The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1929-08-23

and legs grew soft. And the stiff
ness left his little fingers, wher
she rubbed them, SO that they
curled about hers. And his hant
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 with
out any wings, and golden curls
for a halo.
Sybil told him stories and sans
him 1%ullabies.
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 green little pant
ies," she commanded, "and Teddy's
while linen blouse. l don't want
him wearing his pajamas all day.
And where are his play
horses, Mother?"
Valerie pressed the blouse and
sewed on a missing button. Mrs.
Thorne moistened the shabby lit
tie play shoes with her tears, and
kissed the scuffed-out toes.
poor Sybil," they whispered to
n another" She'll never get
over this"
With aching hearts they brought
her everything for which she ask
ed. and left her with their daring,
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
"The little red teddy bear suit,
Val. with his red cap. And the
mittens Mother knit for Christ
mas. And get me his oversnoes
and the furry puppy dog he low
ed so much. l want to tuck it
under his arm like he used to
carry it. And the choo-choo train
Tad gave him. I'll put that at his
feet. Oh, a graham cracker, too,
Val - Teddy almost always had
one in his hand"
When she had clothed him for
the long journey, Tad lifted him
tenderly, in his brave red suit,
and placed him in the casket, and
laid him in the nursery, with his
TOYS around him. And they all
sat about, and talked in whispers
of the darling things he'd done
and said. and the beautiful child
he was.
That afternoon they buried him,
while the sun shone miraculously,
as if to warm the spot where they
+. laid him. And a procession OF
white. puffy clouds, like a flock
of sheep, strayed up from the pas
lures behind the cemetery. so
tina Sybil thought of the way
Teddy was learning to count.
Sheep jumping over a
fence every night as he lay in
his little crib. One-tWo-
observation-disclosures comes next,
Muvver?"
She looked up into the skies.
White, puffy clouds, like kline
sheep, come to put Teddy to
sleep.
Sybil dropped anemones on her
baby's casket, and scattered over
it the white violets that Mabel
brought. There were Valerie ana
Tad. and Mabel and Jack.
Mrs. Thorne stayed away. Tbey
left her in the sunny nursery
among Teddy's p~laythings, white
Tipped and dry-eyed-keeping up
for Sybil.
When they reached home she
had hot chocolate for them, and
sandwiches. They ate dutifrilly
and m|ournfully, painfully con-
scious that Teddy's little high
chair had disappeared from the
corner where it always stood, and
his silver mug and pewter per
ringer also.
Sybil slipped her chocolate
pathetically.
mo more cracker crumbs" she
said mournfully. mo more crack
err crumbs on your nice Oriental
rugs, Mother. No more smudgy
finger marks on your lovely white
paint"
She dropped her head in her
hands.
CHAPTER XLVIII
ooh, Sybil, don't!" implored
Mrs. Thorne. You know l loved
Teddy as if he were my own.
You and Tad have grown away
from me, and I'm such a lonely
old woman. I'll miss Teddy more
than any of you" ]
She put her hands to her face,
and silent tears stole between her
poor, thin fingers. Then Sybil
- 1-o ,-.+I H@r foaA T.