Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-04-12

speaker stepped into the hail. is 1t
your child?" she asked, addressing the
tramp.
"No, madame. | simply found him
at your door starving"
He cast one swift glance toward the
lady, then let his head fall forward
and began to tremble as if attacked
with sudden fit of ague.
"You must be very cold; will you
not go into the kitchen while the girl
prepares hot drink for the poor little
fellow ?" she asked.
Despite the mans tattered garments
and poverty-stricken air, there was a
ring in his voice, an indescribable
something about him which caused
the lady to address him in a certain
tone of respect.
"In the name of humanity, thank
you, madame. There are two children,
but the one in my arms seems quite
ILL.,"
The mistress of tile house glanced
curiously at him then, turning to the
child clinging to her dress, said:
"Run upstairs to papa, Daisy"
The little girl obeyed reluctantly,
and the mother went to the kitchen,
where she found the man seated by the
fire, still holding the sick boy in his
arms, and Ted huddled near the range
with an expression of intense salts
faction on his small, pinched face,
while Bridget. the cook, eyed the party
with extreme displeasure. Mrs. Com
stock tucked up her dainty robe, and
with her white jeweled hands helped
prepare a meal for them. Ted ate
ravenously of the goodies placed be-
fore him. Jack swallowed cup of
hot tea, but refused the food. The
tramp also politely declined the gener-
GUS dinner placed before him.
Something must be done for this
child" said Mrs. Comstock, looking
pitifully at the white face contracted
with pain. 'Have they no friends ?"
"No; they are homeless and friend
less, like my"
He paused abruptly.
She questioned Ted, who repeated
the short, sad history.
what is your name, dear2 Have
you no relatives ?" she inquired.
Ted Davis; an his name is Jack
Holbrook."
"Oh, Godl is it possible thai this is
my child" exclaimed the tramp, in
voice Of deep emotion.
Mrs. Comstock looked eagerly at
the man, whose still handsome face,
albeit scared with traces of sin and
degradation, assumed an expressio on of
woe pitiful to behold.
Tell me-" he murmured, hoarsely,
was your mothers name Mary
Davis?' When Ted nodded an assent
to the question, he bent over the child,
on his knees, saying: "Oh, Jack, my
poor little boy, l thought you were in
heaven long agor'
Mrs. Comstock, who had grown pale
to the very lips; turned away, murmur-
ing in an agitated voice:
Il will consult my husband as to"
"You need not, Bessiel" interrupted
the tramp. starting to his feet
"How dare you address me by that
namer she cried, in a tone of indig-
nation.
II beg your pardon. 1t escaped my
lips Involuntary" he answered, hum
bly,.
His abjeet air of misery touched her.
"If this child is yours, too have a
claim upon him. But you may be
mistaken" she observed, more gently.
" l can soon determine that point, .
he went on. "When l took him from
you l markell the initials j. H on
his baby ARM
While he was endeavoring to roll up
the child's sleeve, Mrs. Comstock eyed
him distrustfully. This may be a trick
to extort money from me. she thought.
sud- Ally the tramp leaned forward,
XII sed the small, thin arm. and burst
into sort Of wailing cry.
"Oh, Jack my poor little chap,
did not intend to cause you so much
sufferingp'
"Hush y said Mrs. Comstock
gently ''the servants in the dining
room may hear you"
Then the maternal instinct in her
breast told her that this man who, in
her girlhood days had so grossly de-
ceived her, was not playing her false
now. She bent over and laid her
white face against the suffering one Of
the child.
The tramp raised his soiled hand
and was about to lay it on her head
but withdrew it again, saying:
"Believe me, regret this more, in
finitely more, than all the wrong-doings
] L.
granite you l abducted the child
partly because loved him and partly
through revenge. I gave him to tbs
woman Davis, and shortly after was
obliged to absent myself from the cit,
for two years. When | returned she
} had disappeared. l made inquiries
among her former neighbors, and wa:
fold that. the child was dead.n