The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-02-24
"GLADDlE"
BY JEANNE L. DARLING.


Tromp. When he built his house, the
best situated in the village, it had two
fronts. One, with a big piazza. faced
the street; here Katie, his wife, sat
and sewed or visited. The other fac
ed the meadows behind the hill town;
here, silent and moody, Peter used to
sit and gaze at the PARKWAY blue out-
lines of beautiful eastern mountains.
They were not as friendly as nus
band and wife should be-Peter and
Katie weren't. There were no chill
dren TO bind their hearts together:
then, too, Katie loved her neighbers
and Peter did not. lie would not
even go to the little meeting house on
Sabbath days, ana katie's heart was
bitter about this. The minister once
expOstulated, but Peter led him
through his house and onto the back,
or rather the trent porch
THAT there's my church, and good
enough for me-" he answered, point
ing toward the mountains. which lay
serene, majestic. understanding. in the
purple-red colors of sunset, and no
more would he say.
Two days after Emma Simonds died.
Katie went into Peters garden and
found Emmas four-year-old daughter
there playing 'mudples" with Peter.
| They seemed the besr of chums.
Ar sight of Katie Peter drew the
barefooted, roguish-eyed child down
| beside him. His great, gaunt body
trembled with tenderness.
Il shall keep her he said defantly.
Katie looked at Gladdie's irrespon-
sible face and shuddered.
THE ideal" she objected you're
crazy, Peter. Her aunt EHa'n have TO
take her. It's mighty risky takin' 9th
er folkses' young uns to bring up. Be
sides, ! don't have no time to look af-
ter a child, anyway. And what would
the neighbors Think"
Peters eyes blazed
"Hillcrest amt my Judge" he an
swered shortly
Peters wife smiled sardonically.
"Well, s'Iong 5 she don't bother me,
she can stay" and she went back into
the house.
/ Peter and Gladdie sat on, hand in
hand on the steps.
Daddy" she said jOyously. ana
stroked his face. He gathered her in
: TO his arms and she cuddled up
against his breast ana slept. The sun
went down and the mountains took
on vague, haunting ouuipes in the
darkening distance; peace lay over
the valley world. and Peter's eyes INN
grily took in the sight until his soul
was satisfied. and he, too. slept, his
head against the porch railing. They
were still there when Katie, returning
| from an evening call, came out and
| found them.
i 80 this is the way you're goin' to
Il take care of her, is it, Peterf" she
: tlared. shes probably got her death
of cold" oh. yes, Kate knew how her
words were hurting the man she had
i married. shell go to her Aunt Elias
d tomorrow, just as sure as the sun
comes up
e She took the sleeping child and
bundled her into the house. Peter fol
lowed, crestfallen, conscience struck
4 Not for worlds would he have harmed
the child he was learning to love pas
) sfonately. In time he got back some
of his dignity.
You let me have her. he Gem
t. manded firmly. u want to look after
her myself, and I'm goin' to keep her
too" he added not so firmly.
: It'll mornin'," Katie agreed, grimly
q and went out TO sit alone on her porch
m Gladdie was wide awake now ant
her happy laughter came out to Katie
~ Somehow it drove the anger out of he
heart and filled it with a strange des
olate feeling.
II whats that, Daddy?" Gladdie wa,
asking. Gladdie's up-bringing hat
r been woefully deficient in some lines
"A nightie-gown? Is It Gladdie's, dad
dy?"
Its Gladdie's tonight" she hear,
" Peter say, gently. Wen get Gladdi
one of her own tomorrow"
"a "Who has it when Gladdie ain
here" the child persisted.
katie" grufly.
: "Who's Katie, Daddy"
"She's-she's," Katie knew her hus
band was cropping for words, "she'
your new mamma"
Katie rose angrily. To put such nc
items into the childs headl
Peter" she called, you hsrnes
L Ned and take that young un to he
ia aunt Elias right off. She amt goir
to stay. here another minute. D'yo
to hear me, PeterT'
Peter came out to the porch.
81 amt goin' to take her bacs
Katie" he breathed heavily.
nd Il wants to kiss mamma goodnight
adj too a plaintive voice said and q III
pnS tie white figure. holding up hug
oft nightgown, stumbled between then
Are fumbled for Katie's skirt, and littl
arms reached up for her embrace
%. Katie sank back into chair. he
DIS; legs shaking from the effects of he
nic anger, 1 suppose, The little white Il;