The Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1914)

MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE "Vi'leta to' the lile ma an' the kid!." He Lurched againsl the window and, leaning, searched his pockets in vain, in befogged wonder; then Btumbled on his way. All in the hush of the first joy oi motherhood, with the tiny, warm bundle in the curve of her arm, Eleanor waited in the dimness and quid of ber room. The old doctor had lefl her, with a cheery pat on her white arm ; the gentle-voiced nurse, with strong, Bteady hands, had made her so comfortable, and now there was aothing to do hut to wail for him -for •• Daddy." as she had whispered to the warm bundle oear her heart. She dozed much, and did not know how long it had been since the nurse had telephoned her husband. Suddenly the door of her room opened with a rush, and Colton Btumbled in. Eleanor opened her eyes slowly, awakening from a happy dream, and looked at her husband, smiling soft ly. I 'olton. hat on the haek of his tumbled hair, braced himself unsteadily for a moment, feet apart ; then lunged toward the bed. "Li'le kid:" he mumbled thickly. Leaning toward her. Then Eleanor knew, and was wide awake, all her mother-instincl taking swift alarm. Quickly she arched her tfail arm above her little son. shielding him, and her voire, Btrong and sharp with outraged wifehood, rang in his ears : ive this room !M And. sobered, ('niton passed the ourse Iiuit\ ing in. and Left the room he had desecrated. That was three years a«_r<». Ami qow, thru his continued popularity and i ambition, < 'olton is a member <>\ the firm and verj active as . i c i ti In business, in <-i\ ic affairs, a1 Ids 1 olton Bmile is an mi mi1 still Ion ;,t home it is • i nl The charm ami alluremenl a1 Bmile have Lost their power there, and rarely dors he flash il upon Eleanor with Ids old-time assurance. Eleanor is not the shy, adoring wife of their first years together, for from that hour when the hallowed beauty of motherhood began to unfold itself in her being, with the quisite consciousness of a li breathing little bi d nestling in the blankets beside her from that hour of happiness, Deeding only her husband's presence to make it supreme, and which he so desecrated, she had withdrawn, with her hoy. into a world of her own. Always ('niton apologized for his late hours, giving the plausible excuse of a "business engagement/' and always Eleanor accepted his apologies with courtesy and without comment. One morning, however, as he from his breakfast, Eleanor Leaned forward, smiling, with the old-time Light in her i "Do von know what day this is, dear.'" " Colton turned and looked at her. frowning in perplexity. "Blessed if I do. Eleanor; what is it r" She held up her slim, left hand. with its ring of plain gold upon it. " Five years ago today." smilii little wistfully as she turned it round and round upon her finger. ••Siire's you're alive, honey, it is live years, isn't it ! Well. 1 \. been pretty lucky these ti\ s, haven't I .'" casting a satisfied look about the charming walls of the breakfast-room. '* Y t^w 'II try to come home early this afternoon, wont yon. dear .' " And Eleanor moved with 1dm to the door of the breakfast-room. "'I so want yon to Bee how cunning Jackie is fore he goes to Bleep. YOU know he runs about all alone now. and I Mich fun." •• Ybu dont sa; bo Eleanor! he possihle I 'm the father of a li year-old! yes, I will try to get away this afternoon, tho it will he difficult, for that Lord v.v Blackburn deal is on, and it's taking .very minute night and da\ After he had gone, Eleanor