Partners

by Grace Livingston Hill

  "Oh, we wouldn't want that!" laughed Dale.

  "I thought you were too sensible for that," twinkled the doctor. "She's Scotch, and I think you'll like her."

  "I feel sure we will," said Dale. "It's going to be very convenient to have someone to stay with the child when I have to run out on errands, you know."

  "I thought you'd find that out. Well, I'll be going on. You won't be needing me here very much longer. I guess that kid'll be able to be taken out, with care, by the end of this week, if you don't go more than a block. But put some protection over his face, a light wool veil or something. Good afternoon! I'll be sending Mrs. Morton around this evening. Her name is Sarah."

  When Rand came home the sound of his step along the hall thrilled Dale with a strange new delight. This was being married! To have someone in whom you delighted come back to you at night. It was wonderful! And to think that only a few short weeks ago she was in Mrs. Beck's rooming house, glooming sorrowfully by herself, thinking there was nobody in the world who cared whether she existed. Well, of course that had been Dinsmore, and Sam, and that poor old fool Arliss. But somehow they had never counted with her. She couldn't ever have been glad to have any one of them coming back.

  She was at the door before George could get his key into the lock. She met him with a happy face lifted for his kiss. He drew her quickly inside, shut the door, and gathered her into his arms. Wonderful refuge! Oh, it was good to have her husband come home!

  He dropped his hat on the table by the door and plunged his hand deep in his pocket.

  "I've got something for you," he said eagerly, like a boy with a new toy.

  He tossed her a tiny white box.

  "Open it," he said, and stood beside her, watching her face.

  "Oh, but it isn't Christmas yet," she said. "Don't you want me to put it away and save it until Christmas?"

  "No!" he said with a grin. "It isn't a Christmas present. There's something that comes ahead of that. Open it!"

  With trembling, eager fingers, she opened the box and found inside another box wrapped in tissue paper, a little box of white velvet with a bit of a pearl knob to touch the spring that opened it, and there inside sparkled two rings. One a simple circlet of platinum, the wedding ring, and the other a gorgeous sparkling diamond set in platinum also.

  "Oh! My dear!" she murmured, her voice full of wonder. "And you said you were not going to be extravagant!"

  "It's not extravagant to buy a wedding ring!"

  "But such a glorious wedding ring! It's fit for a princess!" said Dale, drawing in her breath, her eyes shining like two stars.

  "It is for a little princess!" he said, and drew her close into his arms. "Now, put them on, the wedding ring first and then the diamond."

  Dale looked at them in wonder, then she handed the little velvet box over to Rand.

  "You must put them on me, you know!"

  "Oh, is that the way of it? Why, sure, I'll love to do that. Now, put out your hand! Is this the finger? One, two, three! Now, first I must kiss the finger!"

  He laid a tender kiss in the rosy palm of her hand, and then touched with a butterfly kiss each fingertip and then the rings. With a little ceremony of his own he slipped the rings on, with tender words of love, and then folded her close again and laid his lips upon hers.

  "A-h-h-h!" interrupted the baby.

  Rand looked up and grinned.

  "Now, sir, that'll be about all from you just now!" he ordered firmly. "This may be something you brought about, but you needn't think that gives you the right to horn in on every minute, and we want just a few minutes to ourselves, if you don't mind."

  "O-o-o-o!" said the baby calmly.

  "Do they fit?" asked the lover, gathering his laughing bride back into his arms. "I had to snitch one of your gloves to get the size. The man said it was next to the smallest size."

  "Is that where my other glove went?" said Dale. "I thought I had lost it, and it was still a good glove!"

  "Well, here it is, but I think you'd better put that pair of gloves away in mothballs, because that is sort of sacred, having performed the ceremony of getting the size for your wedding ring. My, how good that smells. Is it something you are cooking? Can you really cook?"

  "It's just a kettle of soup," said Dale. "I thought maybe we could eat our dinner up here tonight, if you don't mind."

  "I should say I don't mind! Why, that will be heavenly!"

  "No, not heavenly," said Dale. "It's only a very common kind of vegetable soup!"

  "That's great! I love vegetable soup. Can the little guy have some, too?"

  "No, not yet. He has had his own little soup and is quite content with it. Shall we sit down? It's all ready. And there's a woman coming to interview us afterward."

  "A woman! What kind of a woman? You're the only woman I want."

  "It's a woman the doctor is sending. She's a Scotch woman. Sit down and eat your supper and I'll tell you all about it."

  "Now, lady, don't you go getting dictatorial on me! I've been through a great deal of excitement the last few days, and it might give me heart failure. I want to take these things one at a time, with great deliberation, and be sure I don't get a shock!"

  So they sat down to delicious soup such as Dale's mother used to make, and had sweet converse.

  "Do you mean she is going to stay tonight?" asked Rand. "It might be a good thing. If the little fella goes to sleep early we might run over to that apartment and look at it, couldn't we? That is, if we like her looks and can trust her. He doesn't usually wake up at this time of night, does he?"

  "No. Well--perhaps," said Dale. "You don't think it might frighten him to see a strange face, do you?"

  "Oh, we'll turn the small light on, and he wouldn't notice she was strange."

  "He'll know the touch of her hand is strange," said Dale with conviction.

  "Well, we'll just trust he won't wake up, and anyway we won't be gone but about ten or fifteen minutes in all."

  "We'll see when she comes," said Dale. "If you don't like her looks don't say anything about it, but if you like her, just ask if I can go. And if I don't like her looks I'll say no, I can't go tonight."

  "Okay! You give me the high sign."

  A few minutes later there was a tap at the door, and when Rand opened it Sarah Morton entered.

  She was thin and stooped and sad looking, with gray straggling hair that had never seen a permanent nor tried to wave itself. But she had a sweet faded mouth that seemed trying to smile and very tired brown eyes that had a true light in them. She wasn't young anymore. Not even as young as Nurse Hatfield.

  "The doctor said you wanted to see me," she said shyly, a dreary wistfulness in her glance and voice.

  "Yes," said Dale, liking her at once. "He thought you might be able to help us out for a few days till we know just what we are going to do, and look after the baby when we have to go out. Perhaps do a few other things. Would it be possible for you to do that? We've had a nurse ever since the baby was taken sick, but she was called away to her own sick mother, and it makes it awkward for us because we are moving to another apartment pretty soon and we both have to be out at the same time occasionally, until we get settled. The doctor thought you might be willing to come and try it."

  "Yes?" said Sarah Morton wistfully. "You'll hev ben hevin' Nurse Hatfield, hev ye no'?"

  "Yes," said Dale, cautiously, wondering why she asked.

  "She's a guid nurse!" said the woman unqualifiedly. "I'll like tae coom efter her. I ken her ways."

  "Well, that sounds good," said Rand, barging into the conversation.

  Dale flashed a covert smile at him and went on.

  "Then suppose you come and look at the only room we have for you, and see if you are willing to try us out for a few days till we know just what we are going to do."

  Sarah Morton followed Dale willingly to the little room that had been occupied by Nurse Hatfield, and as the two women returned to the big room Rand heard the woman say, "I'd li
ke it fine tae 'bide here. Right noo I cud 'bide. I've got my suitcase wi' me. But, cud I get awa' fer a coople of oors on Christmas? I'd like tae tak a bit package tae my wee grandson, up in the country. I'd na 'bide lang."

  "Why, of course," said Dale. "We would want to be here ourselves most of the day, perhaps all day. We certainly could, if it was necessary."

  The woman's face bloomed with relief.

  "Then tha's a'right!" she said happily.

  "We could give you the day if you wanted it," said Dale.

  "Thank ye kindly, Mrs. Rond, but that'll no be necessary. I wad na be welcome tae 'bide at my son-in-law's hoose. They'll be hevin a pairty. But I juist yearn tae see that bit laddie few a wee whiles."

  "Well, I'm sure we'll be able to arrange that," said Dale. "And now would you like to see the baby? He's asleep of course, and he doesn't usually waken easily this time of night."

  They went softly over to the screen that sheltered the crib, and the little woman stood for a moment and looked. The expression of her face was sweet and tender.

  "Ah! The puir wee laddie!" she breathed as she came back to the other end of the room, and Rand watching her decided that she was all right.

  "By the way, would it be all right with you, Mrs. Morton, if we were to go out for fifteen or twenty minutes right away? There's an errand we have that is rather necessary tonight."

  The woman's face brightened.

  "It surely wull," said Sarah Morton. "I'll juist be layin' off me coat an' bunnit, an' sit right doon o'er here. The wee laddie willna ken ye're gane."

  Dale had her hat and coat on by the time the woman came back, and she and Rand started out together.

  "Let's hurry," said Dale. "It somehow seems kind of dreadful to leave him with an utter stranger like that."

  "But then, after all, you must remember that we were utter strangers to him not so many days ago. And besides, we have the doctor's word for it that she is all right, and that's more than the kid had for us."

  He grinned at her lovingly as they got into the elevator, and her eyes assented, but still she felt that they must hurry as fast as possible.

  It was wonderful to be walking along arm in arm with Rand, that strong hand so possessively under her elbow, her feet keeping step with his firm stride. The crisp keen air struck their faces, and Dale gave a little shiver.

  "You aren't warm enough, Dale," said Rand. "You need a thicker coat!"

  "Oh, I'm all right! My thicker coat got so shabby I had to abandon it. But I'll be getting some new things pretty soon when I have time."

  "Indeed you will, lady. And now, here's where we turn!"

  "Oh, how lovely! That park draped in snow wreaths! And see the Christmas lights! Isn't it beautiful? And that church with the great spike of a steeple. It is beautiful as a temple with minarets!"

  "Do you know, I thought you'd like that. I thought the little chap might like it, too, when he goes out to ride."

  "I think it is wonderful for you who have never had anything much to do with children, to have thought of all those things," said Dale. "Oh! And is this the building? It's very attractive."

  Then suddenly from across the park where the tall steeple shot up among trees that gave it such a lovely setting, there chimed out the melody of Christmas bells.

  It came upon the midnight clear

  That glorious song of old,

  Of angels bending near the earth

  To touch their harps of gold.

  "Oh, I'm so glad for that!" said Dale drawing in a quick breath of pleasure. "I shall love to hear those bells ring."

  "Yes, I thought maybe you would," said Rand, laying a warm hand over hers and pressing her fingers lightly.

  Then they went in, up the elevator, and entered the other apartment. Such a charming place!

  There was a big living room, a well-planned kitchen, a small compass with a breakfast alcove, and three other rooms, which might or might not be bedrooms. But two of them were bright with windows, showing now the brilliant lighting of the street and the park. One room had a big bay window and was especially attractive for the baby's nursery. Two bathrooms. It seemed ideally planned for their little family.

  "You like it?" asked Rand, watching her glowing face. "Then that settles it. I got an option on it today. Now, let's go back. We can be getting together a few furnishings day by day. You're sure you're satisfied?"

  "Oh, yes," said Dale. "More than satisfied. It seems too good to be true!"

  "Then I'll phone him tonight that we're taking it," he said in a decisive tone.

  They found Sarah Morton reading the evening paper that Rand had left lying on the table, and ready enough to go to her rest.

  The baby hadn't stirred.

  "I don't believe I'll have to disturb you tonight," said Dale. "I'm rather used now to looking after him, and I want you to get a good sleep tonight. Good night!"

  Sarah Morton went thankfully to her small room, and the new family prepared for its second night together.

  But when they wakened in the morning there was a cheery smell of coffee on the air, and a hint of bacon cooking, showing that Sarah Morton was anxious to prove her willing ability to satisfy.

  "Seems as though she might be going to be worth her salt," said Rand cheerfully as he brushed his hair before the mirror and flung on his coat. "And say, lady, how does the thought of your new apartment look to you in the light of day?"

  "Lovely!" said Dale. "I'm looking forward to it. George, the baby looks wonderful this morning. See! His cheeks are a little pink, and his forehead is cool and nice! He didn't waken once in the night. I believe he's going to get well! I've been afraid to say so before, but I feel somehow assured this morning. Come and look at him, George. There is something so ethereal about him, and yet it is a look of health, not too angelic. I think he's going to be a beautiful baby!"

  "Of course!" said George. "Look who found him! Look who saved his life and took care of him! Is it any wonder he'd be beautiful after that?"

  "Look what a great God we have!" breathed Dale softly. "And it's going to be just wonderful to have him have a father like you! A father who loves God! Just suppose Mrs. Beck had had to bring him up! What would he have been like?"

  "She wouldn't!" said Rand. "She'd have put him out on the doorstep. He might have been brought up in heaven, but not on earth. Bless his little heart. We must take great care to bring him up to know the Lord. Dale, I'm going to start in this Christmas Day telling him all about it! I'll tell him the story of the angels and the shepherds and the wise men, and the Christ who came and lived and died for him! I'll begin right away, and I'll keep it up day after day. He's not going to be able to say he never heard the truth."

  "George, how perfectly absurd! As if a baby like that could understand words!" said Dale with a tender smile.

  "Well, he may not be able to understand words," said Rand stubbornly, "but he's learning them all the time, and somehow he finds out what things mean. You never know how soon they begin to understand. Why, he understand already what a bottle of milk is! I'll warrant he had some vague idea when I found him that he was cold and needed comfort and warmth. He knew then he needed saving. What's the reason we can't implant the idea in his own way. I've seen it in babies on the trolley cars, stiffening their little backs and flinging themselves fairly out of their mother's arms, and howling their heads off. They know they're doing wrong. And they need the idea of salvation implanted in them. You can't tell how early that idea will be implanted and take. Do you know how many words a child has in his vocabulary at two years old? How do you know how many they have at one year, only they don't know how to voice them? I tell you, I'm going to see that that little guy hears about his Savior right along, all the days, till he gets old enough to want to take Him for his own."

  Dale's eyes were dewy with agreement as she looked at her husband.

  "We'll begin now, so it can't ever be too late to begin."

  "George, do you know I think that's really rather wonde
rful," she said. "Perhaps there is something in it. Anyway, I'll help you all I can. We'll see our little boy get to know all about the Lord who died for him. Isn't it queer how much trouble we take to teach babies how to eat and walk and get along with other people, and we think they're too young to know about salvation? Well, we'll begin at once, and he'll never remember just when it was he first heard about the love of God to him."

  So they went out to eat Sarah Morton's nice appetizing breakfast and then to get ready for moving and for Christmas day.

  Chapter 19

  It was the Saturday before Christmas and Rand had been in consultation with his editor about some important article that the editor wanted Rand to handle. They had talked it all over thoroughly and Rand felt that he knew his editor better than ever before, and liked him a lot. He felt his new line of work was to be tremendously interesting. This had come just after he handed in the last article of the series about the Western conference he had attended, and his heart was happy over work well done. He told himself that it was knowing Dale and having the baby that had inspired him for the work. He had lost the feeling that there was no longer anyone on earth who cared especially whether he did well or not. So they concluded their decisions, and Rand got up to leave with a cheery "Merry Christmas!"

  "The same to you, Rand!" said the editor cordially, putting out his hand and giving the younger man a hearty handshake. "I like your work, and I feel we are going to get along well together in this new field. And oh, by the way, have you got your Christmas invitation yet? The boys weren't quite sure they had the right address and told me to ask you."

  "Invitation?" said Rand wonderingly. "What invitation?"

  "Why, the paper is giving a Christmas dinner to unmarried workers on our staff, men and girls, you know, and they are anxious to be sure that you come. It's to be at the Bellevue, and it's sure to be something pretty nice. I think you'll have a lot of fun. Sorry I can't qualify myself for an invitation, only my family seems to think they can't spare me on Christmas Day."

  Rand answered with a merry grin.

  "Thank you so much for the invitation, Mr. Bigelow," said Rand, "but I'm afraid I wouldn't qualify, either. You see, I'm married, too, and it's the baby's first Christmas. I really couldn't be away, you know."