Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1920-02-06
"GLADDIE"
BY JEANNE L. DARLING.

10. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicRtel
Hillcrest people have not yet for
gotten the eccentriclties of Peter
Tromp, When he built his house, the
best situated in the village, 1t had two
fronts. One, with q 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 faraway blue out
lines Of beautiful eastern mountains.
They were not as friendly as hus-
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 neighbors
and Peter did not. He would not
even 80 to the little meeting house on
Sabbath days, and 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 front 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 Slmonds died.
Katie went into Peters garden and
found Emma's four-year-old daughter
there playing 'mudpies" with Peter.
They seemed the best of chums.
At sight of Katie Peter drew the
bare-footed, rogulSh-eyed child down
beside him. His great, gaunt body
trembled with tenderness.
II shall keep her, ne said def1antly.
Katie looked at Gladdle's irrespon-
sible face and shuddered.
'The idea she objected. you're
crazy, Peter. Her aunt Ellall 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 thinkY
Peters eyes blazed.
"Hillcrest amt my Judge" he an
swered shortly.
Peters wife smiled sardonically.
"Well, s'long s she DON'T bother me,
she can stay" and sne went back into
the house.
Peter and Gladdie sat on, hand in
hand, on the steps.
Daddy" she said joyously, and
stroked his face. He gathered her in
to his arms and sne cuddled up
against his breast ana slept. The sun
went down and the mountains took
on vague, haunting outlines in the
darkening distance peace lay over
the valley world, and Peter's eyes hun
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,
$50 this is the way you're goin' to
take care of her, is it, PeterT she
fared "Shes probably got her death
of cold" Oh, yes, Kate knew how her
words were hurting the man she had
She'll go to her Aunt Elias
tomorrow, just as sure as the sun
comes up
She took the sleeping child and
bundled her into the house. Peter fol-
lowed, crestfallen, conscience struck.
Not for worlds would he have harmed
the child he was learning to love pas
In time he got back some
Of his dignity.
you let me have her" he COM
manded firmly. II want to look after
her myself, and I'm goln' to keep her.
too" he added not so firmly.
"Till mornin'," Katie agreed, grimly,
md went out to sit alone on her porch.
Gladdie was wide awake now and
her happy laughter came out to Katie.
Somehow 1t drove the anger out of her
heart and filled 1t with a strange des-.
)late feeling.
whats that, Daddy?" Gladdie was
asking. Gladdle's up-bringing had
)een woefully deficient in some lines.
"A nightie-gown2 Is 1t Gladdie's,, dad
ly2" ,
ITS Gladdie's tonight" she heard
Peter say, gently. Wen get Gladdie
me of her own tomorrow"
"Who has it when Gladdie amt
lere," the child persisted.
Katie" grufly.
"Who's Katie, DaddyT"
"She's-shes," Katie knew her hus-
'and was cropping for words, shes
our new mamma"
Katie rose angrily. To put such no
lens into the child's head
peter" she called, you harness
Jed and take that young un to her
unit Elias right of. She amt goh' l
o stay here another minute. D'yIu
ear me, Peter2" Z
Peter came out to the porch.
II amt gOin' to take her bak,