The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-28

he was. She felt frozen and sick.
When some Of the gravy trlclled
over his chin. she could have
Wept, 50 undesirable was the ten
sion.
He ate ana ate. He wiped his
Hips, folded his napkin and started
ct her: "Sourbail! Wouldn't eat,
would you? You're damn sour
ballg'
a flush spread over her features.
She gave no other sign.
Nothing n1addened him like her
silence. But she couldn't help II.
He walked up and down. his arms
folded. Suddenly he stopped be-
fore her: Say something, win
your
She turned her head, but his
breath blew in her face. This
shook her so that she began to
laugh. She stood up wildly, cry.
ing and q breaking III her heart.
I'VE were married three years
ago tonight!''
She said that and darted into
the kitchen.
He followed. He stood on the
threshold chewing his lips. The
blue eyes she had so loved famed:
:'The he'll We werel say. the
he'll we were!'.
Then Nora Lee cried. Margart
gave a swift, short run that was
blocked by the tahterss massive
arms The child cried again more
loudly; And Margaret begged:
s.Let me so, WIN please
that's the baby she needs
me
Needs you! BY God. needs
youi 4 don't, ell9 I don He
had hold Of her wrists and now
twisted them In fury. Suddenly
he whispered In q hoarse, deli.
berate tone: TN give her what
she needs
Like q shot he was across the
room. Al door opened and slammed.
It was locked when Margaret
reached II.
Half fainting, her forehead cold
with sweat, she turned the knob.
She put sick lips against the keys
hole and pleaded: WilI-Will, aar-
ling open the door! III heIp
you. Let me take her. win, dear
don't bother
She heard him moving at the
crib. a deadly hush. The baby's
cries stopped IN an excited. alb.
eupt curtailment.
Fear twisted like q serpent In
her heart. Her hands went pound
ing in q madness at the door.
Let me in! Open twill"
It was jerked from her grasp.
He came out bIuffly, pushing her
before him. 'She's all right! You
get over there and sit down. Sit
down and talk! Understand? BY
God. youll open that face of
yours! You'll talk-zget me?n
She braced her hands against
him, smiling in the starkest, ter
ror. Yes, win. I'll talk to you.
Of course, viii. Let me see the
baby. Let me Just 90 a mo-
ment -ss
Sit down! I say she's all right.
She's mine, amt she2's
And she, that was its mother,
hesitated.
Into the silence came a faint.
throttled gasp. The sound went
into Margaret's soul like blood In
the mouth Of tiger.
She leaped and struck VIII
Meadows in the face, beat him
with maddened fists and darted
like some wounded beast along
the wall.
She saw what lay upon the bed.
Witness and hope left her.
There was q blue puffed face
there and little, soft hands dou-
bled into claws. There was
great handkerchief stuffed and
gagged in the baby's mouth. It
was all still and silent now.
Margaret didn't weep. Her
hands were deadly calm. She took
the handkerchief and gently pull.
% It free. She even smiled and
whispered: 'No--oh, nor and
held the baby's tongue and raised
Its little arms. sss.s
How long she worked, Mar
garet never know ror how lone. IL
was before there came a cry--a
sort, frightened cry, but to Mar.
garet,s ears tle paean OF a thou-
sand angels would not ring with
such q breaking joy. All the
mother In her. all the love and
fearful anguish went up IN
gtorming prayer of thanks that
God had been go kind. Oh. she
looked In the beloved little face
ana Wept and laughed. She
raised the silky head that she
might feel the joyous smugRling
close against her neck. When she
did this and the baby's breath
came warm across her mouth.
Margaret sank to her knees there
was such melting In her throat.
such gratitude End tragic Rladness
IA her heart. The child Law srnfl-
Ing in her arms.
That night when It was (Iarkess
margaret did tho bitter thing that
lay before her. She did II braveiy:
gathered up her things: garhefefi
mp the baby'y clothes AMI the
money that she had. She and the
child must leave him.
This was hard for girl lust
twenty, and one who had SO MANY
dreams af2anIe within her thought.
Once Margaret stood at the bu.
reau, pushing the. pin tray, the
ivory comb and brush and steady
ing her lips agS~.lst the passion
that came so not and aching
rom cher heart. Z. It was when
she CHANGED Is note a spri.x 81.
orange blossom kept in the long
glass jar That was from her
wedding wreath. He had laughed
At her and swept her In his arr1s
and kissed her, because thnv
We're to- keep It always for remeni-
She bit her lips ana wh,s.
pgred, We'll" Then she o,lt on I
her coat and wrapped the baby
IN her furs.
They went out softly on the
Iaintest tiptors, through the living
room. For ne was there. The
lamp put q glow on the MASSEY
waves OF his hair as he sat
sprawled out. his head on the