Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-06-17

love. He hated Tiny baby, my hrst-born
for all the love gave him he hated ii and
that his look might not kill it, l held IL in my
arms, so close, so close, till it was dead. Oh,
my baby, my baby !"
The outstretched hands had reached it now
and raised it from the floor TO the seat, fold
ing it around until the inolosing arms and the
down bent face hid il once more out OF sight.
Was ever luckless passenger more awk-
wardy plaoed2 The dead child the pros
trate woman the scene public railway car
riage the hour, midnight. am of blunt
nature. Mrs. Merton often scolds me for my
blunt, straightforward speeches (; but then
| she has such a pretty way of beating about
the bush, which it would be as absurd for me
to initiate as 1t was for the ass to mimic the
tricks of his masters lapdog. 1 must go
straight TO the point as soon as ever l see Il.
| did so now.
How came you to be travelling alone, and
with dead child2 Are you going home ?"
The question seemed to rouse her once
more to a perfect frenzy of fear. She turned
to me as before, clinging to my hand with
small hot fingers, and the old heart broken
cry
Don't betray me don't give me up to
| him His look would have killed my baby !;
| it would kill me if had to meet it, She is
| safe for killed her, and she is dead and
he hates me, and have no home-no home ="
| was in perfect maze of doubt. Could
the pretty soft young creature at my feet be
indeed a murderess and could il be her hus-
band of whom she seemed in such abject ter
ror? My blood boiled 1 felt ready to de-
| fend her against dozen husbands; but
how2
II was midnight now; we could not be far
from London; the guard might be popping
his head in at any moment. jumped to a
sudden conclusion.
"Were you going to any friend in Lon
don2"
II know nobody in London"
''The poor little thing is either mad or her
husband is BRUTE" was my mental excla-
nation.
"Then you must come home home with me
to my wife she will see after YOU"
An upward glance of wild, agonized sup
plication
''She won't betray me, or-take baby from
me?" And once more the wee dead thing
was lifted up into the arms that seemed al
most too frail TO hold il, and hidden away be-
meath the long mourning Grape.
took her home. Mary received her with
broad look Of amazemeut that made me
smile, but that found no expression in words
When, taking her aside, told her all knew
she wrung her hands in sheer sympathizing
pity.
Murdered her own baby-her frst-born
Oh, how sad, how dreAdfull" And involun-
tarily she glanced toward the door that hid
from us our own little ones, safely Graded
and asleep. Then she went back TO our
strange guest, who sat huddled up in my own
big easy chair, the dead baby still at her bo-
som.
81 must get her to bed" said Mary, with a
quick, determined nod and she really did
contrive to do SO by soft tender, cooling
words, and solemn assurances of safety for
herself and baby, whom she kissed and cried
over, and considered rs she might some liv-
ing object of solicitude, much 10 the little
mothers comfort.
''And you wont betray me, and he wont
come and take her from me. or hurt us with
his angry look? Oh, dear, how nice il is to
lie down / am so tired and baby is so cold
but think can sleep now little and-for-
get"
She was half asleep already the heavy lids
had dropped together, the small, pale face had
dropped downward upon the little downy
head that lay against her breast.
"Her husband must be sent for" said
resolutely when we found ourselves once more
alone and glanced at an envelope had
taken from the strangers pocket:
''MRs. TEEMAYNE, GRANITE LODGE, GRANT
LEY.
Mary stared at me aghast
"Her husband, who hates her, aud would
have killed her baby Oh, John, you would
not be SO cruel! She seems SO frightened of
him. poor little thing You may be sure he
is some horrid, wicked tyTant. And if she
really killed her baby-oh, dear, how sad it
is Whatever will become OF herr
But, my dear, if she has husband or
friends, we must restore her 70 them. Why,
she is little more than a child! It's very
strange, very, and sad but the mystery must
be cleared and the baby buried"
Mary still pronounced me cruel and un-
feeling beyond anything she could have con-
ceived.
"Of course her husband is msdman, who
will murder her as soon as he gets her into
his hands. You know, John, that husbands
Rre always numbering their wives"
'Middle-aged wives, dear, or elderly,
whose lives are heavily insured. 1 shall tele-
graph at once"
''Then her death will be at your door, sir
mind that ~ and too indignant TO waste
upon me more words, away went Mary TO
take a last peep at our own sleeping babes,
at the dead baby about which there was so
much mystery, and the poor young mother
whom she had doomed to a violent death.
She was still bending over her, and had
called me up to the bedside to notice the ex-
traordinary length of the lashes, and the
beauty of the face in repose, when we were
startled by knock at the ffont-d
'Its the husband. know it is. o, John,
don't betray her; don't give her up you
wouldn't be so cruel"
Nonsense, child watch by her till re-
turn. II she awakes, say nothing about"
''Her husband? As If / should ("
Our household having long since retired,
long, indeed, before my return, l myself
opened the door,
The street lamp lighted dimly two figures
one tall and stout and muffied.
"Mr. Merton?"
answered in the affirmative.
you have kindly given shelter to lady?"
'Just So"
The speaker nodded to his companion, who
touched his hat and vanished.
"Mr, Tremayne ?" asked hesitatingly.
Captain TremRyne. How is she p
ASLEEP, under my wife's care sleeping as
peacefully as child.
Thank God t,d. So OyOuns-at such an hour
saw long shudder run through the tall,
powerful frame
"And the child ?" he added, after pause,
in a horror stricken whisper. 'She had it
with her p
hardly knew what to answer; but he had
thrown OF his heavy ulster and travelling cap
and now stood before me, as handsome, as
pleasant and honest-looking a young fellow
as 1 ever saw, and my heart warmed to him.
He was no assassin or rufiAn or cowardly
bully, whatever Mary might say. The shad-
ow of q great horror that lay in the blue,
mellow eyes had been laid there by terror,
not crime.
'The child is dead" 1 said, softly.
SIT died two days ago, died suddenly in con-
vulsons in her arms and the shock turned her