The Penn's Grove record., 1884-12-13

AANkhS - SNAh
As Kendal's duties called him away
from the village. Alice's mother pro-
posed to take charge of the baby and,
seeing that she had lately adopted an
orphan baby of a late neighbours and
that it was thriving most admirably, be
readily agreed to allow her a certain sum
for the child's support
About nine months had elapsed, when
he heard from Mrs. Graham that the
child had succumbed to an attack OF
Group. Wireless 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 Ill with rheumatic
fever, and Mrs. Graham was so worried
and upset that Kendall did not speak
with her long. He put away the past
from him as a dream, and from that day
to this he had eve brought himself to
visit the neighborhoOd again.
What, then, were his feelings on read
ing the letter received this morning I
1t was from the Vicar of Springmead,
announcing the death of the aged wo-
man Graham, who had been long a
widow, and enclosing a letter addressed
to "Willie's Father.' During her last
illness she had fully confessed to the
Clergyman the imposture Of which she
had been guilty, begging however that
1T might not be revealed to her son-inr
lawful she had passed beyond his wrath.
Kendal's boy vas still alive and nearly
seven years old it was her neighbours
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
''glven back to me as 1t were from the
grave l can even forgive the cruel
wrong in the joy that is swallowing up
every other feeling-the joy to know
that my son is not dead J"
AT that moment l 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 | re-
proach him for his deceit, and his only
answer was a silent look of pain but
when, incensed by his quiet manner, ]
began to hint that the child's training
had not been such as to 1t him for ouI
house, l 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 40 less
our much-loyed son..
Prank has nothing to do with the
present matter" was my naughty reply;
s'my son will always be a gentleman"
| was ashamed of nay words as soon
as spoken. but Kendall made no reply.
He walked up and down the o 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. 81 know
l can trust your woman's heart towards
him."
"You are mistaken" l rejoined
quickly, "if you suppose l shall trouble
myself In the least concerning him. l
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 TO himself nov. II
you take my advice, you will send him
to a 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. 1 will take
care that no trouble concerning him
shall fall upon yourself or nurse. Mil
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" returned l. Withdrawing my
hand. 81 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 III small red room
for a bedroom" answered Kendall
curtly.
L had already meant to turn this room
into a day-nursery by-and-by and l was
not at all pleased to find my plans frus-
trated. Without another word or look
towards my husband, l hurried up
stairs to my baby to pour INTO his I'M
| conscious ears all my Indignant and tu-
multuous feelings.
My husband tried no more to recon
ciIe me to the fact Of the child's resi-
dence with us. l saw that he was as
d~ispleased with my conduct as l was
with his own. But surely l had reason
to be angry. Not only was | a second
wife-R position to which l had a strong
objectlon-but a vulgar farm-bred boy
was to come amongst us, stealing from
my 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
| Springmead with a Goodbye, Mill
cent" called from the bottom of the
stairs. L imagined that l bad already
become less dear to him, and laid the
whole blame of the un~pleasantness upon
the boy who had come between US.
"Never mind, my baby p | cried,
pressing my lips to little Franks velvet
CHEEK. we Will lOfo anu ConliOIlsOlt
anothertthrough 1t all
On Wednesday morning 1 received a
long fond letter from my husband, full
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
stopped for that purpose when halfway
co 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
my dressing-case, / tore it up after the
first perusal l was far too angry with
my fate to be just towards my husband,
l asked my cousin Mrs. Tudor Il
spend the day with me, and she came
to lunch, accompanied by her two chll'
dren, and her sister Miss Clemence-
their presence would take away some Of
the awkward nervousness with which
Y - $500 - KA1A1fE NVa--