The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-03-06

in moment she was on her knees before
him clasping him to her heart, kissing him,
sobbing over him, till mother broke out
crying too, and was obliged to assume
my professional expression" by sheer
force of will
Come, come, said gently, Freddie has
been very i'll, and cannot bear so much ex-
element.
This quoted the mother in an instant,
and she rose, still holding the child's hand
in her own.
1t is my boy she said, looking into my
face.
Freddie, | asked, is this mamma
Yes, said the little fellow, decidedly
course it is! My own pretty mamma,
come from Heaven.
She reeled back at the innocent words,
and would have fallen had / not caught
her, and put her once more in the arm
chair.
Come from heaven she repeated, with
ashy lips and gasping breath. They told
me he was dead, my boy Freddie-that
he was run over and killed. The nurse
saw him fall under the horses feet.
But you see he was not killed, mother
said, in n gentle tone, but is we'll and
strong again.
And then, motioning for me to keep ST.
lent, mother told the widow of the childs
injuries and recovery, of the winning ways,
and our love for him.
And you kept him and nursed him she
said, kissin mothers hands. Oh, what
can | ever do for you to prove my graft
tude? Freddie, my boy, how you must
love the kind lady?
Yes, assented Freddie that sgrandma,
and here's Uncle John and was dragged
forward.
| cannot understand it all the mother
said. Did no one know he was here
my mother-in-law? viii you let me tell
you, she added, looking at mother and
aud myself, how my boy was lost2
If you will drink this first, said, Civ
ing her quieting drink.
She obeyed at once, and taking of
Freddie's cap, and lifted him to her lap
while she told her story. When we saw
the two fair faces so close together, any
lingering doubt we might have had of the
strangers claim vanished at once. Even
in parent and child the resemblance be-
tween the woman and her boy was won
derful. The same brown hair and eyes,
the same childlike expression, marked both
countenances. Even to the pallid, wasted
look Of recent suffering the resemblance
was perfect.
| must tell you first who | am, our WIS.,
itor said. l am the widow of Carroll
West, who died with fever in New Or
leans, only two weeks ago. He was taken
i'll in July, and | was tclegraphed to come
to him. We had parted, she added,
turning to mother, because his business
called him to New Orleans, and he was
afraid to have Freddie and l go there in
summer. But when | heard he was i'll, l
went to him by the next steamer, leaving
my boy with my husbands mother and
sister. l knew they were not very fond
of him, but had no choice. dared not
take him to New Orleans in July, aud
had nowhere else to leave him. found
my husband very i'll, but he was recover.
ing, when he had relapse. He rallied
from that, and took cold, oyer-fatigued
himself, bringing on second relapse that
proved fatal. During all his illness l
heard only twice of Freddie once that he
had been killed in the street. | came
home only two days ago, aud they would
tell me nothing of where my boy was
buried-nothing but the bare fact of his
death. I-I-oh, do not blame me I
was on my way to the river to end IL all,
when l met Freddie !
Mother looked at me, and whispered
The grandmother who beat Freddie has
driven her mad. Let her stay with me,
while you try to find out something about
her.
But have NJ right to force myself
into her private affairs, said
She is Freddie's mother That gives
you right.
1t would be tedious to tell in detail all
the long conversation that followed, but,
authorized by Mrs. West, l called upon her
husbands lawyer, and there heard her
story.
! think, the lawyer said, confidently,
that the Vests are the proudest people /
ever knew. Proud of their family, their
money and their beauty. Carroll West
was the only son, Lucy the only daughter,
when the old man died. He left con-
siderable fortune, but Carroll has increased
his share Of 1t to immense wealth, his
mother was very DESTROYS of having him
make a great match, and proportionately
furious when he married little dark owed
seamstress, Of no family in particular, and
sewing for living
l thought of the exquisite face, the low,
tender voice Of Freddie's mamma, and
mentally applauded CAROLS choice.
Carroll, continued the lawyer, had suffi-
Gent good sense to keep up his own estab-
lishmeut until he went into heavy cotton
speculation that called him to New Orleans
In the heat Of summer. Then he left his
wife and child under his mothers care,
and before he went made his will. Now,
doctor, said the lawyer, speaking very
slowly, and with marked emphasis, that
will laavaa half HE co.t.... a. II. .r