Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-01-21

that certain affection had sprung
up between the child and the father,
She began to pity the lonely man.
Once when they met, she showed this
sympathy. and she fancied that the
look in his eyes was like that Of
dog starving for affection. But then
the mask fell again, and he was gruf-
fer than ever when they next met
One day, as she was leaving, he
came in and stood beside her.
swell. how long Is this going onT
he asked.
"As long as | am needed" she an
swered with spirit.
The man seemed suddenly to
change. "Slt down minute" he said,
Il want TO tell you that-that I am
not ungrateful for what you have
done. You are fond OF the child. But
you don't know what she means to me.
II want to explain my rudeness."
at will take lot of explaining"
thought Nurse Winifred; but she only
waited for what he was going to say.
II want to tell you" he continued,
tHul tic Nllilu l5 bllll ullNCs
"Then why don't you bring herT
demanded Nurse Winifred, starting
up In CONSERVATION.
Because she wouldn't come" he
answered. She never wanted the
child. She hated the idea of giving
life to her. She only cared for-so-
ciety, and such things"
"Ohw murmured the nurse, begin
ming to sense something Of the trag-
edy.
II wrote to her after she had left
me. She ran away--she left q note
for me saying that she couldn't live
In poverty. was not successful then
1t was hard work to live. But she
never cared for the child. l wrote to
her, begging her to come back for her
sake. But she refused. She secured
a divorce from me in the West and
married rich man. The child meant
nothing to her and does not remember
her.
after that experience I hated all
women. vowed that no woman should
ever enter my home again. resolved
to bring up the child alone, to try to
make her better than her mother was.
But she had to go to the hospital, and,
and"
81 understand" answered Nurse
Winifred gently.
"Then, when you came here I do
termined never to see you. But you
showed me that there were some
women who were different. And l am
sorry. know how you have given all
your spare time In spite of the work
In the hospital. SO want to make
you q suggestion. I am not ut to care
for the child Take her away and
bring her up as yours. l will pay you
I am doing well, and l can sign ar
agreement"
Nonsense, Mr.. Clauson," answered
the nurse promptly II am willing Il
continue coming here. Muriel likei
me, and-it is my greatest happiness
Her eyes filed with tears. He made
no answer, but went out of the room
quickly.
But after that she had, more and
more frequently, gllmpses of the real
man beneath the mask Of indifference
and selfishness. II was a slow process
II began when they put their heads
together to plan for the girls welfare
But It might have been infinitely slow
had not Nurse Winifred suddenly
failed to appear one afternoon.
The next day Clauson was at the
hospital. They told him that she had
been struck down with pneumonia
from overwork; that there was no
chance for her.
Nurse Winifred, lying In coma
was wholly ignorant of the man who
sat beside her bed. He had been there
from morn till night for seven days.
"There is one chance In a hundred, y
the doctor said. ut Is the critical
period. II she awakens but
she is not likely to awaken"
As the angels OF death and life
struggled with one another the sound
OF mans grief reached the nurses
mind In its misty recesses. Family
she opened her eyes.
"Livel he was whispering. "Live
for Murlel-and me-"
with all her effort she focused her
consciousness upon the words.
"Yes! I will live" she whispered
hack