, 1876-02-06

| Inc question received no reply. 1ue UoctoE
face had become study. His jaw had fallen
his eyes woro fixed; he was evidently startled
| and surprised.
| "you do not answer me-" said Madame
However. I think know the cause OF your VIE
it. You believe that At my receptions cards ant
dice are permitted. You arc right, they are
| But my receptions are held at in the evening
not st 10 in the morning. Monsieur, shall Sal
/ au reyoir ?"
There was pause, and then the Doctor ex
claimed - We have met BEFORE"
! - Very likely" replied Madame, calmly. '"
am . great traveller, and you may hare sean me
in Vienna, Wiesbadeu, Spa"
"This is the first time have been away from
England, and I lefs London for Pas1s lasi
Indeed t" said Madame, not quite 30 calmly
ts We'll, Monsieur, what do you Wznt with me 2
~My ward" replied the Doctor, shortly I"
traced him here, and have COMO TO take hin
back with me-"
.'Your ward ~ ..
! .Madame, there is not the least roason fol
! your astonishment.' Your servant has confessed
| all to me-. Aly ward is hare, and here I remain
until he leaves the house in my company"
| stAnd are not his wishes to be consulted? Z"
| "Certain1y not. He ia the son of man who
was one of my dearest frleudB. he will come
with me-
He was thinking the while, sit is she. ]
| cannot be mistaken" She was thinking the
while, sThis man may be bent, be cannot be
| broken"
"Monsieur, I will make friend Of you. Long
ago had son; that son was lost to me, but not
| by death. When ! saw tha pale lace OF youI
| ward, my heart yearned towards him. 1t seemed
| aa it my ch,ld had been restored to me-. I have
| watched over him long and tenderly. uo nor
| take him from me-"
The Doctor murmured. ''Thers is something
| in human nature, after all;' and then be said :
"You shall decide for yourself, Madame
She bowed her hesd, and sighed sigh Of iu-
tense reliof.
r. ''You were surprised when told you that ne
had met before. and not on the Continent. I
met you in England"
*sin England" She was clutching apasmod-
ically the arms Of her chair, and her face was
'tIn England repeated the Doctor, watching
her earnestly. And now, it it will not trouble
you, will tell you Little bit OF family hls-
tory,"
6hs was silent.
IAN Eng1iahman married wavward glrl-a
observation-disclosures, tickle, false i son
WAS the result OF the marriage. At the end OF
three years the French wife left the English
husband in the company Of one OF her country
men. My story, which you viii admit IS not
very long one, ia over"
But Why do you tell me- this?"
"' Because you we're the French wife; and the
English husband, Henry Gordon. was my dead
friend"
:. He ia dead!" abe exclaimed.
- LOU uafB DtkIAy6u fuuIHe1ls Hnuaud-
"No, no! she said, with an effort. You
startled mo. lQng aso I knew Monsieur Cor
don and his miserable, unhappy wife. But you
are mistaken; my name IL Aadame Is Fon-
tame" 49,.
"hladame, have nothing more to say. / am
waiting 1or my ward"
"I tell yon," she cried excitedly, lyon shall
not take him from me. What il your authority"
"IropIeeent his father. Henry Gordon. You
see uy claim ia good one."
sa3 fnrA and tr1af 3AS5 51f1
pale. Then she looked the Doctor full in tho
face, and said, II hare better. You are right,
monsieur, MAS tho wife Of your dead friand
and, as that wife, claim the guardianship OF
my child"
s'And it is here you would recognize your
son! You would meet him Is the Keeper Of .
gambling -houses"
Then She broke down. ''Man, mani" she
cried, ''haye you no PITY? 1s there no return ?
AL" Her hand was placed to her heart; she
seemed to be fainting.
The Doctor approached her. "You are H."
mo, no." she murmured; II an very often
like ths.''
The Doctors face changed, For the first time
he regarded her with pisT, - repeat you are
i'll, very i'll, and dare not excite you further.
have but little to say You claim the guardian
ship OF your son- So ba it. I came here to save
him. I brought with me the consent OF tie
father OF tho uoman be loves to the marriage.
You are his mother, and tall you this. I lesve
his fate in your hands. will return in half an
hour, and then you will hare decided whether he
is to come with me, free and joyous, OF with hia
head bowed to the dust ia sorrow and shame,
dlshonored man. Mind, I return for yonr
answer in half an hour" and he was gone.
She stared into vacancy With sightless eyes,
and then nature came to her rescue. The tears
uelled up and relieved the breakipg heart. my
son ~ she nurnured, IL know it; my heart
told me so when ! stopped over him On that
dreadful night, wheE thought all was lost-thae
he had coma back to his mothers arms bat to
die. To die ! no, shat is all over. He will live.
and be great joy to me-. But how shaA tell
him how shall I tell him u
'.Dr. Blunt!'
4 weak voice. She started up, aud found
young man acsros!y 2o1 Standing bstore her.
He WAS 1air and very pale, He evidently was
conralescent from some serious illness.
She rushed up to him. .fou are lmprudent."
she sR1d. caressingly. ''That would the doctor
ssy il be we're to see gou nova Come, this is
10 obedience"
"Ifeel so much better to-day" he replied.
"But was not that the Foice OF Or. Blunt You
knoW himl"
she said varningly. ssBnt Tou must return to
5oaf room. ioq must not stay here.'
ut is not so comfortable as vour Own.
Coma and she tried to lead him to the door,
'tStay," said he in = faint voice. 81 For the
first time can collect my thoughts. Where am
I? remember being feyerish and it, There
W216 CAEIH AuQ 4lHILS lQ9a Ill seemed 01AuE |
until saw your face as it beut over mine, I |
had saen your face somewhere before. Where
was it -" |
lyon must not excite yourself" shs xnu1uaur-
ed, still trying to lead him from the room.
"Coma."
He looked round. "Ah, know this roout |
It is the gambling house that has hannted me- |
in my dreams. And you-ah remainder you |
now-you are the woman who dealt the cards. /
Don't touch nae!" And he cast her from him.
She sighed deeply, aud said, ''You can stay
here now"
''And 30 ii is you,'' be continued e1citedly. ]
- who has played the Good Samaritan You.
who live but to deceive, have saved nv life.
The gift is yalueless when it is received from, !
your hands,"
"You do not know what you say" ehe cried |
in q pleadiog Toice. ''Look in my face, sI1e |
cried. ''Rsad there the sacrifice have made /
for you. Cannot you see the hand Of death ?"
And then, with reTusion OF feeling, she re-
pressed herself sNo, no it was freely given.
But you should have pity upon me, child. You |
should have PITY" and she buried her face with |
her hands.
Frank was silent for 4 few minutes, md b, !
said, Il am wrong. You have been very good
10 me, See, am sorry forgive rne.''
"Ah! if you only knew how much you had to
'oh, do not trouble Yourself on that acoro.
r ImrS L. l