Elisabeth Sanxay Holding

“ Lester Tracy was just leaving the house when he was called back to the telephone. He went petulantly. He wouldn't have gone at all if it had not been an anonymous call, and therefore faintly interesting. The past six months had not improved him; he was jaded, irritable, restless.
Maisie's quiet little voice had a singular effect upon him.
“Lester!” she said. “Will you please come? There's a man here, and he won't go away.” ”

“ Without energy, without bodily or mental vigor, Maisie had the immeasurable strength of fortitude. She could live one day at a time, endure each misery as it came; and in her baby she found a sublime compensation for every sorrow. ”

“ You're to have the baby, and I'll see that there's a proper provision made.”
“Lester!” cried his mother. “You cannot put me aside entirely—”
“I do put you aside,” he said sternly. “It's Maisie's child, and she's going to have it. I wish to Heaven she'd take me, too!”
Maisie had not stirred or spoken a word. She got up now and went out of the room.
They looked after her with amazement. Mrs. Tracy came close to her son.
“Oh, try to realize!” she whispered. “It's your child, too. It's a Tracy. You can't abandon your own child to that ignorant, common girl!” ”

“ With his adroitly acquired manner, he had some success as a professional dancer in hotels, because women liked him. Then, as his vogue fell off, his means of living became more and more unsavory. Through a new and unmentioned lawyer, Mrs. Tracy had got hold of him. It was to be his rôle to prove Maisie an unfit guardian for the baby, and the thing was to be done thoroughly. Mrs. Tracy intended it to appear natural, inevitable, without the faintest trace of her guiding hand. She couldn't have found a better tool than Ainsworth Denbigh. ”

“ She read the label on a package of infant food, and followed the directions given. For the rest, she had vague ideas about keeping it swathed in flannel, giving it a daily bath, and taking it out in the fresh air whenever she could. She knew nothing of infant hygiene, and had never been told that the child should be let alone in order to develop naturally and healthily. She never let it alone, if she could avoid doing so; and still it developed mightily.
When she went out to give her lessons, she simply locked the room and left the baby in the crib. ”

“ Maisie accepted blessings as she did curses, patiently and incuriously. She was not startled when a young man came out to the country, told her that he had noticed her dancing at the Palace Academy, and made her an offer to be his dancing partner for two or three cabaret turns.
She was no analyst of character, either. She took people on their own valuation, which is generally a flattering one. She was pleased and a little touched by Mr. Denbigh's friendly interest. It was a long time since she had talked freely with any one near her own age. ”

“ The lawyer dreaded the sight of her haggard face.
“It's very difficult to trace so obscure and ordinary a person,” he protested.
“My grandchild is neither obscure nor ordinary,” she said. “Set your wits to work. The child must be found!”
As Mrs. Tracy had large resources and Maisie none at all, this was accomplished. The girl was discovered acting as general servant in a lonely country house—a wretched, ill paid position, with work beyond her young strength; but she could have her baby with her, and she fancied herself safe. ”

“ Lester Tracy to collect evidence against his wife, arrived precisely at the time when they had been told to arrive, and entered the flat. They found Maisie there, with a man who brazenly insisted that he was Mr. Lester Tracy. He didn't look it. He was disheveled, his coat was torn, he had a bad bruise on his cheek bone and a cut over one eyebrow, and he was incoherent with rage.
The detectives had reason to believe that the fellow was a Mr. Ainsworth Denbigh, and they said so. He told them that they would very likely find Mr. Denbigh in a hospital, although jail was where he belonged. ”

“ Lester could have everything there was—freedom, money, as many wives as a Turk; she wanted nothing but the baby.
Mrs. Tracy desired and intended that her son should have everything desirable, and the baby as well; and she felt sure that in time this would come about. She had observed that everything comes to those who can afford to wait. If poor people were simply let alone, their own poverty would drown them.
IV
Lester Tracy was alone in the house, technically speaking. ”

“ She simply didn't care. She had done with men, and all her steadfast and gentle heart was given to her baby. The Maisie who went dancing about in the Palace Academy was an automaton, whose soul was locked up at home. ”

“ She cared nothing at all for his money. He had tried to explain that, but no one would believe it.
He couldn't explain his marriage very well. He had come into the candy shop, one day, on his way home from a wedding breakfast, where he had had a good deal too much to drink. He had leaned across the counter and said to Maisie:
“Come on, Maisie, darling! Let's go and get married!”
She had got her shabby little hat and walked out of the shop with him, and they had gone down to the City Hall. He had been well aware of his condition, and a little afraid that he wouldn't be granted a license ”

“ The lawyer and Mrs. Tracy pointed out to her how grossly selfish she was, and told her that she thought only of her own pleasure, and not of the child's advantage. Maisie kept to herself certain ideas she had about these advantages. She was terrified, but resolute. She would not give up the baby.
III
Several times, after that, Maisie was summoned to the lawyer's office to be bullied and cajoled. ”

“ One evening, when she came home, the baby was gone. She might have protested against the illegality of her locked room being forcibly entered; but, as the lawyer well knew, those who are not aware of their rights are little better off than those who have none. ”

“ He explained that the child was now in the custody of its father, and she would have to show cause why it should be removed therefrom. He hinted that she would not find that easy to do.
“Now, then, my dear young woman,” said he, “you mustn't be selfish. ”