The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-12-02
INSTALI,MENT II

Uncle Tobias stole into his library
| like thief. 1t was past nine O'Clock
and the room was a den of shadows
| Walking on his toes to the little table
in one corner, he lighted the reading
lamp and then approached the wicker
baby carriage standing few steps
from the open window. Bending
down, he could just make out the
black outline of tiny round head
against the snowy pillow. The eyes
appeared to be closed, and the breath
ing was deep and regular. "He's
asleep" muttered the old man; and
drawing his chair noislessly to the
easement, he sat down and rested his
chin on his hand.
1t was beautiful May night. Out
side, directly below the window, his
tiny garden lay dreaming through
the dark hours. The perfume of its
sleeping breath caressed his cheek.
Above, that other garden of immen-
sity-the sky was alive with star
flowers. They pashed their golden
heads through the rich black soil on
invisible stalks; and the breeze, COM
ing from them, seemed to bring their
fragrance to the world.
What were the old mans thoughts
on this night? Was he happy. Who
can tell? Pehaps he had conjdred
up another Hector Mcdonald when
he had looked at the sleeping child.
Very often our human weakness
takes the form of forced affection.
We lose a precious something and
try to supplant it by another, driving
the old love through new channels of
the heart. But is it ever quite the
same? Can we take back a gift
from one and present it to another
with all the joy giving something
new? For weeks he had been con-
templating this step; for weeks he
had been passing the little shop; for
weeks he had seen this baby almost
daily-and yet, during all that time,
he had hesitated in taking some
thing to fill his nephew's place.
But having once decided, he had
acted firmly. He had talked the
matter over with the sensible old
woman who kept the store. He had
expected trouble here-weak, wom-
anly tears-perhaps a feigned affec-
ton for the child, calculated to open
his purse. But he had been wrong.
Everything had gone quite smooth
ly. The sensible woman had proved
to be very sensible indeed; some
might have said unfeeling. No
sooner had he explained to her his
position in life; no sooner had he
offered to adopt the child, to make
himself responsible for its upbring-
ing, then all the objections she
might have had were put aside. She
had given up her nephew without a
sigh, without a tear, but with per-
haps just the slightest trace of an
enigmatic smile about the lips.
He had sent for his new pos
sessionthat morning; and it had been
brought, in due course, safe and
sound. A baby in the house needs
thought and preparation. Uncle To
bias had neglected both. Very much
to his annoyance, he had been I'M
able to secure the services of a
nurse Immediately. Luckily, his
cook was familiar with children and
had been "Little Williee" under her
wing. Then there was the nursery
that had been neglected for so
many years. Inc servants Hdu Deeil
working in it all day, but it was
not quite ready for its new occupant
The child was to spend the first
night in the library. He had been
kissed and told to go to sleep, hours
ago; and yet Uncle Tobias, like a
baby with a new doll could not resist
watching him as he slept.
At last the old man stirred in his
chair, and, rising stiffly to his feet
tiptoed to the safe. 1t was long
time since he had taken the rubies
out for their nightly inspection; and
now, perhaps wishing to retrace his
footsteps into the path of bygone
steel door and took out small leath-