
two sat still. 1t was so hard to be-
Heve. Why-she had not known Of
John Langley's marriage less
of his little neglected son. He, who
had seemed to the lonely girl in the
city SO kind and manly, was but a poor
thing after all.
Mrs. Shannon's best boarder" \
stab Of main shot through Marcia,s