Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-01

had at her husbands deAth. sMAaa .Gana-
Then the idea Of giving out that her own
child had died occurred to her. She was
stranger there, where none knew her.
At this moment the landlady looked in
and asked her the full name Of the child.
saving kindly that her husband would get
the certificate of death from the surgeon.
and call with it at the Registrar' oGice,
which would save her trouble On the
impulse of the moment she replied: John
William jones' The laBdIady wrote il
down, and when she had gone Mrs Jones
would have given worlds 10 recall her
words. But she had committed herself to
the false representation. and it was too
late. -r-..rs sa. q
The child was buried; and then the
fear of discovery preventing her from re-
turning home, she was determined to go
and settle in some place where she was
entirely unknown She had previously
lived in Cheshire, and choosing distant
point. she removed TO Hastings. writing to
her friends that | had made her residence
there condition of her retaining charge
Of nv child There was certain similar
ity both in feature and in complexion be-
tween my boy and you. which favored the
deception. / had never seen either oil
YOU: and after year or two, II any oil her
acouaintmce-whomi in the meantime she
should avoid-should see Won, therewoald
be but little chance Of their discovering
the difference. r
INV dear John. notwithstanding what
has happened. feel that you are still
mine.-mv son, in all but the name; and,
TO enable YOU to keep your surname le-
oalIy. have executed deed making you
a oift of the Perton estate. on condition
that you retain the name of Harley.
II have BEEN aware OF this changed re-
Iation .bip for few months: and. as
conId not bear the thought of severing the
ties that bad so long bound us together As
father and son, came TO the resolution-a
weak one, Lerhaps, but yet such as You
will readily pardon-to keep this secret
from YOU till after my death, which |
knew from the state of my health could
not be far distant, and would probably be
sudden. When you receive this, there
fore. il will be after am gone, and when
YOU can only think of me, hope. as one
who. if not your father after the flesh. has
been father to you in spirit, in act. and
in affection. CHARLES 5. HARLEY"
read the letter with strange feelings,
in which scarcely knew whether surprise
or pleasure was predominant. | could
also now understand Johns agitation; tor
if he had thus lost one who had been to
him father. he had been at the same
time delivered from a sorrow which would
have been lifelong in its effects both on
him and the woman he loved.
On my arrival at Batavia, | fastened to
Mrs. Van Dusen's. and asked to see her
alone. She was. as the reader may
imagine. quite overcome at my unexpected
intelligence. found that she had con-
fessed the whole circumstances to her
daughter. My conscience told me it was
the right course to pursue, though dear
John meant kindly; but could not be
contented while deceiving my child"
In a day or two the steamer was to
return to Singapore, and brief as the time
for preparation was, both Susette and
Mrs. Van Dusen accompanied me in her.
With their care and nursing Harley soon
recovered health and strength; and then,
after again going to Batavia to settle Mrs.
Van Dusen's affairs, previous to her
bidding a final farewell to Java, they all
three sailed for England