Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-05
One Man in His Time:
Ry Ellen Glasgow.

tho child I asked. and he stepped
right out OF the circus crowd. and
answered Give me the child. like
children" An inarticuIate moan
followed. and then she repeated
clearly and slowly. Just like that
nothing more--'Give mo the
child. / like children. That was
tho first time l ever saw him. lie
had come to see some OF the people
In the circus, and I've never seen
him since then except In the Square
The trial went against mo, but that's
all over. Oh. I'm tired now. It
hurts mo. I can't talk
She broke into terrible coughing:
and the old woman. dropping her
knitting for tho first time since they
had entered the room, seized towel
from chair ny the bed. Talking
was too much for her" she said Il
thought she'd pull through She was
so much bettcr-but talking was too
much"
she is so I'll that She doesn't know
what she is saying" murmured CO.
rinna In the girls car. she is out
OF her mind"
NO sho isn't out Of her mind"
replied Patty quietly. she isn't out
OF her mind" In her bali gown of
green and silver, like the colors Of
sunlit foam. with n wreath OF artin-
cial leaves In her hair. her loveliness
was unearthly. 1T Is every bit true
know it, She reiterated
She's bleeding again." muttered
the old woman. you'd better find
the doctor. | amt used to stopping
hemorrhaccs.' Thnn. az Corinna went
out of tho room, she added uucruious-
~ to Patty: ''Shc didn't have no
business trying to talk: hut she would
do II. She said she'd do 1, f IL killed
her-and I reckon she don't mind II
IT does. She'd have killed herself
sooner than this If Id let her alone"
FROM tho street below there came
the sound of a motor horn: then tho
noise of car running against tho
curbstonc: and then tho opening and
shutting OF door. followed by rapid
footsteps on the stairs
That's the doctor now. I reckon"
remarked the old woman: but the
words had scarcely left her lips when
tho door opened. and Corinna came
back Into the room with Gideon
Vctch.
Where is Fatty" he asked anx-
lousy. she ouchtn't To be here"
Yes, ! ought to he here" answered
fatty. AS she turned toward Gideon
Netch she swaycd as IL she were
going Z" fall. aud he caught her in
nus arms. Go home, daughter" he
saia almost sterniy. You oughtn't
To he here. Mrs Page. can't YOU mako
her go homc?"
Il have tried" responded Cor,nna.
thcn moan from the bed reached
her, and she turned toward the wo-
man who lay there. To die like that
with nobody caring, with nobody even
observing It. Exhausted by the loss
or blood. the woman had fallen hack
INTO unconsciousncss. and the towel
the old cripple held to her lips was
stained scarlet
The doctor had gone to bed. He
VIII come as soon as he gets dressed"
said Corinna. He warned us to keen
her quiet"
II ne don't hurry hurry. she'll be
gone before he gets here" replied tho
old woman. looking round over her
twisted shoulder.
"oh. father. father" cried Patty.
ninging her arms about his neck; and
then over again like n frightened
enid, Father, fathcr.'
lie patted her head with n large
consoiins hand. There, there daurh-
Ter. he returned gently. "A little
thing like that won't come between
you and me-"
win his arm stiil about her he
drew her slowly to the bedside and
STOOD looking down on the dying wo-
man and the old cripple who lowered
over her with the stained towel in
her hand.
don't even know her name" ne
said, and Immediately arterward
She must have had hell of a lifer'
ihough ther. was wholesome pitv
In his voice. il was without the wn,i:
ness OF sen,imentality. He had done
what ne could. and he was not the
kInd 10 worry over events which he