The Washington times., 1936-02-04

She thought he wished he
could bring himself to do 1t.
And so on the impulse Of the
moment she sat down and Scrib-
bled q breezy, naive little letter
to the mother-in-law who might
have liked her. The letter didn't
quite satisfy her, but 1t would be
hard to write a better one. Any
way, what difference did the
letter make? It would be the pic
ture, and the baby that would
count.
Twice she almost told Donald
what she had done. Then she
decided not to tell him until the
answer came.
It came Saturday morning, Just
after she had settled young
Donny for his after-bath nap,
and was going to start on the
washing.
A square, blue-gray envelope
with q Pasadena poStmark.
Swiftly she tore it open, read
the few lines on the page, glanced
at the folded slip Of paper within
tive Latham's check for $40.
Then, with mounting color, and
incredulouS eyes, she read it again.
my dear Christine:
"It was so sweet Of you to write.
I appreciate your thinking Of me,
especially as my son so evidently
did not. only wish that I could
share your enthusiasm. I am
happy for you, but you must for
give me when I am forced to say
that I can not understand how
you could see your way clear to-
burden my already overburdened
son with still another financial
responsibility at this time.
"I regret that I cannot do more,
but perhaps this small check will
suffice to buy some little thing
you need for yourself or the child.
every sincerely,
EVE LATHAM"
Donald found her on her knees,
by the baby's bassinet, still crying,
when he came home for lunch, a
little early.
Christie crying! Why she hadn't
had one Of those crying spells
since the baby was born.
He dropped the packages Of
French bread and cheese he had
been bringing home for q surprise.
Darling, what's the matter?
What happened? Tell mel"
''Nothing-really nothing. I was
juSt-crying. Really, there was
nothing-nothing at ALL"
AS he lifted her to her feet, q
little shower Of blue gray scraps
drifted to the floor.
''You got q letter from mother.
Christie-you WROTE to her."
She nodded, miserably, averting
her face. eyes, I did. I was q
fool"
what did she say?"
ooh, nothing. Not a word about
the picture. II felt so bad"
From the blue scraps he picked
up two Of a different shade. Un-
folded them.
It was the check that she had
torn with the letter.
He whistled, and she turned,
tried to snatch the scraps from
him. "Oh, Donald. I DIDN'T
want you to see It'll"
But he was already fitting the
pieces together. She watched, faS-
cinated, as though she were watch.
ing him work on a jig7Saw puzzle.
Watched while he read what she
had already read.
''Well, that's that" he said,
sweeping the scraps into the waste
basket. Then he took her in his
arms, and rocked her as he might
have rocked the baby. "Poor little
girl. Poor little trusting Christie"
A strangled sob came from the
direction Of his shoulder.
But II she should be right. II
If I shouldn't have had q baby
now, while we haven't so much
money, and you're busy. If I'm
really a hindrance to you"
"Of course you're a hindrance.
Sos the baby. Well, I might keep
you, you're pretty good cook, but
the baby will have to go. Shall We
send him to the nearest orphan
asylum, or just abandon him on
q doorstep?"
Ito be Continued