Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-08-17
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A LITTLE CHILD
BY JULIA A.
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1921. BY Mcclure Newspaper

tEH~aI..Ef- E=H.
Jack walked slowly homeward, with
bowed head and knitted brow. Home!
Was 1t home to which he was goingf
Could that bare room in the lodging
house be called home? Once he had
had a home, coy and cheerful, with a
little wife to make him happy, but
they had quarrelled. He hardly re
membered what It was about. In bit
ter anger they had separated. he had
come to the city and had lived his
lonely life and had heard no word from
| Sally since he left.
It came back to him in vivid recol-
lection as he walked the street, obliv-
ious of surroundings. Perhaps it was
because it was just six years today
| since he left her that he was thinking
of the past. He had kept the date.
Sally was a pretty girl, with laugh
ing eyes, bright and witty-saucy some
tines, changeable and h~igh-spirited;
yet loving and tender, always begging
for pardon after each outbreak, arms
clinging about his neck.
Jack had loved this fiery young thing
whom he had won.
To drown his sorrow Jack had
| plunged into business. He had made
money, but it brought him no happi-
ness. Once he had gone back, remorse-
fully, longing for Sally. The old town
looked as it did the morning he went
away.
The great elm tree spread Its friend
ly branches in front Of the cottage,
as of yore (Sally loved that tree).
| Lilacs were in bloom. The house had
a friendly air. He almost expected to
see Sally open the door and come out
with her old bright smile.
The door did, open, but it was not
Sally's face that met him. A man,
young and vigorous, paused on the
step as he saw Jack confronting him.
"Good day, my friend" he accosted.
"What can I do for you?"
Jack stared. us - does where's
Sally?" he jerked.
"Sally?" laughed the man. "Who's
sally?'
"Sally-she lived here" stammered
Jack.
81 don't know anyone by that name,"
returned the man. mo one by that
name lives here"
Jack stared, bewhdered, but soon re-
covered himself. OF course The man
would not know her by her first name:
"Mrs. Mason" he explained. SIS she
at homer"
"Oh, Mrs. Mason" the stranger an
swered. "She left two years ago. We
bought the house of her. She needed
money, / believe; was in a tight place
and had to give it up to raise funds"
Jack gasped "Gonel Where did she
go?"
Sorry 1 can't inform YOU" an
swered the man. "She left town."
Jack turned in a daze and stumbled
into the street. All the sunshine had
gone out of life. Sally gone! !.
1t was a drizzling storm, but what
| did it matter to the man dragging him.
self to his lodgings? He reached the
crossing. Vehicles INSTRUCTED the pas
sage, and he waited.
Many others waited, too. Among
them was a little child, who feared Ito
cross. She looked timidly at the heavy
| teams and the slush in the street, then
carefully scanned the faces of those
about her. With a look of relief and
a smile on her baby face, she crowded
her way to Jacks side; placing her
tiny hand in his.
please, sir, take m across" she
lisped, her blue eyes looking into his
with a child's confidence.
The touch of the little hand thrilled
him. He answered, took her in his
arms, and carried her across the street.
"Thank you, sir" she beamed, as he
landed her on the sidewalk.
"Tell me where you live and I will
take you home" he said, q new inter.
est awakening in his heart.
She led him down a side street. chat.
ting all the way.
"Have you a baby grill" she asked
MY mammals got me, but she cries
all the time, and when l say my pray.
ers I pray for daddy to come home
She stopped before a tenement
house.
"Here it is" she cried, as she sprang
into her mothers arms.
"Roxy, it's SC late!" cried the WON
an. 81 was afraid you were lost"
She tarned to thank the stranger fol
bringing her child home, but started
with a cry.
Jack started, too. SALLY" he
gasped.
"Jack!" she cried, drawing away.
ITO think that Il should find you
thus. You have suffered"
"Let that pass. Why have you
Gomez"
"The baby brought me-this child
who is She"
",she's ours, Jack-our baby. She
was born six months after you went