The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-07

loved that chlldS mOtneF u INC uS
Of her death. loved that woman
then, and, God help me! love that
woman STILL"
He covered his face with his hands.
and sat leaning forward and breath
ing heavily as he rocked himself to
and fro. Van Bibber still stood look
ing gravely out at the lights that
picketed the black surface Of the city.
He was to all appearances as un-
moved by the outburst Of feeling INTO
which the older man had bean sur
prised as though 1t had been some
thing in a play. There was an ui-
broken silence for moment, and
then it was Van Bibber who WAS the
first to speak.
II came here. as you say. On Inn
pulse" he said; but ! am glad
came, for I have your decisive an
swer now about the little girl. l
have been thinking" he continued.
slowly, since you have been speak
ing, and before, when first saw her
dancing in front Of the footlights,
when / did not know who she was,
that I could give up horse or two.
II necessary. and support this child
instead. Children are worth more
than horses, and a man who saves .
soul, as 1t says'-he flushed slightly,
and looked up with hesitat-
ing, deprecatory smile-"somewhere.
wipes out a multitude Of sins. And
II may be I'd like to try and get rid
of some Of mine. know just where
to send her; know the very place.
It's down In Evergreen Bay, on Long
Island. They are tenants Of mine
there, and very nice farm sort OF
people, who will be very good to her.
They wouldn't know anything about
her, and she'd forget what little she
knows of this present life very soon,
and grow up with the other children
to be one Of them; and then, when
she gets older and becomes young
lady, she could 60 to some school
but that's a bit too far ahead to plan
for the present; but that's what am
going to do, though" said the young
man. confidently. and as though
speaking to himself. THAT theatrical
clearinghouse person could be
bought of easily enough" he went
on, quickly, land Lester won't mind
letting her go II ask It. lnd-and
that's what III do. AZ you SAY, it's
good deal Of On experiment., but
think I'll run the risk"
He walked quickly to the door and
disappeared in the hall. and then
came back. kicking the door open a.
he returned, and holding the child
in his arms.
This is she," he said, quietly. He
did not look at or notice the father.
but stood, with the child asleep In the
bend of his left arm. gazing down
at her. This 10 She" he repeated;
this is your child"
There was something cold and
satisfied in Van Bibber's tone and
manner, as though he were congratu-
lating himself upon the engaging Of
new groom; something that placed
the father entirely outside Of It. He
might have been a disinterested
looker-on.
She will need to be fed a Bit"
Van Bibber ran on, cheerfully.
They did not treat her very we'll, I
fancy. She is thin and peaked and
tired-looking." He drew up the
loose sleeve Of her jacket. and
showed the bare forearm to the
light. He put his thumb and little
finger about it. and closed them on
it gently. ut is very thin" he said.
And under her eyes. II 1t were not
for the paint" he went on. merci-
lessly, you could see how deep the }.
lines are. This red spot ON her
cheek" he said. gravely, "fs where
Mary Vane kissed her tonight. and
this is where Alma Stanley kissed
her, and that Lee girl. You have
heard Of them, perhaps. They will
never kiss her again. She Is going
to grow up a sweet, fine, beauttful
woman-are you not?" he said,
gently drawing the child higher up
on his shoulder, until her face
touched his. and still keeping his
eyes from the face Of the older nan.
"She does not look like her mother,
he said; "she has her fathers auburn
hair and straight nose and finsr-cnt
lips and chin. She looks very much
like her father. It seems q pity" he
added, abruptly. "She will grow -"
he went on. without knowing him.
or who he is-or was, II he Should
die. She will never speak with him.
or see him, or take his hand. the
may pass him some day on the street
and will not know him, and he will
not know her, but she will grow to
be very fond and to be very grateful
to the simple, kind-heaYted old people
who will have cared for her whom
she was q little girl"
The child in his arms stirred.
shivered slightly, and awoke. Tho
two men watched her breathlessly.
with silent intentness She raised
her head and stared around tho un-
familiar room doubtfully. then
turned to where her father stood.
looking at him moment. and passed
him by; and then. looking up Into
Van Bibbers face. recognized him.
and gave q gentle. sleepy smile. and.
with a sigh of content and confidence.
drew her arm up closer around his
neck, and let her head fall back upon
his breast.
The father sprang to hil feet With
4 quick, jealous gasp Of pain. "0ive
her to met" he said. lereely, under
his breath. snatching her out OF Van
Bibber's arms. "She is mine; give
her to mel"
Van Bibber closed the door gently
behind him, and went jumping down ;.
the winding stairs OF the Berkeley
three steps at time.
And an hour later. when the
English servant came to his masters
door, he found him still awake and
sitting in the dark by the open win
dow, holding something IN his arms
..J LOOKING ont over the Sle6OfnC