The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-03-12

ana ~ turned my Dram tn he q part of II.
The boy grew brave and strong. With
the odds against him from the first, Paul
iiourishCd and waXed tat; ut one year and
eight months of age he was the hand
soonest, brightest, healthiest of children.
oh how | loved him, How Jealous
wHs III my heart even of his mother, and
yet loved the mother too--and would
have died for either of them willingly
for the boy too willingly, to save him an
hour's pain, or days sickness, had the
choice been offered me,
| knew the money was nearly all gone
Arthur Maytield had pitched some of it
away III II mad dash at the Stock Ex-
change, and had bought the wrong stock,
think they said, and lost by il; misfor-
tune glowcrcd upon them steadily.
TradcGmen were more chary of trusting
them: there was heap of unpaid bills
upon the mantlepicc, and missed
things out of the house that came not
back again, upon which it had become
necessary to raise money for immediate
wants.
Ii was SAID at last that must 60: they
were unable to pay my wages, and my
mistrCss-my poor sick mistress, hardly
able To crawl from one room TO another
even yet-thought herself strong enough
IN do tn" work. ! did not leave them
hec"ils" there was no money to be paid
me-; | begged Ia be allowed To remain in
the one home ! had known. ! prayed
hard not To be east adrift. | brought
them MI the money had had of them,
Gnu saved for them, and asked them to
take II III earnest of my gratitude. |
m'Gcd them to tears and to II consent
that should stay whilst it was possible.
Ii was surely ordained that ! should
stay awhile, for that very evening little
Paul met with II serious accident: lie had
nearly severed his wrist with the broken
Glass Of n picture, there was fresh griet
for the parents and me, and much con-
Germ until the blood was staunched and
the wound stitched up by surgeon.
lie WIS not well very soon; it had been
an ugly wound, within IN ace of killing
Inn, and there was Il deep scar on his
dimplcd wrist over which | grieved, be-
cause It was an ugly mark which he
wo'ild carry 10 lis grave. | was us fool
ish over this scar us doting mother
might have been over an only daughter
whose beauty she would have had with
ont spot and blcmish. and To whom II
scratch was n serious defect.
The boy was invariably well dressed,
there WAS still money for him. | saw to
that myself. When | gave up my earn
iuGs Ia the Mayiields, and bought their
gratitude by the sacrifice, l kept some
thing back for Paul, and there was al
ways ready II smart ribbon for his neck,
bright steel buckles for his shoes, or n
feather for his hat; and his mother WIS
too i'll Ia wonder much about them, or
where they came from. | do not think
my taste was very refined had the
love Of the low orders for bright colors
p bnt if dccked him ont too gaudily, it
attracted the notice of the passers by,
and the boys beauty met their admira-
ton, If his costume shocked their taste
occasionally, / was content; / liked him
noticed. | was very, very proud of all
;hc attention l." received.
One afternoon i'll kensington Gardens
he received m extra attention which |
am never likely TO forget. Two gentle
men came along together. both walking
slowly. one with his hands behind him
and Trailing cane along the gravel ~ lie
listened to him conversation Of the other.
The man who WIS listening glanced to-
wari rs ns We passed, caught the arm of
his companion, and dropped his cane
upon the path.
Good God, Baumam. look at that
child WIS the exclamation which start
led me rs well rs his companion.
glanced down fearful that something
had happened to my boy without my
knowledge, but little Paul WAS lettering
towards the cane, the head of which
saw was strangely icwelcd and sparkling
with diamonds in the sun.
Paul" | cried, "you must not"
"Lct the child pick il up" said the
man who had dropped the cane. II nm
very fond of children"
The first part of this speech was spok-
TN hnrshlN and authorltatively. The
second, after moments pause, suayely
and 10y way of an excuse. They were
both Foreigners, Ivy IhCir strange accent:
the on" who h ! spoken last was a thin
man, pIcmatucty gray; the other WIS
tall, robust "nd nMarthy, with immensely
long mOUstachCs, which touched his
shoulders and were hidcous in my sight.
This WIS he who was still glaling at the
child 80 strangely that | became afraid.
Paul picked up the stick, and |, ANXIOUS
10 he gone, said, "Givc it To the gentle
man, Paul-therc'sa good hoy; and now
let us make haste-mamma will wonder
what has become of us.
The younger and taller man stood
watching us aud twisting the ends of his
moustachc with his gloved hand.
could see his eyes wander from The child
to his companion, and then askance from
his companion to me. The thin, gray
mans hand was trembling as he received
the cane from the hand Of the child, and
he said in husky voice:
"What is your name-Paul?"
Es-Paul, was the reply, confident
aud unubashed.
"Paul what, my fine little fellow?
Who is the father of this child?" he
added, turning suddenly to mo, and with
II singular evidence of importance in his
inquiries; where does he live-what ?"
"What does il mattcr?" interrupted
the other with hearty laugh. "Let us
go on. These English children are all
alike-fat, healthy, handsome cherubs,
who lose everything but their fat ms they
grow up, l think. Let us go on. please,
they will he waiting for us. You forget. /"
AL. yes, forget.
The two men walked ON, and observed
that the taller man drew the hand of his
companion through his arm, as if to lead
him away, or 10 give him support if it
were needed.
did not take the child straight home;
| WIS sure he would watch me; | was
sure he made up his mind to find out
where l lived. crossed and recrossed
the roads; 1 lost myself in maze of
turnings near the Chelsea hospital: |
looked behind me constantly in fear of
watchers; l turned the corners Of the
streets in haste, and then waited for my
spies; but WIS not followed, or they
who followed were too cunning for me.
/ reached home unperceived, /
thought, and my mistress scolded me
for being away SO long. Ny excuse was
not ready one, and was received in
silence
1t came as l expected; it was like II
death warrant! In November l received
notice to leave them; / was told l
must 90, with many tears from the
weak wife; j was even urged to go nj
once, rs better for all, and less painful to
me. II was explained that il was i'm
possible, they could not afford any long
or to keep me, and it was not Just to
themselves to do so.
- will &c then" said, after one or
two vain Inconsistencies, and feeling that
all Inconsistencies were vain. They had
made up their minds now, and / could
not beg too long, although my heart was
breaking.
,l,,n a - 4