Martha，shehadbeenfussingaroundsomeflowerbusheswithapairofshearsandgloveson。ShelooksupwhenIsaysthat，andshesizesusallupstandingbythegate，andhereyespopsopen，andsodoeshermouth，andsheissosurprisedtoseemeshedropshershears。
Andshelooksscared，too。
“IsMissBucknerathome？”astsColonelTom，liftinghishatverypolite。
“MissB-B-Buckner？”Marthastutters，veryscared-like，andnottakinghereyesoffofmetoanswerhim。
“MissHampton，Martha，“Isays。
“Y-y-y-es，s-sh-sheis，“saysMartha。Iwonderedwhatwasthematterwithher。
Itisalwaysmylucktogetleftallalonewithmytroubles。Thedoctorandthecolonel，theywalkedrightpastuswhenshesaidyes，anduptowardthehouse，andleftherandmestandingthere。I
couldofwentalongandbuttedin，mebby。ButI
saystomyselfIwillhavethedernedthingouthereandnow，andknowtheworst。AndIwassointerestedinmytroubleandMarthathatIdidn\'tevennoticeifMissLucymet\'ematthedoor，andifso，howsheacted。WhenInextlookeduptheywasallinthehouse。
“Martha——“Ibegins。Butshebreaksin。
“Danny，“shesays，lookinglikesheisgoingtocry，“don\'tl-l-lookatmel-l-likethat。IfyouknewALLyouwouldn\'tblameme。You——“
“Wouldn\'tblameyoufurwhat？”Iastsher。
“Iknowit\'swrongofme，“shesays，begging-like。
“Mebbyitisandmebbyitain\'t，“Isays。“Butwhatisit？”
“Butyouneverwrotetome，“shesays。
“Youneverwrotetome，“Isays，notwantinghertogetthebestofme，whateveritwasshemightbetalkingabout。
“AndthenHEcametotown！——“
“Who？”Iastsher。
“Don\'tyouknow？”shesays。“ThemanIamgoingtomarry。“
WhenshesaidthatIfelt，allofasudden，likewhenyouarebrokeandhungryandrunacrostahalfdollaryouhadforgotaboutinyourotherpants。
IwassogladIjumped。
“Greatguns！”Isays。
Ihadneverreallyknowedwhatbeinggladwasbefore。
“Oh，Danny，Danny，“shesays，puttingherhandsinfrontofherface，“andhereyouhavecometoclaimmeforyourbride！”
Whichshowedmewhyshehadlookedsoscared。
Thattheregirlhadwentandgotengagedtoanotherfeller。AndhadbeenlayingawakenightssufferingfurfearIwouldturnupagin。AndnowIhad。
Looey，healwayssaidnevertotrustawoman！
“Martha，“Isays，“youain\'tactedrightwithme。“
“Oh，Danny，Danny，“shesays，“Iknowit！I
knowit！”
“Somefellersinmyplace，“Isays，“wouldraiseadickensofarow。“
“IDIDloveyouonce，“shesays，lookingatmefrombetweenherfingers。
“Yes，“saysI，actingrealmelancholy，“youdid。
Andnowyou\'vequitit，theydon\'tseemtometobenothinglefttolivefur。“Martha，shewasanawfulromancefulgirl。Igotthenotionthatmebbyshewasenjoyingherownremorsefulnessalittlebit。
IfetchedadeepsighandIsays：
“Somefellerswouldkilltheirselvesonthespot！”
“Oh！——Oh！——Oh！——“saysMartha。
“But，Martha，“saysI，“Iain\'tthatmean。I
ain\'tgoingtodothat。“
Thatderngirlackshellaygivemeadisappointedlook！Ifanything，shewasjestabitTOOromanceful，Marthawas。
“No，“saysI，cheeringupalittle，“Iamgoingtodosomethingtheyain\'tmanyfellerswoulddo，Martha。I\'mgoingtoforgiveyou。Freeandfairandopen。Andgiveyoubackmyhalfofthatring，and——“
Dernit！IhadforgotIhadlostthathalfofthattherering！Irememberedsoquickitstoppedme。
“Youalwayskeptit，Danny？”sheastsme，verysoft-spoken，soasnottogivepaintoonesofaithfulandsonobleaswhatIwas。“Letmeseeit，Danny。“
ImadelikeIwasfeelingthroughallmypocketsfurit。Butthatcouldn\'tlastforever。Irunoutofpocketspurtysoon。Andherfacebeguntoshowshewassmellingarat。FinallyIsays：
“Theseain\'tmyotherclothes——itmustbeinthem。“
“Danny，“shesays，“IbelieveyouLOSTit。“
“Martha，“Isays，takingachancet，“youknowyoulostYOURhalf！”
Sheownsupshehaslostitalongwhileago。
Andwhenshelostit，shesays，sheknowedthatwasfateandthatourlovewasomenedinunderanevilstar。Andwhowasshe，shesays，tostruggleaginfate？
“Martha，“Isays，“I\'llbehonestwithyou。
FategotawaywithmyhalftooonedaywhenI
didn\'tknowtheywascrookslikeherstickingaround。“
Well，Iseenthatgirlseenthroughmethen。
Marthawasawfulsmartsometimes。Andeachonewassodernedtickledtheotheronewasn\'tgo-
ingtodoanypiningawayweliketooffellintolovealloveragin。Butnotquite。Furneitheronewouldevertrusttheotheroneagin。Sowefeltmorecomfortablewitheachother。Youain\'tnevercomfortablewithapersonyouknowismorehonestthanyoube。
“But，“saysMartha，afteraminute，“ifyoudidn\'tcomebacktomakememarryyou，whatdoesDoctorKirbywanttoseeMissHamptonabout？
Andwhowasthatwithhim？”
Ihadbeennightoforgettingthemainthingwehadallcomeherefur，inmygladnessatgettingridofanydangerofmarryingMartha。ButitcometomealltooncetIhadbeenmissingalotthatmustbetakingplaceinsidethathouse。Ihadevenmissedthewaytheyfirstlookedwhenshemet\'ematthedoor，andIwouldn\'tofmissedthatfuralot。AndIseenalltooncetwhatabigpieceofnewsitwillbetoMartha。
“Martha，“Isays，“theyain\'tnoDr。HartleyL。
Kirby。ThemanknownassuchisDavidArm-
strong！”
IneverseenanyonesopeetrifiedasMarthawasfuraminute。
“Yes，“saysI，“andtheotheroneisMissLucy\'sbrother。Andtheyareallthreeintherestraighten-
ingthemselvesoutandfindingwhereeverybodygetsoffat，andwhy。Oneofthesehereserioustimesyoureadabout。Andyouandmearemissingitall，likeacoupleofgumps。Howcanwehear？”
Marthasaysshedon\'tknow。
“YouTHINK，“Itoldher。“We\'vewastedfivegoodminutesalready。I\'veGOTtoheartherestofit。Wherewouldtheybe？”
Marthaguessestheywillallbeinthesittingroom，whichhasgotthebestchairsinit。
“Whatisnexttoit？Abackparlour，orabed-
room，orwhat？”IwasthinkingofhowIhappenedtooverhearPerfessorBoothandhisfamblythat-a-way。
Marthasaystheyisnothinglikethattobetried。
“Martha，“Isays，“thisisserious。Thisherestorytheyarethrashingoutinthereistheonlydernedsure-enoughromancefulstoryeitheryouormeiseverlibletorunupagainstpersonalinallourlives。Itwouldofbeenagooddealniceriftheyhadastusintoseethewind-upofit。Fur，ifithadn\'tofbeenfurme，theyneverwouldofbeenreunitedandrejuvenatedthewaytheybe。Butsomepeoplegetstingystreakswiththeirconcerns。
Youthink！”
Martha，shesays：“Danny，itwouldn\'tbehonourabletolisten。“
“Martha，“Itellsher，“afterthewayyouandmewentandjiltedeachother，whatkindofsensesofhonourhaveWEgottobragabout？”
Sheremembersthatthesparebedroomisrightoverthesittingroom。Thehouseisheatedwithstovesinthewintertime。Thereisaregisterrightthroughthefloorofthesparebedroomandtheceilingofthesittingroom。Notthekindofaregisterthatcomesfromatwisted-aroundshaftinahousethatusesfurnaceheat。Butjestreallyaholeinthefloor，withacast-irongrating，tolettheheatfromtheroombelowintotheoneabove。
Shesayssheguessestwopeoplethatwasn\'tsoveryhonourablemightsneakintothehousethebackway，andupthebackstairs，andintothesparebedroom，andlaydownontheirstummicksonthefloor，beingcarefultomakenonoise，andbothseeandhearthroughthatregister。Whichwedoneit。
CHAPTERXXIV
Icouldhearwellenough，butatfirstIcouldn\'tseeanyofthem。ButIgatheredthatMissLucywasstandingupwhilstshewastalking，andmovingaroundabitnowandthen。Iseenoneofhersleeves，andthenawispofherhair。Whichwasaggervating，furIwantedtoknowwhatshewaslike。Buthervoicewassosoftandquietthatyoukindofknowedbeforeyouseenherhowsheorterlook。
“PrentissMcMakincametomethatday，“shewassaying，“withanappeal——Ihardlyknowhowtotellyou。“Shebrokeoff。
“Goahead，Lucy，“saysColonelTom\'svoice。
“Hewasinsulting，“shesaid。“Hehadbeendrink-
ing。Hewantedmeto——to——heappealedtometorunoffwithhim。
“Iwasfurious——NATURALLY。“HervoicechangedasshesaiditenoughsoyoucouldfeelhowfuriousMissLucycouldget。ShewaslikeherbrotherTominsomeways。
“Iorderedhimoutofthehouse。Hisanswertothatwasanoffertomarryme。YoucanimaginethatIwassurprisedaswellasangry——Iwasperplexed。
“\'ButIAMmarried！\'Icried。Theideathatanyofmyownpeople，oranyonewhomIhadknownathome，wouldthinkIwasn\'tmarriedwastoomuchformetotakeinallatonce。
“\'YouTHINKyouare，\'saidPrentissMcMakin，withasmile。
“Inspiteofmyselfmybreathstopped。Itwasasifachillyhandhadtakenholdofmyheart。
Imean，physically，Ifeltlikethat。
“\'IAMmarried，\'Irepeated，simply。
“IsupposethatMcMakinhadgotthestoryofourweddingfromYOU。“Shestoppedaminute。
Thedoctor\'svoiceanswered：
“Isupposeso，“likehewasaverytiredman。
“Anyhow，“shewenton，“heknewthatwewentfirsttoClarksville。Hesaid：
“\'Youthinkyouaremarried，Lucy，butyouarenot。\'
“IwishyoutounderstandthatPrentissMcMakindiditallvery，verywell。Thatismyexcuse。Heactedwell。Therewassomethingabouthim——I
scarcelyknowhowtoputit。Itsoundsodd，butthetruthisthatPrentissMcMakinwasalwaysamoreconvincingsortofapersonwhenhehadbeendrinkingalittlethanwhenhewassober。Helackedwarmth——helackedtemperament。Isupposejusttherightamountputitintohim。Itputthedevilintohim，too，Ireckon。
“Hetoldmethatyouandhe，Tom，hadbeentoClarksville，andhadmadeinvestigations，andthattheweddingwasafraud。Andhetolditwithawealthofconvincingdetail。Inthemidstofithebrokeofftoasktoseemyweddingcertificate。Ashetalked，helaughedatit，andtoreitup，sayingthatthethingwasnotworththepaperitwason，andhethrewthepiecesofpaperintothegrate。I
listened，andIlethimdoit——notthatthepaperitselfmatteredparticularly。ButtheveryfactthatIlethimtearitshowedme，myself，thatIwasbelievinghim。
“Heendedwithanimpassionedappealtometogowithhim。
“Ishowedhimthedoor。IpretendedtothelastthatIthoughthewaslyingtome。ButIdidnotthinkso。Ibelievedhim。Hehaddoneitallverycleverly。YoucanunderstandhowImight——
inviewofwhathadhappened？”
IwantedtoseeMissLucy——howshelookedwhenshesaiddifferentthings，soIcouldmakeupmymindwhethershewasforgivingthedoctorornot。NotthatIhadmuchdoubtbutwhattheywouldgettheirpersonaltroublesfixedupintheend。Theirongratinginthefloorwashelddownbyfourgood-sizedscrews，oneateachcorner。Theywasn\'tnofillingatallbetwixtitandtheirongratingthatwasintheceilingoftheroombelow。Thespacewashollow。Igotanideaandtookoutmyjack-knife。
“Whatareyougoingtodo？”whispersMartha。
“S-sh-sh，“Isays，“shutup，andyou\'llsee。“
Oneofthescrewswasloose，andIpickedherouteasyenough。ThesecondoneIbrokethepointoffofmyknifebladeon。Likeyounearlyalwaysdoonascrew。WhenitsnappedColonelTomhesays：
“What\'sthat？”Hewaspowerfulquickofhear-
ing，ColonelTomwas。Ilaidlowtilltheywentontalkingagin。ThenMarthaslidesoutontiptoeandcomesbackinthreesecondswithoneoftheseherelittlescrew-driverstheyusearoundsewing-machinesandthelittleoilcanthatgoeswithit。Ioilsthemscrewsandhasthemoutinaholyminute，andliftsthegratingfromthefloorcarefulandlaysitcarefulontherug。
BydoingallofwhichIcouldgetmyheadandshouldersdownintothattherehole。Andbytwist-
ingmyneckagooddeal，seealittlewaystoeachsideintotheroom，insteadofjestunderneaththegrating。ThedoctorIcouldn\'tseeyet，andonlyalittleofColonelTom，butMissLucyquiteplain。
“Youmeanthing，“Marthawhispers，“youareblockingitupsoIcan\'thear。“
“Keepstill，“Iwhispers，pullingmyheadoutoftheholesothesoundwouldn\'tfloatdownwardintotheroombelow。“Youarejestlikeallotherwomen——yougottoomuchcuriosity。“
“Howaboutyourself？”saysshe。
“Whowasitthoughtoftakingthegratingoff？”
Iwhispersbacktoher。Whichsettleshertem-
porary，butshesaysifIdon\'tgiveherachancetatitpurtysoonshewillticklemyribs。
WhenIlistensagintheyareburyingthattherePrentMcMakin。Butwithoutanyflowers。
MissLucy，shewashalfsettingon，halfleaningagainst，thearmofachair。WhichherheadwasjestabitboweddownsothatIcouldn\'tseehereyes。Buttheywasthebeginningsofasmileontoherface。Itwasbothsoftandsad。
“Well，“saysColonelTom，“youtwohavewastedalmosttwentyyearsoflife。“
“Thereisonegoodthing，“saysthedoctor。“Itisagoodthingthattherewasnochildtosufferbyourmistakes。“
Sheraisedherfacewhenhesaidthat，MissLucydid，andlookedinhisdirection。
“Youcallthatagoodthing？”shesays，inakindofwonder。Andafteraminuteshesighs。“Per-
haps，“shesays，“youareright。Heavenonlyknows。PerhapsitWASbetterthathedied。“
“DIED！”singsoutthedoctor。
AndIhearnhischairscrapeback，likehehadriztohisfeetsudden。Inearlybustedmynecktryingfurtoseehim，butIcouldn\'t。Iwasalltwistedup，headdown，andthebloodgettingintomyheadfromitsoIhadtopullitouteverylittlewhile。
“Yes，“shesays，withhereyeswide，“didn\'tyouknowhedied？”AndthensheturnsquicktowardColonelTom。“Didn\'tyoutellhim——“shebegins。Butthedoctorcutsin。
“Lucy，“hesays，hisvoiceshakingandcroakinginhisthroat，“Ineverknewtherewasachild！”
IhearsColonelTomhawkinHISthroatlikeamanwhoiseithergoingtospitorelsesaysomething。
Buthedon\'tdoeitherone。Noonesaysanythingfuraminute。AndthenMissLucysaysagin：
“Yes——hedied。“
Andthenshefellintoakindofamuse。Ihavebeenmyselfinthefixshelookedtobeinthen——soyouforgetfurawhilewhereyouare，orwhoisthere，whilstyouthinkaboutsomethingthathasbeeninthebackpartofyourmindfuralong，longtime。
Whatshewasmusingaboutwasthatchildthathadn\'tlived。Icouldtellthatbyherface。I
couldtellhowshemusthavethoughtofit，oftenandoften，furyearsandyears，andlongedfurit，sothatitseemedtoherattimesshecouldalmosttouchit。Andhowgoodamothershewouldofbeentoit。SomewomenhasjestnatcherallyGOTtomothersomethingorother。MissLucywasoneofthatkind。Iknowedallinaflash，whilstI
lookedatherthere，whyshehadadoptedMarthafurherchild。
Itwasawonderfullookthatwasontoherface。
Anditwasawonderfulfacethatlookwasonto。I
feltlikeIhadknowedherforeverwhenIseenherthere。Likethethoughtsofherthedoctorhadbeencarryingaroundwithhimfuryearsandyears，andthatIhadcaughthimthinkingoncetortwicet，hadbeenmythoughtstoo，allmylife。
MissLucy，shewasoneofthekindthere\'snousetryingtodescribe。Thefellerthatcouldseeherthat-a-wayandnotfeelmadegoodbyitorterhaveawhaling。Notthekindofsticky，goodfeelingthatmakesyouuncomfortable，likebeingpesteredbyyourconsciencetojineachurchorquitcussing。
Butthekindofgoodthatmakesyouforgettheyisanythingonearthbutjestbravenessofheartandbeingwillingtobearthingsyoucan\'thelp。Youknowedtheworldhadhurtheralotwhenyouseenherstandingthere；butyoudidn\'thavethenervetopityhernone，either。Furyoucouldseeshehadgotoverpityingherself。Evenwhenshewasinthatmuse，longingwithallhersoulfurthatchildshehadneverknowed，youdidn\'thavethenervetopityhernone。
“Hedied，“shesaysagin，purtysoon，withthatgentlekindofsmile。
ColonelTom，heclearshisthroatagin。Likewhenyouareawfuldry。
“Thetruthis——“hebegins。
Andthenhebreaksoffagin。MissLucyturnstowardhimwhenhespeaks。Bythestrangelookthatcomeontoherfacetheremustofbeensome-
thingrightcuriousinHISmannertoo。Iwasjestsimplylayingontomyforeheadmashingoneofmyderneyeballsthroughalittleholeinthegrating。
ButIcouldn\'t，eventhatway，seefurenoughtoonesidetoseehowHElooked。
“Thetruthis，“saysColonelTom，tryingitagin，“thatI——well，Lucy，thechildmaybedead，buthedidn\'tdiewhenyouthoughthedid。“
TherewasaflashofhopeflaredintoherfacethatIhatedtoseecomethere。Becausewhenitdiedoutinaminute，asIexpecteditwouldhaveto，itlookedtomelikeitmighttakeallherlifeoutwithit。Herlipspartedlikeshewasgoingtosaysomethingwiththem。Butshedidn\'t。Shejestlookedit。
“Whydidyounevertellmethis——thattherewasachild？”saysthedoctor，veryeager。
“Wait，“saysColonelTom，“letmetellthestoryinmyownway。“
Whichhedoneit。ItseemswhenhehadwenttoGalesburgthisherechildhadonlybeenbornafewdays。AndMissLucywasstillsick。Andthekiditselfwassick，andliabletodieanyminute，bythelooksofthings。
WhichColonelTomwishesthatitwoulddie，inhisheart。Hethinksthatitisanillegitimatechild，andhehatestheideaofitandhehatesthesightofit。Thesecondnightheisthereheissettinginhissister\'sroom，andthewomanthathasbeennursingthekidandMissLucytooisinthenextroomwiththekid。
Shecomestothedoorandbeckonstohim，thenursedoes。Hetiptoestowardher，andshesaystohim，verylow-voiced，that“itisallover。“
Meaningthekidhasquitstrugglingfurtolive，andjestnatcherallyfloatedaway。ThenursehadthoughtMissLucyasleep，butasbothherandColonelTomturnquicktowardherbedtheyseethatshehasheardandseen，andsheturnsherfacetowardthewall。Whichhetriesfurtocomforther，ColonelTomdoes，tellingherashowitisanillegitimatechild，andfuritsownsakeitwasbetteritwasdeadbeforeiteverlivedany。Whichshedon\'tanswerofhimback，butonlystaresinawild-
eyedwayathim，andlaysthereandlooksdesperate，andsaysnothing。
InhisheartColonelTomisawfulgladthatitisdead。Hecan\'thelpfeelingthatway。Andhequitstryingtotalktohissister，furhesuspicionsthatshewillketchontothefactthatheisgladthatitisdead。Hegoesonintothenextroom。
Hefindsthenurselookingawfulfunny，andbendingoverthedeadkid。Sheisputtingalook-
ing-glasstoitslips。Heastsherwhy。
Shesaysshethoughtshemightbemistakenafterall。Shecouldn\'tsayjestWHENitdied。Itwasaliveandfeeble，andthenpurtysoonitshowednosignsoflife。Itwaslikeithadn\'thadenoughstrengthtostayandhadjestwent。Ididn\'tshowanypulse，anditdidn\'tappeartobebreathing。
Andshehadwatcheditanddoneeverythingbe-
foreshebeckonedtoColonelTomandtoldhimthatitwasdead。Butasshecomebackintotheroomwhereitwasshethoughtshenoticedsomethingthatwastoolighttobecalledarealfluttermoveitseyelids，whichshehadcloseddownoveritseyes。
Itwastheghostofamove，likeithadtriedtoraisethelids，ortheyhadtriedtoraisetheirselves，andhadbeentooweak。Soshehasgotbusyandwrappedahotclotharoundit，andgotadropofbrandyortwobetweenitslips，andwasfightingtobringitbacktolife。Andthoughtshewasdoingit。Thoughtshehadfeltalittleflutterinitschest，andwastryingifithadbreathatall。
ColonelTomthinksofwhatbigfolkstheBucknerfamblyhasalwaysbeenathome。Andhowhightheyhadalwaysheldtheirheads。Andhownoneofthewomenhaseverbeenlikethisbefore。Nornodisgraceofanykind。Andthattherekid，ifitisalive，isasignofdisgrace。AndhehopedtoGod，hesaid，itwasn\'talive。
Buthedon\'tsayso。Hestandsthereandwatchesthatnursefightfurtoholdontothelittlemistoflifeshethinksnowisstillintoit。Sheun-
buttonsherdressandlaysthekidagainsttheheatofherownbreast。Andwillsfurittolive，andfightsfuritto，anddeterminesthatitmust，andjestnatcherallytriesfurtobullyragdeathintogoingaway。AndColonelTomwatching，andwishingthatitwouldn\'t。Buthegetsinterestedinthattherefight，andsopurtysoonheishopingbothwaysbyspells。Andthefightallgoingonwithoutawordspoken。
Butfinallythenursebeginsfurtocry。Notbe-
causesheissureitisdead。Butbecausesheissureitiscomingback。Whichitdoes，slow。
“\'ButIhavetoldHERthatitisdead，\'“saysColonelTom，jerkinghisheadtowardtheotherroomwhereMissLucyislying。Hespeaksinalowvoiceandclosesthedoorwhenhespeaks。Furitlooksnowlikeitwasgettingstrongenoughsoitmightevensquallalittle。
“Idon\'tknowwhatkindofalooktherewasonmyface，“saysColonelTom，tellingofthestorytohissisterandthedoctor，“butshemusthaveseenthatIwas——andheavenhelpme，butIWAS！——sorrythatthebabywasalive。Itwouldhavebeensuchaneasywayoutofithaditbeenreallydead！
“\'Shemustn\'tknowthatitisliving，\'Isaidtothenurse，finally，“saysColonelTom，goingonwithhisstory。IhadbeenwatchingMissLucy\'sfaceasColonelTomtalkedandshewassoworkedupbythatfightfurthekid\'slifeshewasbreath-
less。Buthereyeswascastdown，Iguesssoherbrothercouldn\'tseethem。ColonelTomgoesonwithhisstory：
“\'Youdon\'tmean——\'saidthenurse，startled。
“\'No！No！\'Isaid，\'ofcourse——notthat！But——
whyshouldsheeverknowthatitdidn\'tdie？\'“
“\'Itisillegitimate？\'askedthenurse。
“\'Yes，\'Isaid。“Thelongandshortofitwas，ColonelTomwentontotell，thatthenursewentoutandgothermother。Whichthetwoofthemlivedalone，onlyaroundthecorner。Andgivethechildintothekeepingofhermother，whotookitawaythenandthere。
ColonelTomhadmadeuphismindtherewasn\'tgoingtobenobastardsintheBucknerfambly。
AndnowthatMissLucythoughtitwasdeadhewouldletherkeeponthinkingso。Andthatwouldbesettledforgoodandall。Hefiggeredthatitwouldn\'teverhurthernoneifsheneverknowedit。
Thenurse\'smotherkeptitallthatweek，anditthrove。ColonelTomwascoaxingofhissistertogobacktoTennessee。Butshewouldn\'tgo。SohehadmadeuphismindtogobackandgethisAuntLucyDavistocomeandhelphimcoax。Hewasonlywaitingfurhissistertogetwellenoughsohecouldleaveher。Shegotbetter，andsheneverastfurthekid，norsaidnothingaboutit。Whichwasprobablebecausesheseenhehateditso。Hehadmadeuphismind，beforehewentbackaftertheirAuntLucyDavis，totakethebabyhimselfandputitintosomekindofaninstitution。
“Ithought，“hesaystoMissLucy，tellingofthestory，“thatyouyourselfwerealmostreconciledtothethoughtthatithadn\'tlived。“
MissLucyinterruptedhimwithalittlesound。
Shewasbreathinghard，andshakingfromheadtofoot。Noonewouldhavethoughttolookatherthenshewasreconciledtotheideathatithadn\'tlived。Itwascruelhardonhertotearhertopieceswiththenewsthatitreallyhadlived，buthadlivedawayfromheralltheseyearsshehadbeenlongingfurit。Andnochancetfurherevertomotherit。
Andnowaytotellwhathadeverbecomeofit。I
feltawfulsorryfurMissLucythen。
“ButwhenIgotreadytoleaveGalesburg，“
ColonelTomgoeson，“itsuddenlyoccurredtomethattherewouldbedifficultiesinthewayofputtingitinahomeofanysort。Ididn\'tknowwhattodowithit——“
“WhatDIDyou？WhatDIDyou？WHATDIDYOU？”
criesoutMissLucy，pressingherhandtoherchest，likeshewassmothering。
“ThefirstthingIdid，“saysColonelTom，“wastogetyoutoanotherhouse——youremember，Lucy？”
“Yes，yes！”shesays，excited，“andwhatthen？”
“PerhapsIdidaveryfoolishthing，“saysColonelTom。
“AfterIhadseenyouinstalledinthenewplaceandhadbiddenyougood-bye，Igotacarriageanddrovebytheplacewherethenurseandhermotherlived。ItoldthewomanthatIhadchangedmymind——thatyouweregoingtoraisethebaby——
thatIwasgoingtopermitit。Idon\'tthinkshequitebelievedme，butshegavemethebaby。Whatelsecouldshedo？Besides，Ihadpaidherwell，whenIdischargedher，tosaynothingtoyou，andtokeepthebabyuntilIshouldcomeforit。Theyneededmoney；theywerepoor。
“Iwasdeterminedthatitshouldneverbeheardofagain。ItwasaboutnoonwhenIleftGalesburg。
Idroveallthatafternoon，withthebabyinabasketontheseatofthecarriagebesideme。Everybodyhasreadinbooks，sincebookswerefirstwritten——
andseeninnewspapers，too——aboutchildrenbeingleftondoorsteps。Givenaninfanttodisposeof，thatisperhapsthefirstthingthatoccurstoaper-
son。Therewasathickplaidshawlwrappedaboutthechild。Inthebasket，besidethebaby，wasanursingbottle。AboutduskIhaditrefilledwithwarmmilkatafarmhousenear——“
Myheadwasbeginningfurtoswim。Ipulledmyheadoutofthattherehole，andrammedmyfootintoit。Itbangedagainstthatgratingandloosenedit。Itbustedloosesomeplaster，whichshowereddownintotheroomunderneath。MissLucy，shescreamed。AndthedoctorandColonelTombothyelledouttooncet：
“Who\'sthat？”
“It\'sme，“Iyells，bangingthatgratingagin。
“Watchoutbelowthere！”AndthethirdlickI
givehershebrokelooseandclattereddownrightontoacentretableandspilledoversomepho-
tographsandavasefullofflowers，andbouncedoffontothefloor。
“Lookoutbelow，“Iyells，“I\'mcomingdown！”
Iletmylegsthroughfirst，andswungthemsoI
wouldlandtoonesideofthetable，andheldbymyhands，anddropped。Butstruckthetableaside-
waysswipeandturneditover，andfellontothefloor。Thedoctor，hegrabbedmebythecollarandstraightenedmeup，andgivemeashakeandstoodmeontomyfeet。
“Whatdoyoumean——“hebegins。ButI
breaksin。
“Nowthen，“IsaystoColonelTom，“didyouleavethattherechildsuckingthattherebottleonthedoorstepofablacksmith\'shousenexttohisshopattheedgeofalittlecountrytownabouttwentymilesnortheastofGalesburgwrappedupinthatthereplaidshawl？”
“Idid，“saysColonelTom。
“Then，“saysI，turningtoMissLucy，“IcanunderstandwhyIhavebeenfeelingdrawedtoYOU
furquiteaspell。I\'mhim。“
End
