The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-10-18

|
ber," Beatrice answered, though really
busy thinking that Rupert's mother was
dear woman and quite what she had
hoped she would be.
The next moment she was called away
to the piano, and led Mrs. Forsythe back
to the parlor. Mrs. Lindsey joined the
latter there, and they sat together in
quiet corner, while Beatrice sang out of
Belzlni's selections How we'll they both
| remembered it all afterward Rupert
stood at the piano turning the leaves of
the music for Beatrice, and the two
mothers could not help thinking similar
thoughts about them. Unconscious of
what the next few hours held in store,
each amused herself with pleasant
fancy that neither would have dared let
the other discover just then.
BY and by, near midnight, when the
company had begun to depart, they went
mp stairs to the guest chamber, for it had
been arranged that Mrs. Forsytbe would
remain all night. Mrs Lindsey lighted
the gas and then stood chatting while
She was a short, plump woman, with
gray hair, motherly and warmhearted.
"You may be proud of your son,
think" when some chance word had
called Rupert to mind. "He is held in
high esteem by the whole college,"
"He has always been very dear to
me, Mrs. Forsythe replied. Since he
was baby he has never been away un-
til now. miss him very much"
"Our children grow up too quickly"
Mrs. Lindsey said thoughtfully, after
moment. Then turning to bureau
drawer, near at hand, she continued
"Look at what keep here"
Carefully put away in one corner of
the drawer were Beatrice's baby clothes,
and she took them out, piece by piece.
Some of the little flannels had been eaten
here and there by moths, and one of the
long dresses, which had pattern of rich
lace set in front, attracted Mrs. For
sythe's attention. The lace was like
piece she remembered ; piece that had
been wedding gift and was part of the
baby dress her own little girl had worn.
She turned the garment over, excitedly,
and in another instant recognized her
initials, wrought in silk on the inside.
Then, uttering wild, passionate cry,
she reeled and fell back to the floor,
white and motionless as death.
Mrs. Lindsey, struck with terror,
rushed at the head of the stairs and call
ed to everybody who happened to be
within hearing.
In few moments the house was in
state of commotion. The servants were
sent in haste for a physician, Rupert
was brought back from the college, and
various restoratives were administered
but Mrs. Forsythe, lying on the bed,
where she had been placed, gave no signs
of returning consciousness, except now
and then faint moan.
1t was a fit, the physician said, which
had probably been brought on by some
strong emotion, and by and by she
would fall into heavy sleep, and then
it would pass off. This sleep, however,
when finally it came, did not restore
Mrs. Forsythe's strength, and during
the rest of the night and most of the
next day she lay in a stupor, with her
eyes partially closed, her only desire, APP
parently, being to have Beatrice sit
where she could look at her.
Mrs. Lindsey watched her nervously
much of the time, half frightened by
certain suspicion that had taken possess
sion of her own mind, and when night
came on again she sent Beatrice away
and sat down at the bedside alone, trem-
bling with anxiety. The room was
hushed and growing dark, and she be-
lieved Mrs. Forsythe was sleeping again.
When she awoke perhaps she would ask
her whether-whether it was so. She
had thought years ago, that such thing
might occur some time; but had never
dreamed it could have happened now,
after so long. She meant to make her.
self ready to bear it, though, as she had
other agonies in her life. Beatrice had
always known that she was not her
mother.
Mrs. Forsythe moved, then propped
herself up with one arm, and looked at
her strangely, with wide open eyes.
"Were you ever Loizeau ?" she asked,
trying to steady her voice.
''Yes yes" Mrs. Lindsey cried, CIV
ing way to hysterical weeping and drop
ping her head on the side of the bed.
''Tell me all Tell me is she yours?"
"But-you DO not know We took
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