The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-01-02
began to snow, but I wrapped the baby

where l put it, with o lew things that !
intended leaving with it. After I had
placed it on the steps, I hid in the grove
of oaks outside the gate, until I saw the
smoke curling from your chimney.
Then T crept away, and, leaving the
village road, kept in the by-ways until
got some distance into the country. ]
met some people moving into another
State, and they let me 60 with them"
"And where are you going now?"
asked Joanna, looking in her face.
81 am going back to my own kindred,
if I can live to reach them. 1 have q
little money, you see, but it is to take
me across the ocean,"
"What was the name of the child's
fatherg"
ellis name was Philip Westmore."
"That man |" gasped Joanna, What
have you done, woman ?"
The tramp woman shrank from
Joanna's fierce eyes. What have
done ?" she repeated vaguely.
"There isn't a living SOUL" said
Joanna, "who dares to breathe tina
name to my mistress. And now 49,
Hush I"
Joanna !" called her mistress, i'm
peratively.
Obeying the summons, she found
Miss Grey sitting by the fire with little
Emily in her Imp. The hoarse, peculiar
cough, never heard by nurse or mother
without a thrill of alarm, told that Group
had seized it's victim.
"Run for Dr.. Vincent" said Miss
Grey, briefly; and in another minute
Joanna had thrown a shawl on her head
and was tramping through the star-lit
night.
DR.. Vincent was not in his Office. He
had been called to a patient several
miles away. Joanna's visit had caused
a little stir in the village hotel, in an
upper room of which the doctor had his
office and as she was turning away
from the door, a gentleman came out
and said, in a pleasant, courteous tone {:
eff you are in want of a physician,
perhaps I can be Of service to you"
"Come on then, if you please" said
Joanna.
He put on his hat, said a few words to
the landlord, and started in the wake OF
the woman, who walked at an astonish-
"Who is your mistress: !" he asked.
Miss Grey, sir"
"Ah, ipdeed!" with which exclama'
ton, whatever it might mean, the
stranger relapsed into a silence that was
not broken until they reached the
house. .
Joanna opened the door of the sitting:
room, and stood aside for him to pass.
"Walk in, sir" said she. And he
walked into the full glow Of the fire.
light, and saw the woman sitting by the
hearth, with the child on her knee. 1t
was sound asleep now. Miss Grey had
administered a quantity of alum and
sugar, which "acted like q CHARM" and
little Emily slumbered peacefully on the
bosom which had grown more soft and
womanly since the baby head had
nestled there.
"The tramp-woman" stood behind
Miss Grey's chair. As the tall figure in
the doorway stepped into the light, there
came a cry Of surprise and terror from
the strange woman, and a smothered
gasping sound from Miss Grey. And
then, for the first time in her life, Joanna
thought her mistress was going to faint,
she looked so white and stricken, all at
once.
"Miss Grey" said the stranger, in q
voice that trembled perceptibly, "per-
haps you recall my name? I was told
that you needed q doctor, and as DIR.
Vincent was absent, I came to offer my
services. But 7 was not aware at the
time that I was about to intrude upon
you. madam"
Miss Grey lifted her head. II thank
you !" she said, trying to speak in the
regal tone that was her own-"I believe
the danger is past, and I can happily
dispense with your services"
She did not ask him to be seated,
; and he still stood with hat in hand, look
ing upon her with an expression half
proud, half pleading. She drew the
child to her breast with a gesture that
said, as plainly as though her lips had
spoken it" You shall not touch her"
The tramp-woman came forward a step
or two, looking from n to the other,
and spoke, as though the words came
without any volition Of hers
"The child is his, lady"
The stranger looked at her in a kind
Of stupor of surprise, that gave way in a
moment to eager excitement.
Martha Elson!" he calculated
quickly ; but before he could utter any
thing more, Miss Grey had risen to her
feet, and stood before them with fash
ing eyes.
"What did you say, woman ?" she
cried fercely.
"This is his baby, ma'am," answered
Martha, who had grown calmer !: and
turning to him, she added IT can
prove it to you, DR.. Westmore. This is
the child that my young mistress gave
to me when she died."
"Tell me the whole story, Martha"
he said brokenly. "God knows I have
sought you far and wide, but never
thought to find you here tonight"
She told him then. Miss Grey had sunk
into her seat again, and Joanna, striding
across the room, stood at the back Of
her mistress chair. DR.. Westmors
stood with folded arms to listen, his face
growing paler, and indescribably tender
and mournful rs she proceeded, The
little Emily lay still like a fair carved
cherub, her golden hair falling in a ship
ing silken mesh over Miss Grey's sem.
Der dress. Her foster.mother gazed
steadfastly upon the beautiful face, and
her lips trembled.
When the woman had ended her story,
DR.. Westmore came nearer and looked
down upon the bowed head.
"Theodora," he said, evil you let
me look at my child?"
She lifted her face, and the proud eyes
fell before his mournful gaze.
care you going to take her FRONT
me ?" she faltered.
"No."
"Sit down"
He took the chair on the opposite
side of the hearth. She rose, crossed
the floor, and laid the child in his
arms then turned to Joanna with a
feeble, uncertain motion, and let the
strong, faithful creature lead her from
the room.
They left the father alone with his
child for a while, and when he left the
house to return to the village, it was
understood that he should return in the
morning.
Whenhe was gone, Miss Grey laid the
still sleeping child in her bed; then
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