The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-09
The Daily Short Story

approached them she bent over the
little bundle and peered into the
little face.
~"Oh. Dickie," she faltered. "Oh,
darling. Is-he-Qrt?" she asked
this Of the man, who had now arisen
to his feet.
Before he could speak, Dickie
threw out his little arms. Mother"
the little voice vas soft and I'M
steady. mother, I've found my
daddy" The baby eyes closed, and
he snuggled closer to the mans
| breast.
my Doris, could you ever for
give me-" The man put--out his
arms and drew her to him.
"Oh, Jack, you don't know how
I've wanted you!"
"Not any more than I've wanted
you, my little girl" he whispered,
as he kissed her Quivering lips.
! 1t was nearly morning when, at
last. Dickie lay in his little be |.
while the doctor said one word,
pneumonia" and shook his head
doubtfully.
/ 1t was during these hours, while
Dickie slept that Jack Royace
found a minute to explain. Finding
life at home a torture without his
| wife and child, he had hired a cot
| tage and, with a friend, had gone
there for their vacation without the
! least knowledge of his wife's where
abouts Upon the preceding after
noon, while walking alone, he had
taken shelter from the storm in a
cave. A few minutes before Doris
found him holding the boy, he had
heard q cry and going out, had
found Dickie in wet, rumplcd
little bundle.
! All Of that night, the one follow
ing Dickie's rescue, Doris and Jack
knelt side by side at the little white
! crib 1t seemed to the Two break
ing hearts that all that they held
most, dear, most sacred, seemed
slowly slipping away with each tiny
breath that came from the white,
still body 1t was only occasion
j ally that Dickie opened his big blue
eyes, but seeing his father and
mother, he closed them happily
Only once did he venture to speak
and then his voice was so weak tina!
1t frightened the listeners.
Daddy, you will always stay
with mother and me, won't your
| "Yes, darling. I'll never 60 away
again" Jack slipped his arm under
the little fellow while Dori,
smoothed a little hand and smoth.
cred back sob.
! The end came about I. Daddy,
he whispered family. and then
!, fainter still, mother" Jack crush
ed the little body angaist himself
Doris looked away for one Ions
moment, and when she looked into
the crib the little body once more
lay white and still.
/ Two weeks later a white-faced
woman and a grave, silent man sal
alone in the moonlight Their souls
were full Of grief. but they were
young, and when you are young, life
is sweet. even though touched with
sorrow Or with<bitterness.
Inc SIl WdS Tue uI6l 10 DToaE
the silence Jack, dear, long AK
you said that real love vas gainef
{ only by sacrifice. l didn't know
what you meant then. i am JUS,
beginning to understand. Yor
meant. dear, that We should Civ,
= up. or be willing to give mp, thing
I'VE loved-be willing to sacrific,
anything. or do anything for tn,
other, But Jack. We have now; w
J have sacrificed ths one We love.
best. We have sacrificed orr dar
ling for each other, Don't You see
dear! You didn't give him hp 70,
nae, nor did give him up for you
but We both gave him mp for eacf
other"
4 yes, Doris, and when you max,
!. spch big sacrifice, the biggest pos
sible. the love ought to be the same
dear-the biggest. the best, also"
i In the moonlight Doris eye,
slowly filled with tears. But be
J hind them there was . new light, 1
light Of glory. sweetness, love AM
. the beauty of life. Jack drew heI
tight Into his arms. and his lin.
! touched hss dusky hair, then the