The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-18
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CHAPTER XLVII Continued.

CHAPTER XLVII Continued.
mo, he didn't scream. Your
mother was sewing in her room
there wasn't sound. They didn't
know until Val peeked in Teddy's
room on her way to bed. She saw
his crib empty-and--Teddy over
at the window. She spoke to him
first. The room was dark. of course.
And then, she switched on the
lights-poor Valerie
My baby was watching for me,
Nab. Looking out the window to
see me coming. I hanged him. I
hanged my baby because I stayed
with John Lawrence"
Tears rolled down Mabel's pale
cheeks. and she hunched her shoul-
der abStractedly to wipe them from
her chin.
You mustn't talk like that,
Sybil. We think Teddy woke up
and saw the snow flakes under the
street like at the corner. You
know there was quite a furry this
evening He must have been wide
awake with excitement. But he
was quiet as little mouse. He tip
toed over to the fireplace for the
cricket, and stole very softly to the
window with it.
Your mother says if there'd been
a sound, she'd have heard it. She's
simply heart broken, Sybil. So is
Valerie-and Tad. You know we
couldn't have loved Teddy any more
any of us-if he'd been our own
little boy"
II want to go in and see him,
Mabel"
Not tonight, Sybil."
'Yes-now. want to see my
baby"
"Sybil-darling-be brave"
Mabel took her icy hands and
held them warmly.
"Teddys face is black, dear. All
purple and swollen. You don't want
to see him like that. In the morn
ing Sybil-it will be different then"
MY baby, Mabel! My Teddy
black! Those little pink cheeks
that soft sweet skin-oh God in
heayen!"
y
THEY gave her hypderrnic to
i quiet her bleeding nerves, and
an opiate to put her to sleep.
And in the morning, pale and
wrung, she listened patiently to the
doctor who told her she must not
tax her strength andthat she should
be brave for her mothers sake {.
She waited for the undertaken to
have his dreadful hour with her
darling dead And, when he
had taken his black bag and de-
parted, she called to Tad, and they
went together to the nursery where
Teddy lay in his little crib.
He looked Xix ethe Christ child
that lies in the managers at Christ
mas time. The little wax Christ, as
white as snow and dearer than
heaven and all its angels.
Il think said Sybil, as she looked
upon her child, that we would like
to be alone, Tad-Teddy and 1. Let
me kiss him first, Tad. Then you
may kiss him Kiss his cheek,
Tad -. I'd like you to leave his
lips for me Just for me, Tad
because he's my own little boy &.
And I can't ever kiss him any more"
All morning Sybil sat with her
dead child. And her mother and
Valerie and Tad stood at the closed
door while she sang to him, and
her song tore at their heart strings.
BY and by Mabel came with Jack,
and they stole, too, to the nursery
door and turned eway, be-
cause they could not bear to listen.
TTALF the day Sybil held her son
II in her arms. And his little
body grew warm with the warmth
of hers, and his straight, small arms
and legs grew soft. And the stiff
ness left his little fingers when she
rubbed them, so that they curled
about hers. And his hand lay like
crumpled rose petals against her
cheek, when she held it there. His
whole body grew tender and almost
rosy as she Graded it in her arms,
so that the child was rare in death,
and ethereal, like a baby angel
without any wings, and golden curls
for a salo.
Sybil told him stories and sang
him lullabies
"Sail, baby, sail-out across the
sea. Only don't forget to sail :.
back again >. to me-"
"Humor her." the doctor had told
them. Something may snap, if we
are not very careful
So they did what she asked them
when she tiptoed from the room
that afternoon.
Bring me the little green pant
les" she commanded, "and Teddy's
white linen blouse. I don't want
him wearing his pajamas all day.
=. And where are his play shoes,
mother?"
Valerie pressed the blouse and
sewed on missing button. Mrs.
Thorne moistened the shabby little
play shoes with her tears, and
kissed the scuffed-out toes.
Poor Sybil," they whispered to
one another. She'll never get over
this"
With aching hearts they brought
her everything for which she asked,
and left her with their darling, to
dress him in his pretty best, and
keep him warm and soft.
The next day was cold and
stormy. A small white casket came
for Teddy. And, because the wind
howled and the sky was gray, Sybil
dressed him warmly.
"Tha little red teddy bear suit,