The Little River news., 1922-09-13
The Motherless
 Child
By ELLA SAUNDERS

her baby like that You know, Doctor, she lost her last one in the same way, and she'll be nearly crazy when she wakes up and finds out
 "Pity she couldn't have had this one" growled the doctor, pointing to the lusty eisht-hours-old youngster in the beribboned cot in the babies room. "This one might as we'll not have been born"
 "Oh. Doctor!"
 "What chance hYs it in life?" de- handed the doctor fiercely. "The child of a tramp, father unknown, starting life in some public institution. It's damned before it's born.'
 The matron protested eagerly. All babies in the hospital were equally her charge; she could not bear to think of social differences.
 The nurse came in Mrs. Marriott's waking up.' she said "She's asking for her baby.'
 The matron looked sad You haven't told herr"
 4NO, Sllc IluSll DC lOlu tlll row." interposed the doctor. "The shock might prove fatal. It's a mercy she didn't die as we'll as the child"
 "What shall I say to herr"
 'Tell her the child's doing all right. I'll break the news tomorrow. The most important thing is to keep up her spirits. Tomorrow she'll be better able to bear the news.
 The nurse turned away. From one of the rooms in the maternity ward a child.
 "Hows the other mother getting on?' the matron asked the doctor.
 "Oh, fine, of course. What else Go you expect of that class of woman? It's the unwanted children that live, not the wanted OneS."
 The matron went into Mrs. Mar riOtt's room. The thin, eager, pretty little woman looked up at her from the bed. Can't I see my baby, just for a minute?' she asked.
 Not today, dear
 Hes is all right. isn't he? Some thing in the nurses look made me afraid--'
 Hes all right and you shall see him tomorrow the matrOn promised her.
 But the look on little Mrs. Marriotts S face haunted her as she went out and .l,, q calling her.
 Mrs. Sims, Mrs. Sims! Will you come here moment? I don't like
 The matron hurried into the ward, toward the bed where the pauper woman lay. She was lying flat back on the pillows. her face very strange and white.
 ''Call Doctor Addison!"
 The doctor entered the ward At the sight of the woman in the bed he hurried forward. He raised one wrist felt the pulse, stared into her face.
 "rll get some brandy" whispered the matron.
 But she stopped suddenly. There was no need for brandy. Silently, im- perceptibly, the life had flickered out "a clot in the heart, of course.
 The unknown woman lay back on the pillows. The startled nurse was already drawing the screen around the bed. And there was nothing more to be done.
 The doctor and the matrOn faced each other in the babies room. In the corner the nine -hourS-Old yOungSter cried, making absurd bird-like noises. The matrOn was speaking.
 Nonsense, Mrs. Sims." exclaimed the doctor Indignantly "You don't mean that seriously"
 "Doctor, I do. Dishonest? What do we care? The mother longing for a child and the motherless child. It's right It's natural"
 Tt can't be dC.ie."
 Tt must be done. I'll take the blame. It's not necessary for you to know. It was Gods mercy that hap pened in the ward just now. Doctor-''
 A sound at the door made them start guiltily apart. Little Mrs. Mar riOtt stood in the doorway, her eyes wide with fear
 Mrs. Marriott! Get back to your bed immediately! I never heard of such thing It ought to mean your death!"
 "I can't help it! There's something happened to my baby. I can feel it That nurse wouldn't look me in the face when she spoke to me about him. I must see him! I must!"
 The doctors eyes met the matron's S. Some invisible sign seemed to have passed between theln. Mrs. Sims went to the corner and plucked the new born child out of it's bassinette.
 "Well, if you must see him you must" she said, holding 1t in her arms. "Now you get back to bed instantly, Mrs. Marriott, and then, if you're very OOOd I'l1 hrinU him in to you for a fo1y