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back on this beat； d' ye understand？〃 Liz nodded。 〃That's right！〃 he
resumed； cheerily。 〃I'll give you just ten minutes； you just go straight
home。〃
And with a 〃Good…night；〃 uttered in accents meant to be comforting；
he turned away and paced on； his measured tread echoing on the silence at
first loudly； then fainter and fainter； till it altogether died away； as his
bulky figure disappeared in the distance。 Left to herself； Liz rose from her
crouching posture； rocking the dead child in her arms； she smiled。
〃Go straight home！〃 she murmured； half aloud。 〃Home； sweet home！
Yes； baby； yes； my darling； we will go home together！〃
And creeping cautiously along in the shadows； she reached a flight of
the broad stone steps leading down to the river。 She descended them； one
by one； the black water lapped against them heavily； heavily； the tide was
full up。 She paused； a sonorous； deep…toned iron voice rang through the air
with reverberating； solemn melody。 It was the great bell of St。 Paul's
tolling midnightthe Old Year was dead。
〃Straight home！〃 she repeated； with a beautiful； expectant look in her
wild； weary eyes。 〃My little darling！ Yes； we are both tired； we will go
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STORIES
home！ Home； sweet home！ We will go！〃
Kissing the cold face of the baby corpse she held； she threw herself
forward； there followed a sullen； deep splasha slight struggleand all
was over！ The water lapped against the steps heavily； heavily； as before；
the policeman passed once more； and saw to his satisfaction that the coast
was clear； through the dark veil of the sky one star looked out and
twinkled for a brief instant； then disappeared again。 A clash and clamour
of bells startled the brooding night； here and there a window was opened；
and figures appeared in balconies to listen。 They were ringing in the New
Yearthe festival of hope； the birthday of the world！ But what were New
Years to her； who； with white； upturned face； and arms that embraced an
infant in the tenacious grip of death； went drifting； drifting solemnly down
the dark river； unseen； unpitied by all those who awoke to new hopes and
aspirations on that first morning of another life…probation！ Liz had gone；
gone to make her peace with Godperhaps through the aid of her 〃hired〃
baby； the little sinless soul she had so fondly cherished； gone to that
sweetest 〃home〃 we dream of and pray for； where the lost and bewildered
wanderers of this earth shall find true welcome and rest from grief and
exile； gone to that fair； far glory…world where reigns the divine Master；
whose words still ring above the tumult of ages： 〃See that ye despise not
one of these little ones； for I say unto you； that their angels do always
behold the face of My Father who is in heaven。〃
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