The Ottawa free trader. [volume], August 01, 1885, Image 6

About The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916

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Kl'NMKT.
Majestic mother of a hero nice, '
Old France! I." arts mid honor ever first.
The twuln republics your proud breasts have
uurs'd, .
Clasp hands aero the billowy ocean' space
O'er UiuKrt'iit dead whose thrilling words abide
. .1 .1 .. it.....
unco more we own our miner b ueui w uu,
Whooe fervid breathfiinn'd liberty'sfalntspark
1- a! il .. .1 .I.-....,..!, tliu if.it-L-
C, Dili lis OCHCIMI lire lllllliru iuiuun mi.i..,
And still ahull flame till all mankind are free
Turning from strife, he saw the rushing tide
Of years, that bullish errors tray and old;
High aspiration crowned and satisfied,
He sleeps, with justice done and wrong delicd,
In taut free France his prophet song foretold.
A FAMILY AFFAIR.
By HUGH CONWAY.
CITArTEIt XV.
A PlsrUTSO CLAIM.
rurin,-; tho last three months of thn your
HiulnwcKxl House did not belie its reputation
for cuhn regidarity of its domestic e-oncerus
and immunity from tho ninny j-tty ills nud
annoyances which afflict less methodically
conducted escabliKhmonts. So fur as could
be socu all promised well for a quiet, placid
anil uneventful winter. Horace ami Her
bert employed themselves as wai their wout.
TLey were num who could spread out a Lttle
occupation over a large slico of time, ho
never found t he hours hung wearily. Beatrice
seemed fairlv happy with her bright-haired
boy. Tho litt!o fellow was now bogliiuing to
pi aitl- merrily, and his manner towards t!ie
Tulloitsj was inoro audacious and familiar
t baa ever. Altogether it looked ns if noth
ing would occur to disturb tho even tenor of
lifo ttt llaIuwotal House, niitil tho budding
hedge oru o ir.oro brought round t!io usual
spring cleaning.
Hut, ull undreamt of by tlm brothers,
storms were brewing which were to shako
their houso to I'm foundations.
Chi i .tn.as camo. Now Christmas Pay was
a (hi on which tho Talberts nmdo great
sacr.itc.es for tho good of their feilow-civa-
tures. Sylvanus Mordle, wlio believed that
t hi so in jMiveriy were as much untitled to
creature-comforts as to spiritual consola
tii r;s, always sent the lint round at Christ
mas, uu I coll"cted a upooinl fund for tlm
purport of givj;ij all hi i)r pee plo a hearty
dinner. At this dinner tho Tnllicrts were his
h iicliinen. No on who knew their fastidi
ous ta-A-s could haves en them carving huge
joii.t.-iof sanguinary-looking Isf or serving
out sticky segments of plum-junUlin without
feeling sure that, tit heart, thev worn thor
oughly good fellows, Herliert did once
jiluiniive.ly ask Mordle if the ment need lie
tjvile so red. The curate chuckled. "If it
-war n't red, they'd say 'twus American, and
leave It," ho answered. It is to bo feared
that eJtj'criciiee had taught Mordle that
charity is rf'.en looked upon as a light to lie
demanded, not a Ixmnty for which to lie
thankful.
It was uo doubt the terribln sights of the
forenoon which mudo the TalU-rts rigidly
tulsjo, so far as their own table was co:i
cernod, all conventional Christmas fare.' As
Horace gr.ivily said, there is, t educates
minds, sorr.cth.mj savoring of vulgarity in
suppo-ing that the celebration of a Certain
holy-d-iy must 1n a! tended by tin ooummp
ticu of a certain class of comes' i I Ir s. So
their ilium r consisted of clear sou), fish, a
tirnro of birds and a.i omelet.
'V) never thought of Beatrice," said Her
bert penitently. "Beatrice might have l.ked
roa4 beef and plum pudding."
Hut Misa Clauson did not yearn for Christ
mas diet. Moreover, her thoughts were far
away from ejitim? and drinking. Imleisi,
(luring tl.o last threo months the girl had
been, even for hor, strnngely quiet an I
thoughtful. As for a little while) longer we
must be conti'iiW to regard her from tho
outsidu uidy, her musings cannot bedi valued.
To-day, no doubt, alio v as thinking a great
deal alioi.t an imi vuding visit to her father's
hoiiao, i
Horace rnd Herliert had urgel itearncrctly.
Not,, as they kindly and truthfully told her,
that they wihhed to lot her for even a day,
but ib was well that tho world should think
that tiio Clnusi uts we re a united family. It is
curious what a simpleton incut people think
tho world, and how easily they fancy it can
bo taken in, . .. ,
Beatrice consented to lie guided by hor
uncles' advice. Ho on the iluy after Christ
mas blio li ft Oakbury. Sir liaiiigsy and his
family were wintering In Imdon. It is sur
prising tha number of reiootablu families
who do winter in London.
iSir Maingay met her at Paddington. Th'?
bai'oie t looked a little roiunler and a little
mora eommonplaco than when hist she saw
him. He greeted his daughter alTuctiouatoly
but told her sliti looked ill and careworn.
Then he impaired for Horace and Herbert.
As from thn very flint day they hud kept Hir
JJaingay in his projH'r jilai-'e, he loo'cod uim
t hem w i!h tho greatest resjs'ct. "Is it true
they have adopted a child f he ask.sl. Home
tarbl.sl vwsiori of the affair had reached him.
"No," seid Heairiiti. "I have."
"You, my dear! Adopt a child! Why, it is
time yi u tiiought of the poMsiblllty of having
i hildr 'ii of your ow n. I have for months
been ho; ing to hear you were engaged to lie
murrl'"!.''
"1 hhall nevi-r marry ,naaiil 1 lea trien, rather
coldly. '
"DejKtid ujx'n it, it is tho lsst s'fttt"," said
Sir Maiu;;ay eagerly. Then ho slart.nl oil on
thoKiibJ:rtof thonnvocity which Heatrice's
littlo half lirothers displayed. How the elder
Haid this yesterday and tho younger did that
the day I fore a record of individual but
nc't g utral iutcrwt.
Hut jiM before they reached his house Sir
Maiuguy made a more notable remark. "I
made the acquaintance this ee-k of a young
relative of your jxxr mother's a Mr. Carru
thers, who was staying with you sometime
ago. I told him you were coming up, and he
proinhsd to call."
It was growing dusk, no the flush that
leaped to Miss Clauson1 cheek was unseen.
Mhe wus isilent for half a minute, then she
uud, quietly:
"I Khali be very glad to seo Mr. Car
rutuers,11 , , , .
Lady Clau'on wu gracious and eondo
loending. i Bha had gainacl aome art of suc
cess In town last san, o couid afford to
bo. KeverUwless, 13ti-ke was shown in
various way that ohe was a t -anger within
her father's gate. The littje boy were
brought down to ber dressed iu their
company clothe and manners. They wr
good, ordinary, unintumting little fellows,
and no doubt Mha Claoson contrasted them
with a gnlden-haired pet of her at Oakbury.
Although the ladies were civil to each other
they did not sympathize. Like many others,
Lady Clauson was utterly unabl to under
stand Beatrice. -
'Nover, If you can lelp It, osarry a
widower," she said to a boeotn frtWt "No
cue can toll the anxiety a first wife's child is
no ona who has not experienced it"
"It must be," laid tha friend with great
feeling.
"If she did ttot alway. dress so caraf aHy,"
continued Lady Clauson sorrowfully, MI
should believe aha bad made up her mind to
ba an old maid, and might thm do something
for the boys, Bh has mors money than any
young gui shoald haTe."
Carruthar ealiadt CarnstW dia4 at Blr
Maingay's, and moreover, presuming oa bis
distant relationship, Carruthers bad tas auda
city and, after all that hadhapraned, we may
say humility, to escort Miss Clauson to an
afternoon classical concert. Pinuo lait Octo
ber Frauk had a thousand times pictured his
meeting with Beatrice and a thousand time
settled how he would deport himself. The
result wa i thut he forgot all bl self-training
and boro himself simply at nature prompted
him. Ho was earnest, tender, respectful.
More than ever ho felt the charm which the
girl exercised over bjn, yet ho dared not
sieak a'uln t-f love. In Ids inner heart ho
knew that for well or ill be must some day
rosay those passionate words but not yet.
The second cast of tho dio must, chould be,
tho last His nearest verbal approach, to
love-uiaklng was this:
Ho told Beatrico he had received a letter
from Horace begging him to ieud a few
day at Oakbury before the Lent term began.
"It is a great compliment,'1 ho said
"Yes," answered Beatrice, "very great.
Are you goingr1
"That is for you to decide, not for me."
Hhe dropjsxi her eye and was silent
Frank waited.
"Do you forbid itr bo asked in that an
thoritatlvo voice which women love to bear
with a man. Htill sho wa silent. Ho re
sated tho epiestion.
"I have no right to forbid it," sho said.
"You have every right. AVe do not
alludoto the past, but wo do not forget it.
Look up and answer niu. Shall I go to
IIiizlewoodT
ritrnuge to say, be spoke in a eummunding
wuv, su. li ns ho hud never before displayed
when addressing her. I'erhaps ho liked him
none tho less for it. With an effort t-lw
raised her eyes to his.
"It is mu.t unwise," sho whLsr d.
"L'nwiho you mean for me, of coure,"ho
said, quickly. "That part is for me to ileenle,
not for you. '
She held out her hand impulsively. "U'e
can hi friends, Frank," she said.
"Always" answered Carruthers. "And
now we may as well Bettlo to go dow n to
gether." To this she niauo no otjection, ami t rank s
lovev-mukiuif ended for tho time. His dreams
that night may have been pleasant on-s, but
as for Ilea'ricohhe sat for hours iu h r room
Kainii into tho Are with n pained, hol ies
loolc on tier race, llio uiiionue u;i u j- iuniv
had once noticed lietween her brows wemeil
to have grown deeper and more distinct.
If Carruthers had hoped for a great (leal
from that Journey to Hlacktown ho was
doomed to 13 disapsiiutl. Kvenfs occurrol
st Haz!ewo(Kl Houso which took Beatrice
buck in hot hasto arid alone.
Ono morning Horace and Herls rt were in
earnest discussii m ri sjxii-tiiig a hip ba'.h, tLu
jiaint of which showed signs of wi nr. The
question was whether it should lw scut to tlie
auctioneer's and sold for tho best price, or
should be re japanned. Herliert, who was
given to temporising, favored tho reparation.
Horace, who w as more thorough in his ideas,
thought it should go at once to tho salensjin.
The matter was so important and interesting
that neither of the brothers heard tho sound
of carriage wheels outside tho house.
The wheels wero those lielongiug to a gig,
a genuine, unmistakable gig. VVhlttaker,
who saw it come up tho drive and stop at tl.o
front, not the side door, whs much disgusted.
Ho did not know the traditional reseotability
enjoyed by tho driver of a gig. Ho drew the
lino at dogcarts. Hylvanns' tricycle was
only borne with Isvauso it carried a clergy
man. Tho gig in ernes' ion was driven by a man
who dismounted and helped to the ground a
woman with a good-tempered looking shiny
face, and who was dressed in refreshingly
bright colors. Ono of them rang tho bell
timidly, and after a befitting interval the
dignlllisl Whittuker condescended to open
the diHir, Tho mun asked if tho Messrs.
Talliert wero in. This collective s'.vio jrrn d
iisn Whittaker, who had been iu the fu.miy
long enough to reineinLer the time when
"Memrs. Talbort and Co." was a well-known
form of address. Ho replied tbaS Mr. Tul
liert and Mr. Herbert wero in, but at present
engaged.
"Wo w ill wait until they can see us," sui J
the man. So Whittaker let Uieui comoiiiti
the bouse. They wijs'd their feet on enter
ing so carefully and thoroughly that al
doubts as to their be ing is-rsons of r.uy iui
porta iu o wero ut oueo set at rest. Whlttakei
felt he was qulto right in offering them
chairs in tho hall. They were too res i t
ablotoboleft standing, but tho gig and the
feet-rubbing combined showed they wero not
to Is) ushcnsl into the drawing-roeum
"What name shall I say f1 ho asked.
"We are strangers," said tho num. "Yoi
can say we have culled on private and contl
dential business."
"You had U'tter give mo your tuiiue," sail'
Whittaker.
"Mr. and Mrs. ltuwrirjs,'1 answered the
woman.
Ho Whittaker went up stairs, found his
masters, and told them that a Mr. nud Mrs.
Haw-lings wanted to see themou private a;ul
confidential business.
"Raw-lings, said HerU'rt, with a shudder.
"We know no ono w iih such an awful name.
Who are they, Whittaker f" 1
"I have no idea, sir," said Whittaker. As
his masters adjudged the immo hoi rii.le, l.e
felt half offended at it lieing supposed he
knew euy one named Haw lings.
"Where are thev, asked Horace.
"In the ball, sir." Whittaker felt thank .ul
he had uot bextu tempted to give then s tting
room honors.
"Whittaker," said Horace, gravely, "we
shall be ext remedy annoyed if you have let
persons come inside our house who aro book
haw kers, or, worse still, thimo who try to buy
up second-hand clothes, a t he-e people say
they come on private and confidential busi
ness." However, they put their eye-glasws up
ami went elowu to the ball and confronted
their visitors. They found a woman whose
phlllstiulo attire set their teeth uu edge, and
a palo-f seed man with rather prominent light
blue eyes and a weak looking, agitateel k.ud
of face. Tho brothers wemdered mightily
what these people could want with them.
"You wish to speak to usf" said Horace,
suavely. Although they kept persons at a
distance, as long ae possible at arm' length,
theTslberts w ere always polite and kindly
sjioken.
"If you please, sir," said the man. Horace
and Herbert waited.
"We should like to see vou in private,"
said the woman, glancing round the halh Bo
Herbert opened the drawing room door, and
they all walked Inside. "Now, then," said
Horace, encouragingly, "what can we do for
yon, Mr. Raw lings I believe that i your
namef1 i
"Yes, sir," said Mr. Rswlings, drawing
out a pocketbook, and banding Horace a
card, on which was printed, "Rawlings
Bros., Purveyor of Pork, 142 Gray street,
London." Horace shivered. He felt Vary
angry.
"Pork," be said, "is a meat wa never
touch." Than he motioned to Herbert to
ring the bell But Mr. Bawling interposeeL
"I didn't come on that sort of business, sir.
TV fact is, I haw beard that aome time last
year a child, aUttl boy, was left at your
houaa, sat front no ona knows where. Is
thiscorrsct, gentlemen f
"It is quite true," answered Horace, H
was aarry ha bad misjudged the msn in
thinking bins a touting tradesman. "But
why do you a.dt f be added.
The man grew visibly excited. "Me and
mywlfs," be suid, "have strong hopes that
tha little boy Is one we lost, or bad stolen
from us, more than two years ago."
" I'o't tci'ti to sivik to us" an ill Harare,
suuiely.
Tlie brothers1 faces were perfect studies.
That two people liko this should lay claim tc
Beatrice's boy was simply absurd. "Impos
sible!" they ejaculated in erne breath.
"Don't .-ay impossible," suid .Mr. Rawlings.
"We may liud our littlo boy at lust ; we have
been hunting ubout all over Ilir'land for
foundlings such as this. It may Iwthlsont
is ours."
"Why should it huvo be-on cent heref1
"I enn't tell, sir. But I won't leave n stone
unturned. May we see tho boy ("
The situation was grow ing rid ieu loin, nnil
if the Jaliierts cl .silked no Lung more timr
luiother it was a ridiculous situation. Tin
lest way out of this one se-emed to lie that
Mr. Raw lings should se-e the child nud be sat-i.-lied
it was not his missing offspririg. y
Horace rang the bell and desired tl.u; tie
little boy should le brought down.
Mrs. Miller, tho nurse, upon ivoeh In-j in
structions to this effect, imagined that lu-t
charge was to bo shown to visitors of im
portance. So sho quickly put on his bos' ;;u"
ments, and made him look very clieru. le
He trotted into the drawing room n cabinet
pii-ture of childii-h h"ii!th and beauty.
Rawlings looked ut him with ex'-!tem ..', i.
every Itlio of his face. His li,ht li:.. i
seemed to bo starting out of his 1
"Maria," ho whisered hoai'sely to his w'ie.
"look at him. Just what ours would l.avi
grown to. The sume hair the sau.e e-yi s.
Maria, is this not your boy? Answer i
and thank heaven we have at last found
him."
Tho wife looked at the child but did not
answer at oie e.
"It is I know it is," said the man. "Tell
them so, Maria."
"I hope, it is," said his wife.
The Talberts on hearing this hx.kcd siiqMv
fled. Tho case was assuming undreamt of
proportions. Rindy they saw tuat this recog
nition meant strange things.
"My good man,'1 said Horace, "you are
making a complete mistake."
"(Hi, no, sir no mistake. How ran a
father 1m mistaken I Oh, my pretty lioy my
long-lost huiib! Come to mo and give ma
one kiss I Come to you'" father!'
He shot out his arms so vehemently that
Harry was frightened, and instead of accept
ing the invitation ran to Herliert, nud hiding
his face against his leg set up a how, which
brought in Mrs. Miller, who at once whipiied
bun away. She had strict instructions from
Beatrice never to let the child leeome a nui
sance. Horaceaud Herliert, with arched eye
brows, sat staring at their visitors. '
"We may take our littlo lxy buck with us
at once, pir may we not;" asked Rawlings,
"Certainly not," said Horace. "You have
not given us tho slightest proof it is your
child."
"But it is, sir. I know, and Maria know s
it is."
"Tell us how it camo here. Until you can
do that w e i niitiot admit your claim for an
instant. It is absurd you must Ihi mis
taken." "Absurd!" echoed Herls rt.
"Tell mo v hose child it is, if it isn't mine.""
retorted the num. "Jo that and I w.ll go
away. I don't care how it camo la re. 1 k;nw
it. I recognise it. It is my oor lo t little
bor, and I will huvo it."
i lioman grew more excited than b.-.'ore.
Horace w as intensely annoyed. Ho turned to
the woman. "Youseeni to have Some sense,"
he said; "do you claim this child f"
She glanced at her husband and tears
sprang into her eyes. "Ve, sir," sho paid,
"I believe it is my-child.'1 Tno siuiatiou
grew worset at id woijse. ; It whs well for the
boy that ho had made such friends of Horace
ahd Herliert or he must have bu n sacrificed
forthwith," if only to rid the hoto of his
self-styled father and mother. ,
As it was the Talberts temporized; they
promised to coasidVr the matter for a few
lays, and let Mr. Rawlings know the decision
they might come to. Mr. Rawlings wrote n
his business card tlie name of a hotel at
which he was staying, and having again and
again asserted that ho wcntld riot be robbed
of bis refound son, at last, to the iinss-ak-able
relief of our friends, drove away iuhis
gig
Never bad Horace and Herbert I eon placed
in such a difficulty. They sat stroking their
Wards for at least half an hour, but could
see no May out of it. The arrival of the
child cn that evening of last year was as
nothing compared to the present dilemma.
Then, had tlity chosen to use it, there was at
least a shortcut out of the difficulty; now
there was none. The more they tnought the
more improbable it seemed that these people
could bo tho parents of the boy. And yet:
the man at least asserted that it was so, ns il
the mutter was beyond doubt. Tho belief
that tho child was "se me one's'1 child still
clung to both Horace and HcrU-rt. It
seemed, moreover, an absolute insult that
the child of such persons as Mr. and Mr .
Rawlings should have been sent to llazle
wood House. Why should they have Ux.n
chosen out of all the world to have this
child foisted upon them? Why did not the
unknown sender return it to its rightful
homef The whole claim was a mistake;
whether willful or accidental, it was a mis
take. Fond as they had really grown of the
little boy, the Tallerta were far too just to
Link of wishing to keep bun from bis legiti
mate owners; but they bad no intention of
surrendering him to the first claimant.
Besides, what about Be-atriot I what would
she say f Beatrice, to whom the child seemed
as tha apple of ber eye. Bitterly tLey blamed
themselves for ever having yielded to ber
request that she might keep the foundling.
But what was dime was done, and could not
now be helped. . - . , r
Horace w rote to Beatrice by the next )oet
He told ber that some persons had called
and claimed ber boy. The whole thing, be
said, was a great puzzle to him and to
Herbert They bad deferred their decision
for a few day. If possible they would do
nothing until her return. ' j
Beatrice was alone whrnshe ld hat let
ter. She turned deadly rale and seemed to
gasp for breath. Then she rang tha bell and
ordered her things to be packed. At break
fast she quietly told Lady Clauson that h
found she must return to Blacktown by the
next train. Sho gave no reason for this ah
runt daiiarture, and her sudden determina
tion annoyed Lady Clauson immensely. Sir
Maingay said nothing. His daughter bad
Ion,; ago shown him she was entire adstresi
of ber own actions.
"Mark my words," said Lady Clauson an
soon as Beatrice had departed; "that girl
will some day do something which will dis
grace the family."
"Oh, nonsense, my love," said Sir Maingay,
who had now been married long enough tc
iind out that his beautiful wife was not all
his fancy had once painted her.
Beatrice reached Hazlowood House quit
unexpected. The Talberts were out, so the
girl ran straight to the nursery. "Where u
my boy f" she cried, so vehemently that she
startled Mrs. Miller who knew nothing ol
the purjMirt of tho visit paid yesterday. The
boy was there all safe, and Miss Clauson,
without removing her outdoor garments,
hugged and caressed her jet until she war
told that her uncles had come In. Sho went
to them at once. They greeted her in
astonishment.
"What have you done about those wretched
peoplof'1 she asked quickly. "The peeiple
who claim my ooy, i mean."
"My dear, wo have done nothing as yet.'
"You will not dream of giving him u;r
"I hojx) we shall not bo obliged to."
"Listen, Uncle Horace," h T chtvk flush;
as she spoke. "I will give hlin up to no one
no o:io at all."
"I am su.-o, my dear B -atriop, you will he
entirely guided by us," said Horace.
"Of course sho wiil," said Herbert, kindly.
They must have been sanguine men, as the
pot of M is Clauson' brow did not promise
well for her submitting to guidance of auj
kind.
"I rIiujI never give up that boy," she
said in a firm voice, "until the person whe
claims it gives every proof tliat it is his. J
would rather run away with him and hide
myself."
Horace looked extremely shockinl. "Mj
dear Beatrice," lie said, "it grieves us liotl
to hear you talk so wildly. The child is
very nico child, but you speak of it as if il
were of t ur own flesh and blood."
Be atrice did not reply to this; but the up
shot w as thr.t the Talberts j romised to write
to Mr. Rawlings and say that they held hii
recognition of a child not seen feir mo: e thar
two ye ars insufficient prexif thut it wax hit
own. and iu the absence of further evidence
declined to entertain his claim. After tbl
Ii atrice left them, and for somo time th-y
mourned over this new auel startling phas'
i f uc tiie u-trativeness displayed by ona ol
ih.-lr own k.n.
Two iik rnings aTte-rwarels Horace opened
a letter addressed to him in c!erl;Iy writing,
ilo read it and it seemed as if his jaw wa.
abou t to fall. In silence be handed tho letter
to Herbert. Herliert read it, and bis fact
relictied his brother's enwticn. One glance
passed b 'twis-n them and they knew that
th;-y were of oae mind. Horace turned to
Beatrice.
"B.-atrice," ho said in a vcioe solemn as the
grave, and in a manner decisive ae the lawj
of tho Modes and Persians, "that child must
be given up."
Sho started; but before she could ppeak she
heard Herbert's echo, equally solemn and
decisive: "Beatrice, that child must be iven
Up." ;
CHAPTER XVL
A TAMK SURRENDER.
This is a true copy of the letter which fell
like a bombshell between the gentle and
peace-loving Talberts:
"Blacktown, Pec. 81, IS .To the
Messrs. Horace and Herbert Talliert: Gen
tlemen We have this morning been con
sultesl by Mr. Rawlings with reference to
your refusal to restore to him his child, John
Rawlings, whom ho lue?t about two years age
in a mysterious manner, n:nl whom ho has
recently discovered to le living in your
bouse. '
"The circumstances as explained to us by
our client tend tt show that the child wej
left by some person unknown in a railway
carriage, and that It eventually arrived at
yo::r house, v here, we under stand, it bus
sin ercmnincd. ' ' ' '
".J;-. Raw Lugs will call at your house on
ii :.; t utnrdny afternoon, at 3 o'clock, with
a c:'.;-u;-e, ad we trust you will, without
itr i'm r c pioiii( n, allow the child to depart
wl:lil.;:n. ' " . T "' -; V
"lu eve you still refuse to give up the
child y.r. Rawlings has Instructed us to take
iumiciliuto legal action to obtain sjssession
of 1. Is son, and wo are Informed that projier
lee-al proe-f as to tho identity if tho bo will
bo Ler afti r raldm-ed.
'We are, gentlemen,
"Your obedient servants, :
"Bl.AC KETT ANO WlUOEXS."
!Co hi n.'.cr that after reading tho last para
graph, i . d i-. aii;:ing the fact that tho man
w i.h the ie-. i .Lie Lame meant to light for his
oil's.'iing, Horace ejaculated: "The child
mu t bo given up!" . wonder that Herliert
in h;s t".: n echoed his brother's exclamation.
Uiumagliiutiveas tLey were, a dreadful pic
ture e f tlie ccusecpicuces of resi-.tar.ie fixed
itself ei the mental retina of each.
But Beatrice was by far the most agitated
of tie party. Her cheek grew white; the
har.d which she mechanie-ally held out forthe
letter trembled. Herbert gave her the epis
tolary bombshell, and whilst she read it the
two brothei-s gazed at each other in that
sadly e-alrn and gravely relTtive way at
times natural to men whose minds are made
up that a particular path cf duty must at all
ci st le trodden to the end. When such a
gaze tuns from man to man it strengthen!
the feet of each to tread the stony course.
Beat rice read the letter twice. Without
word she returned it to Herbert; then she
walked acress the room to the fireplace and
stood for some minutes tapping ber foot upon
the feeder. Her back being turned to the
T albert 8 they could not see tlie supreme emo
tion shewn by her contracted brow and in
every line of her set, white face. Had they
seen it they would have been more than sur
prisedthey would bave been shocked.
Strong emotion was a thing to be shown by
well-lord persons only under t he most intense
provocation. In this cose it wa uncalled
for.
I"resently the girl turned to them. "You
have quite made up your minds to yield to
tbete people' threat f" she a-ke d. There was
a curious strained sound in he r voice.
"Wecando nut hiagelse,'' answered Horace.
Herbert nodded a sad assent to bis brother's
view cf the case.
"Nothing eh!" echoed Beatrice' with a
tou h of scorn in her voice. "What right
can these people bave to the boy I It is not
theirs. Uncle Horace, Uncle Herbert, you
can rememl'er bow he was sent here, ' How
be-autifully dressed he was how thoroughly
cared for. Can you, can any one .fur a
moment imagine him as belonging to such
persons f AY" bat are they I Pork butchers,
ye U said."' "
'."Purveyors," interpolated Horace, who
loved to lies precise, i ;
"How is it possible be can b their child f
roved Beatrice. - , -r, -r
'Teople in any station of life may have
children,' mf dar, said Herbert, atterjag
tha truism like m toewry-fouAd proverb of
Solomon.
"And," said Horaoa, spaaklag mors to the
point, 'the broad fact remains that they
!.-im the child and are prepared to make
hat claim good before Uta msigistraUs."
The most accomplished Jackjf -all-trade
generally breaks down when be interpret
law Horace was no exception. Had be
knowu that Messrs. Blackctt and Wiggens
could only obtain possession of their client's
child by a writ of habeas corpus or aome
such mytterious operation in a civil court be
might huvo felt more inclined to disregard
the threat of "immediate legal action. ' As
it was, his lgnoranco of criminal law inter
preted the vague threat as conveying the
awful terror of a magisterial summons. His
mistake show how much better it would be
for the general publio if they consulted
solicitors in every emergency and how much
better for solicitors!
"Before the magistrates, my dear Beatrice,"
echoed Herliert, dutifully accepting bis
brother's version of the law.
"Tell thera to do so tell them to prove
their right," said Beatrice.
The brothers held up their long, shapely
bands in horror. "My dear Beatrice," said
Horace, with the solemnity of a bishop re
buking a curate, "for heaven's sako bo reason
ablewe only ask you to bo reasonable. How
can we possibly appear before the bench ar.d
coutost this claim Fancy the talk the ridi
cule! You must see the utter alisurdity of
your suggestion the utter impossibility cf
our compliance,
"3Iy drar lieatrice," said Iloract', "for
Heaven' n"l:e le reaso. a'llr.''
"Tes, Beatrice, I a:a sure you must tee it,"
sad K.Tbcrt.
If Miss Clauson was misguided eno igli not
to S'je the absurdity and impossibility of thj
course she wished her uncles to take, I am
sure she stands alone iu ber darkness. Horace
and Herbert hailesl before the county justices,
charged by a purveyor of pork named
Rawlings with unlawfully detaining the
said purveyor's son and heir, would have
made not only tho hair of Oakbury, I ut also
the hair of a iortion of Blacktown stand on
end. Think bow the families of position
would bave laughed! Think how annoyed
and bitter the wiseacres who were sure the
child was "somebody" would have felt when
tho lowly pawntage was revealed! And even
if Mr. Rawlings failed to substantiate his
claim there would be scandal. People would
ask why the Talberts were so anxious to keep
possession of this little stranger. Beatrice's
strange fancy for the boy would not be a suf
ficient explanation. The Talberts knew the
world and its pettiness and wicked tongue.
Once they had braved it in deference to a
whim of Beatrice's, but the matter was now
far too serious to take a girl's whim into ac
count. They saw that ono course oidy was
open to them. When Mr. Raw lings' carriage
camo to their door littlo Hairy must forth
with be placed in it.
But Miss Clauson still continued unreason
able. Sho even returned to the attack. "I do
sot foe it at all,11 she said. "If this man laid
claim to one of your fields you would not
give it up."
"A Held does not arrive unexpeoteiUy in
the middle of the night," said Hora.-e not
humorously, but as one who states a simple
fact.
"Take a better simile, my dear," said Her
bert. "Suppose you picked up a sovereign
in tho street and a man camo up and swore
it was his. Although you might have every
reason to doubt his assertion you would, I
am sure, give it up Lt order toavoid unseemly
dispute."
"I don't think I should," taid B.atrlce,
defiantly.
"Oh, yes, my dear, you would," si 1 Lr
aco. gravely.
"I cm sure of it," added Herliert.
Beatrice did not pursue Herbert's inge tious
argument further. "Nothing no entreaty
of mine will make you change your minds f"
slie asked. Tho brothers shook their Leads
sadly." It was jiaiur'ul to them to refuse In r
request, but their grave eyes looked into the
distance and saw all the horrors hicli t'uey
imagined a contest with Mr. Rawlings would
arouse. Beatrice knew that any further
appeal would bo waste of breath. "I must
go a:ul thi::k," she said, wearily, r.9 she
turned away from the arbiters of th j boy's
fate.
"I may say," said Horace, w ith a Flight
blush ca Lis cheek, "that wo both rt;ret the
necessity eif this surrender. As a rile we
are not fnd of children, but your little
friend has been very good, and had it b en
possible v e would willingly have giv n ban
bouse room until bis future was assured."
Beatrice took bis band and pnsse-d it.
"Thank you," she said, gratefully. Then she
passed through the door which Herbert held
open, an act of peditencss which not even the
relationship of uncle and niece or the pro
verbial contempt bred by familiarity al
lowed the Talberts to forget
The brothers resumed their sea's, and for
a while silence reigned. Tho truth is they
felt angry and annoyed, perhaps even self,
reproachful. Impossible as it was that Mr.
Rawlings1 claims could be .contested, both
Horace and '.Herbert felt a sense 'of shame
natural to any Englishman who finds himself
compelled to yield by a mere threat. The
wish to fight everything out to the bitter end
made England what it is. Perhaps, after
all, when they came to think of it, the
Talberts were fonder of the child than they
cared to own. At any rate, after a long
brown study, Herbert, at least, showed signs
of wavering.
"I suppose," he asked, at one seeking for
information, "it would be out of the question
f or ua to do as Beatrice wishes f"
Horace was equal to the occasion. "Quit
out of question," he answered sternly. "We
should be placed in a ridiculou position and
become the Jest of the county." , :
They shuddered visibly at the thought and
so far as the Talberts were concerned the
boy's fate was settled. To become the Jest
of the county is too terrible I Country wit,
as we all know, is so delicate, yet so sharp
and pointed!
With minds ill at ease they anight dis
traction in their housekeeping. Although as
a rule the "Tabbies" vtere Just, if cheese
paring, in their management not unreason
able, if exacting, in their requirements, to
day they drove th cook and poor Whit
taker almost frantic, and set both wondering
"whatever the masters were going to get to."
la tha saeaatime Beatrice bad amedber
white fsce to ber own room. She locked the
door, threw herself upon a coach, where for
a long thus she sat with her bands pressed
against ber brows. She did not w-ep, nor
was ber look that of one resigning Viaelf to
I ilu.MtiJ
fata and gettlug ready t yield to the inevit
able. It was ratiier that of ono searching
forandex; loring every path which might
possibly oiler a w ay of escape frtm a diffi
culty. But it seemed as If every path 8hu
trod mentally resolved itself Into a cue d sore,
forthe girl heaved a hopeless sigh andthd
tears at bust began to force themselves
through ber half closed lashes.
She rose, rang tho bell, and gave orders for
tho boy to be brought to ber. Ho soon ran
into tho room with the cry of delight with
w hich he alw ays greeted ber. Ml-s Clauson
took the littlo fellow on her lap, clasjiesl him
to her heart, stroked and curled bis pretty,
ruffled bright hair, called him by a thousand
endearing uames and strange diminutives,
kissed him on bis lips, his eyes, his neck, his
dimpled arms and fat legs, and generally
went through the well-known ceremony of
child worship. It was clear that no legal
menace, however dire, would make her ac
quiesce in the tamo surrender of her pt con
templated by her uncles. Not tae of her
many and rather wild ejaeirulations so much
as hinted at the possibility of an impending
se paration. In no scnise w ere ber caresses,
somo of which were tearful ones, intended as
a farewell.
By and by, with a face even paler than
before, Beatrice tvok the child by the hand
and went down stairs. She pnuxd for a
second beforo tho closed door of tho room in
which she hud left ber uncles. "I can see no
other way. It must be done," sho muttered.
Then, like ono full of a solemn pui-pose, she
entered the room. 'Whatever sho may have
been about to do, tho empty room seemed to
givo her a welcome respite, fciho gave a
breath of relief. Nevertheless, it seemed
that tho respite was to be but short, for,
after waiting a few minutes rjid finding
neither Horace nor Herbert appear, sho
turned as if to go in search of them.
But at that moment her nvxxl changed
oueo more, or an alternative course at Inst
presented itself. A tinge vt color leaped
back to her check. "With quick steps sho
led tho boy away, and having consigued bun
to Mrs. Miller's care, again bought her own
room, and again sat for a long time in deep
thought. "It is but a slender chance," she
whispered, "but it can be tried. To-day ih
Thursday, and no stepj can bo taken until
Saturday."
After this sho wroto a note to Sylvauus
Mordle, asking him if bo emild come to tha
house and see ber cither thati afternoon or
earlv the next liioruin''. Sho sent the noto
down to tho village mid th-.-u went in searcj
of her uncle'?.
They looked at her rather timidly, perhaps
conscience stricken. They fancied she bail
come to renew her argument and offer up
fresh entreaties. It may le they fenre.l that
in such an event they would lie forced to
yield, in spito of tho censiemence8suehanact
of wcakues.1 must enia.l. But Beatrice did
not reopen tho attack, fcihe quietly a ked if
sho might have tho clothes worn by the boy
when he nw.i disturbed the seclusion of
HaJewood House; which clot he", it may be
remembered, were carefully fetowed away by
Horacointhe big safe. As there apieared
to bo no barm in the gratifying of thh re
quest the safe was unlocked, and a neat
brown paper parcel indorsed in Horace's
long, slim caligraphy given to tho girl.
"You will not answer the solicitor's letter,
I hoie," she said.
"No; it needs no answer. The delivery of
the boy will bo answer enough."
In the af terntioa Sylvanus trotted upon
his tricycle. His face was radiant from the
combined effects of tbo sharp, fresh air, the
exercise, and the delight at having received
such a summons from iliss Clauson. To-day
he was leagues above his lugubrious name.
He clapiN'd his bands together, not so much
for the purposo of promoting circulation as
on account of the cheerful sound of thedetona
tions niado by the meeting palms. He wished
old "Whittaker a happy new year in a way
w hich clearly implied that happy years were
the rule, sad ones tho exception. Whittaker
returned the greeting with due respect, and
ventured to express bis approval of Mr. Mor
dle"s Christmas Hay sermon. Then Mordle
said something which niado even "Whittaker
laugh. Miss Clauson heard the curate's
brisk, crisp voice long before ho was shown
into tho drawing room.
He greeted her pleasantly, and learned
that ber uncles wero out. As the Talberts
always took their out-of-door exercise of an
afternoon, this news was no surpriso to bim.
Who shall say thut Sylvanus did not time
his call by th.'.r well-known clock-work hab
its A tete-a- eto is often pleasant, although
the two LondJ harbor no thoughts save those
of friendship.
"You want me," said Sylvanus. "Behold
me. Herolum.'-
"I want you to do me a favor, so I veu
tuivd to write to you." Beatrice's words
were conventional, but there was something
in her umnui r w hich made tho quick-witted
curate wonder,
"Command me in anything everything
all." . Ho bihjIio even more quickly and
emphatically than was his wont. In bis
heart the good fellow fancied his aid was
needed for something concerning Carruthers,
whom he persisted in believing Beatrice
loved. Nevertheless-, bo would willingly
have done allhocou.d to In lp to happiness
the man who had taken every vestige of
hope from him.
Butithe favor resolved itself into this:
Would Mr. Mordle accompany Miss Clauson
tomorrow moruiug to Blacktown Sho had
a private errand which took her to a part of
the city of which she knew littlo or nothing.
Sylvanus felt and expre.-stxl himself greatly
honored. At what time should he call for
her "Would she walk or drive Beatrice
looked at him and spoke very slowly and a
if with an effort.
"I wish no one not even my uncles to
know of this excursion," she said. "Would
you meet me at the cross roads at 10 o'clock
to-morrow morning I If I tresj-aou your
time or good nature please say so."
"Trespass 1 By no means. Ten o'clock. I
shall be waiting for you."
Nevertheless Sylvanus was surprised, even
troubled. To havo refused to do Miss Clau
son a service, whatever it might be, was of
course out of the question, but bein open as
the day in all bis coining and golu'As he bad
a dislike to any proceedings which savored
of the mysterious. "Errand of charity, of
course)" be said, making the questioning
assertion not for curiosity but as a salve to
bis conscience.
"It is an errand of no evil," said Beatrice
gravely. Her word satisfied Sylvanus as
the words of a fair woman always satisfy the
conscience of a man. Tbe amount of convic
tion carried bv beauty is truly wonderful.
To U Continued.)
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lessoos from them.