Year: 1878

CHAPTER VII


I believe now, after the lapse Of nearly
half a century, that If ] had fully real
lied the truth OF what that servant said
I would have become insane indeed
Bat I was mercifully spared the realiza-
ton Of the situation by my urgent need
Of surgical aid.


All through the long hours that fol-
lowed ] called at intervals for Gerald;
but it was not till the next morning that
he came 10 see me, and then there lay
upon my bosom a wee, wee infant.


Ny husband was i'm his sober senses
now, and though be looked i'll and worn
from the effect Of his fit Of drunkenness,
he was as handsome as picture, and
as tender as a cooling dove.


All, how proud we were Of that pre-
cious baby boy! And how inexpressi-
bly, dear 10 me were both husband and
child.


"We'll cali him Gerald Graeme Grey,
won't we, darling % I asked, as my
husband held the little pink and
wrinkled rosebud in his careful grasp,
and studied its sexpressionless features, as
if to trace its likeness to himself or me.


"You may call il Beelzebub, for all /
care" be answered, gaily.


I wonder If be imagined how deeply
that careless remark stung me? 1 was
not old enough TO make the mental
apology for him that ] have made in
later years for my sons-in-law S,yhen
they have been thoughtless and incon-
siderate, and so I had to endure it as
best I might. I could not realize that
he did not, could not know how much
my babe had cost me, and how great
and important an event in my short
and narrow life its bare existence
seemed


"All babies look alike" he said, "and
we cannot expect ours to be single ex-
ception to the universal rule"


But to me, my baby was a living
wonder. Though I had been ailing for
months, my constitution was good, and,
in spite of my terrible illness, in spite Of
the enervating heat that oppressed me
in an Australian midsummer, I revived,
and rapidly regained my strength. And
then, had it not been for my constant
dread lest Gerald should again fall into
ine5riety, I would have been intensely
happy.


There is a great deal said in these
later days about the sphere of woman:
and her high mission Of maternity is so
often spoken Of from platform and pull
pit; and so much is said by way Of ad-
monition, lest she forget her heaven
born prerogative, that ] wonder much
that some eloquent woman, fired by the
God-given understanding of her mother
soul, has not long since arisen to ex-
hibit the exceeding useIessness Of ex-
horting her to abide by that which is
natural.


Women are not rebelling, so far as ]
have known them, against the laws Of
God, and neither did they in my
younger days need, more than now, a
constant admonition TO do their natural
work. viii a robin forget its nest? a
hen her brood a dove her helpless or
spring?


Ny baby had lived and fiourished
fortnight, and I was almost as well and
strong as bad been in far-oR England
10 the months long gone when Gerald
had first met me, in my fathers hired
meadow, raking hay. There had been
a gentle rainfall for several hours, cool
ing the steamiug air, and clearing away
the dust from the trees and houses, and
j longed to stir abroad. Ny pent-up
life was as confning as though I had
been Gagged robin, and only my love
for my infant Gerald had made il bear
able.


had not seen or spoken to a living
mortal for hours. Gerald, my husband.
was out, and I was in great doubt. as
usual, as 10 what would be the condition
in which he would return. Gerald, my
baby, was sound asleep, and did not
suppose that he would awake for hours
yet to come. So 1 arrayed myself for
the street, and descending the corridors
and stairs, sought the open air and wan
dered into an adjoining park, where
sat for long time in a sweet forgetful,
aud silent reyerie. Everything around
me was so new, so strange and beauti-
full! Visions Of my fleeting childhood
and my dear dead mother came before
me more vividly than ever before. ]
forgot myself in the distractions Of my
memory, and the desire TO know NOR,
of the dead Ethel Graeme, the wife o.
Elder Chalmers, with the maiden cog
nomen Of my mother and myself, grew
strangely strong. Why did that mys
terry so deeply impress me? And We
why should it not?


Suddenly I was awakened from my
musings by the remembrance Of my
babe, and Fastening TO the hotel,
rushed breathlessly up the stairs and tC
my private apartments, TO find the dar.
ling screaming in its fathers arms, and
Elder Chalmers cycling the afflicted par.
ent with a look Of downright commiser.
alton,