The Yale expositor., 1922-12-28
Sheila's Return
Home
By ANNE WHITFIELD


He flung open the door of his shack,
laughed bitterly as he hung up his hat,
switched on the electric light, and at
once went to the cot in the corner.
Mrs. Blayds, who looked after little
NJtie in the daytime, had just left.
*. tie was sitting in her cot as good
ms gold, playing with the doll Dan had
iought her. She looked up at her fa-
tier.
"Coo-oOo-oOO," she said.
Dan watched the little mite and
laughed again more bitterly. A puz-
Y,ed look came over the little girls
face.
Mamma" she whlmpered.
"She won't forget :" said Dan. "By
ana by, Kittie, darlint."
He gave her bread and milk and
watched her eat it. He beat up the
pillow. Klttie was asleep in a mo-
nient. There came tap at the door.
iBig Bill Peters came In.
Hello Bill" said Dan. Speak
easy. The kids asleep"
Big Bills rumble had never awak-
cred Kittie. There was something
very gentle about the big man, de-
spite his size. He sat down on a
chair, hanging his hat on the back.
you'll have to get the child adopt
cd, Dan," he said.
Dan scowled II won't do ut Mrs.
Blayds looks after her.
'Iut, man, that's no way to bring
Up a kid It's for her sake, l mean,
Unless your wife"
Dan raised his hand. 1--WE heard
enough about her." he said.
you've had no news for three
r1pnths now?"
Nor hope l ever will"
Big Bill laid a hand on his shoul-
Ger. "YOu know Sheila and Michael
Sullivan had been sweethearts in the
old country. He was a black-hearted
beast, but just the kind to fasclnate
giI like Sheila. She's weak"
Weak and bad" muttered Dan.
"She's sure to come back. Wouldn't
.ou forgiven For the kids sake?"
"I'll niver have her in my house
again, Bill"
Suppose she wanted to take the kid
Gway7"
shell niver get her."
"You don't need to worry, Dan," said
fS!g Bill. She'll never come here
gain
"Whatdya meanT Dan stared al
Tim. you've heard something She's
she isn't-dead?"
Big Bill nodded. "GO easy, lad" he
said. "She died of pneumonia In Chi
cago That scoundrel had left her. She
vas poor. Her last words were about
you, asking II you'd forgive. Twas
Mrs O"Reilly had the news of It,"
Dan began rocking himself back
and forth in the chair "Sheila dead"
ne muttered "Poor little Shella
You're sure, Bill?"
dead sure" said Bill. $50 you
don't have to worry for fear she'll be
coming back to you. | wanted to
break the news as best could, seeing
ls It was me brought you and her to-
..ether And do you remember that
time you quarreled, you both asked
ne always to be your friend whatever
happened, and to do the best l could
'or you"
Poor little girl" muttered Dan. u
ruess l see how she could have fallen
or that blackguard, Bill. It make,
5uch a difference when she's dead
don't it,
1T Oughtn't to-" said Bill gently
That's the way we misjudge. Death
oughtn't TO make no difference. You
should have forgiven her in youi
Ieart. Women are weak things, Dan
not like us, though we men are weak
enough, God knows"
Maybe | would have gotten oyei
H." admitted Dan. "But It was hard
bitter hard, and I-lOved her" A
sob choked him. "Poor little Sheila ,
wonder IL it'd make her feel better
TO know I've forgiven her"
Sure" said Big Bill. That's the
spirit, lad. And so the past is past
lnd YOU don't have to worry no more
He got up softly and stretched out
his hand.
"Well, so long, Dan," he said.
He opened the door. blast OF
tDlu ulT DOuic Oue Wdb
standing outside, a woman hooded
and cloaked.
"Sheila!'
The cry that broke from Dams
throat was like that of man in NOR
ral pain.
Big Bill put his arm round Sheila'i
waist and led her into the house
"Dan," he said In his gentle voice
you've forgiven the dead. Forgive
the living, then, for Kittie's sake 80
Dan raised Sheila's hand to his lips
Let's both forgive" he stammered
and Big Bill closed the door upor
chem.
Old BIIIinosoate.
Biliingsgate. England. is principally
associated In the public mind with the