The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-10

II { =
~ her pot Of gold, for she
really had discovered it at
the end of q stormy afternoen.
IL not at the actual end Of the
lovely rainbow. at least some
where near 1t. A tiny yellow cot
tage in a wild-looking garden sur
rounded by sbushy. neglected
hedge.
Her dream came true. Here
she was installed in her pot OF
gold. yellow draperies at the win
dows, her easel erected in the
north corner. everything perfect
but for the Michaels next door.
Too Big a Strain.
Sacrifice was the right name
for those years. first nursing her
parents through a long. long m
ness, giving up her chosen ca
reer, then worn out, quite unable
to decide which path to choose,
she had married the doctor,
whose kindness and protection
seemed to be the very thing she
needed.
There was dim hope at first
that she might be able to study
art and be a doctors wife, then
after q very short period she saw
that such q combination was Ut.
teriy Impossible.
HuIlo." piped "a risky voice
that belonged to the boy, .'we,re
looking for the babyg'
He's not here" she answered
colby, and watched them move
reluctantly away. oh. they
needed but the finiest smile and
in they would have been, all over
the place. The brush dropped
from Linda's fingers. she had to
press her lips firmly together or
she would have opened her n1otitf.
and called them back. She looked
out OF the window sunlight with
scattering Of rain-and suddenly
a glorious rainbow. stretckfhg
across the sky with one end in
the corner Of her garden.
She laughed TREMENDOUSLY. .An.
other pot OF gold?' And just to
do something. she stepped into
the wet garden, over the soaked
grass, straight to the end or tia.
rainbow. laughing at herself as
she hurried. A great urn on rs
side. she meant to turn that irt6
a water-basin for the birds, lay
with its open side to the sun,
patch of gold-moving gold.
With a little startled cry Linda
hurried forward and snatched the
little wet, golden-haired baby
from its shelter. Little Pete, for
whom they had searched, had
evidently been out in all the RANT
Linda rushed with him to her
house and before the kitchen
fire she took off the tiny, drip
ping clothes. rubbed the fat little
body with warm. soft towels, and
then, after drink Of milk, she
rocked him to sleep. q soft, warm
bundle. none the worse for the
rain bath.
Acquainted At Last.
The baby slept peacefully IN
Linda's bed while she, con-
science-stricken, hurried to find
Mrs. Michaels. Instead Of . dis
tracted mother. she found the
little woman all excited and
smiling over the unexpected call.
''The baby over at your house?
Oh, I kind Of thought he might
have wandered that way-but do
sit down. Mis- Ellis, and, now that
little som
HE was dripping wet" men
toned Linda sternly, he might
have caught a fearful cold. your
''Oh, he's not my son." laughed
Mrs. Michaels unconcerned, 1--WE
enough of my own. This little
fellow belongs to the woman who
: lived in your house. Poor thing
died when he was born, and
took him; sooner or later he must
be, put in a home, for I've
enough
Linda, her eyes shining, laid an
impuIsive hand on Mrs. Michaels'
shoulder. "Then let me keep hina.
please. I love him and need him
-please!"
A little later she went back to
her house with glowing cheeks.
Odd to say, she was not thinking
of little Pete nor of Mrs. Michaels.
but Of her husband, the doctor.
She peeped in at Pete, sleeping
soundly, then hurried down the
road to the tiny railroad station.
A very brief telegram - just.
Come, Linda"
Walking slowly back in the twi-
light she thought. And I was
so sure that my right to live C life
just for myself was pot Of gold
and now I see 1t was but an irni-
tation. pot of brass, empty,