The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-06-15
She starts the trip home to see
her sick mother.

stop me from walking. so l sent
her home. Dear Agnes Robbins,
you've been an angel to me, and 1
shall never forget all your kind
ness. Don't be angry with me now.
What else can do. I'm enclosing
the money / owe you. also enough to
cover the charges for kilograms I've
sent I'll have a man call for my
trunk. I'm only taking a very few
of the baby's things with ne. A
thousand thanks to you, dear Agnes.
MERLE CLAYTON"
She pinned this envelope on the
basket where the baby lay. She
dressed-mumbling to herself, drop
ping her skirt, half sobbing all the
time: "Hurry-oh, God-hurry"-
She kept seeing Contemplating
calling-and Jonathan llmbering to
the door, straining his eyes up and
down the block-oh, wondering why
she wouldn't come
She took a blanket and wrapped
the baby in it; laid it on her bed,
staring mutely at its quiet face,
touching it's hair. She fancied that
it smiled at her.
Then she raised 1t swiftly, its
cheek against her neck, half hid
den in the straggly fur of her coat.
She crept down the stairs, then
through the empty kitchen. And,
lowering her head as one breasting
efA 1H hn
oaks to the river road. Going to
them-taking the baby with her.
The wind drove; the leaves circled
And she hurried.
A mile and a half to the train.
The train due in an hour. Oh, she
could walk that easily. In four
hours she would kneel at Jennie's
bed.
Jennie's sweet hand running over
her hair again; Jennie's dear, faded
eyes trimming. Oh-her mother
would know-know her the very
moment. She went hurting along
her lips moving in fever-a frantic
thing.
T took so long to ge: from
tree to tree. They seemed to
move away. The wind tore
at her hat. Hurry-quicker. But
her feet were leaden-she tirew
short, hard breaths.
And she sank down moment,
resting. She drew her coat tighter
oh. 1t was cold. She held the baby
close.
AS she did this there was a twist
ing in her mind-a chill voice that
said: Taking 1t to Jennie-lay 1t in
Jennie's arns! She got to her feet
shaking. Every pulse was srak-
ing with stark vision Of herself.
ringing the bell Of the yellow cot
tage, smiling at Jonathan, walking
into the hall And a baby in her
arms!
She sat down again on mound
Of earth. She opened the collar Of
her coae-hot now, The wintry sun
was hot-or her blood was fire.
Insane-was she insane? Imagine
little Jennie and the horror in their
hearts seeing their Chickie-and all
this-and the hiding and the lies
and neighbors peeking behind the
shades-oh--
She sat motionless and numb. The
baby lying on her knees. She put
her hand on it's face. It's lips were
blue, chilly Poor little thing--so
quiet. Keep 1t warm. She opened
her coat and laid its face against
her breast--a fainting weakness in
her thoughts.
She said: II can't do that-or
kill them" Stealing away from
them to keep 1t all so hushed-
never letting Jonathan know-never.
And now to rush back blindly,
shout 1t to the world
And idea flashed upon her. She
wondered why she hadn't thought
of this before. She would GO to
Dorothy Wreden. Dorothy would
tell her of some kind, efficient
nurse. And she would pay her we'll
to keep the baby, oh, just for a. little
wh1le-just till she could think
just till she could know the thing
to do
Yes, do that; then rush away, then
rush to them. Make them smile.
Oh, never crush their hearts. Her
anguish this-bear 1t by herself
brave 1t alone
She felt stronger. She began to
hurry. She drew her coat, because
the baby's face was cold, she ran.
A faint shiver stirred the tiny form,
She looked at tits lips twitched-
a little, Pickering movement. 1t
startled her. And she stopped down
with her cheek against it's mouth,
waiting for the warmth Of its breath.
But the wind blew-ruffian gusts.
She felt no warmth-no breath. She
touched the baby's eyes-she rubbed
the baby's hands-she shook it-oh
its mouth curving-parting. Then
stillness--stiller than before
Chickie stared at its shut eyes
its open mouth. A mortal fright
crossed into her heart-made 1t
heavy like a stone, She laid the baby
on the ground, knelt beside 1t,
listened for It's breath, She raised
1t and whispered to 1t, She said
wildly, TITS all right-weak-its
just the samep'
And she began to run with II. She
kept rlnning-afraid to look-efraid
to stop.