Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-12-17

seeing that she had lately adopted an
| orphan baby of late neighbor,s and
that 1t was thriving most admirably, be
readily agreed TO allow her a certain sum
for the child's support.
About nine months had elapsed, W her
he heard from Mrs. Graham that the
child had succumbed to an attack OF
Group. WifelesS and childless, he hur
ried down to look upon the tiny new.
made grave, close TO that of the mother
for little Willie was already buried.
The farmer was i'll with rheumatic
| fever, and Mrs. Graham was so worried
and upset that Kendal did not speaJ
with her long. He put away the past
from him as dream, and from that day
TO this he had never brought himself to
visit the neighborhood again.
What, then, were his feelings on read.
ing the letter received this morning
1t was from the Vicar of Springmead,
announcing the death of the aged wo-
man Graham, who had been long a
widow. and enclosing letter addressed
TO "Willie's Father.' During her last
| illness she had fully confessed to the
clergyman the impo5ture of which she
had been guilty, begging however that
It might not be revealed to her son-in-
law till she had passed beyond his wrath.
kendal's boy was still alive and nearly
seven years old it was her neighbor's
child that had died in infancy, but her
great love for her grandson and dread
Of losing him had tempted her to take
advantage of the circumstance To re-
tain her darling with her.
MY blue-eyed baby alive" cried
Kendall, as If speaking to himself
given back to me as it were from the
grave l can even forgive the cruel
wrong in the joy that is swallowing up
every other teeling-the joy to know
that my son is not dead ~
AT that moment | almost hated my
husband his heart seemed so far from
me and my baby that a passion of jeal-
Gus anger seemed rending my soul,
With bitter cutting words did l re-
proach him for his deceit, and his only
answer was silent look of pain I; but
When, incensed by his quiet manner, j
began to hint that the child's training
had not been such as to fit him for our
house, saw my husband angry with
me for the first time In his life.
"a child of six or seven," said he
''can scarcely be considered as trained
to perfection-even Frank at that age
will sometimes need our fond correc-
ton but suppose he will be no less
our much-loved SON..
Frank has nothing to do with the
present matter" was my naughty reply;
"my son will always be gentleman" +"
was ashamed of my words as soon
as spoken, but Kendall made no reply.
He walked up and down the room for
several minutes ere he said
81 am going down to Springmead to-
day, and shall probably bring Willie
home on Wednesday evening. Come,
mamma" he added tenderly, Il know
can trust your woman,s heart towards
him."
"You are mistaken" L rejoined
quickly, ''if you suppose shall trouble
myself In the least concerning him.
never arranged for the trying life of a
step-mother. Franks nurse has quite
enough to do. But the boy is old
enough to attend 10 himself now. If
you take my advice, you will send him
to thoroughly select school for some
time before you bring him home"
''You must allow me to decide that
matter" said Kendall coldly. My
house is my sons home. L will take
care that no trouble concerning him
shall fall upon yourself or nurse. NIL
licent, and he tried to take my hand
do not let us prolong our first disa-
greement. You must know how deep
is my love for my wife and our baby,
but you would despise me in your heart
if felt no yearning towards my first
born:
81 have no wish to make matters un-
pleasant, 4" returned /, withdrawing my
hand. Il only wish TO know where
the child is to sleep, for nurse Will OBJ
ject to have another in the nursery, and
the rooms are all disposed Of"
"He can have the small red room
for a BEDROOM" answered Kendall
CURLY.
had already meant to turn this room
into day-nursery by-and-by, and l was
not at all pleased to ipd my plans frus-
trated. Without another word or look
towards my husband, 1 hurried up
stairs to my baby to pour INTO his un-
conscious ears all my Indignant and tu-
multuous feelings.
Ny husband tried no more to recon-
ellie me to the fact of the child's resi-
dence with us. | saw that he was as
displeased with my conduct as l was
with his own. But surely L had reason
to be angry. Not only was l a second
wife-a position to which i had strong
obiectIon-but vulgar farm-bred boy
was to come amongst us, stealing from
nv baby the fathers love and the rights
of the first-born that should have been
his.
Bitter tears did shed that day beside
the cradle when Kendall had left for
Sprinpmead with a Goodbye, Milli-
cent. +" called from the bottom Of the
stairs. imagined that 1 had already
become less dear to him, and laid the
whole blame of the unplessantness upon
the boy who had come between US.
"Neyer mind, my baby !" l cried,
pressing my lips to little Franks velvet
cheek. "We will love and comfort.one
anothenthrough it all"
On Wednesday morning 1 received a
long fond letter from my husband, run
of tender words for myself and baby.
blaming himself for his secrecy, and
pleading very hard for a mothers love
for his son, however troublesome he
might prove at first. He said that he
had already seen my parents, having
stonped for that purpose when halfway
20 Springmead, and that they had
treated him with forbearing KINDNESS
he could never forget. Instead OF add
ing this letter to the precious packet IN
nv dressing case, tore it up after the
first perusal was far too angry with
NV fate to be Just towards my husband.
/ asked my cousin Mrs: Tudor to
spend the day with me, and she came
to lunch, accompanied by her two chli-
dren. and her sister Miss Clemence--
their presence would take away some Of Of
the awkward nervousness with which
| looked forward to kendars return, Urn.
..fGs n