Weekly commercial herald., 1885-07-10
A FAMILY AFFAIR.
BIZ HUGH CONWAY.
AUTHOR OF "CALLED BACK" DARK
DAYS" ETC.
lcontInued From sunday, May ESD

Continued From sunday MAY 5lst'l
-,weIosu little BOY" she faltered out,
"a dear little boy Of that age Ny ran Is
certain this is ours
''But you-you are not certain. A man
may make mistake as to bis own child, but
NOT a woman. Tho mother does not forget
her child, or believe the child Of a stranger
to be her own"
''My lran is so certain" repeated Mrs.
Rawlings, he must be right Poor fellow,
ever since our boy was lost be has becn seek
ing him, high and low. Il has driven him
all but mad at times. Now he has found the
child, and means to have him. She spoke
the last sentence somewhat defantly.
"Ee viii never have him" said Beatrice,
slowly. "Listen tome. There is no chance
Of your obtaining that boy. His mother
knowsin whose hands he IS II your claim
is pressed, proof as to whose the child really
is viii be Forthcoming. The production viii
cause pain aud grief, but that viii be borne,
il nsedful. See here"-she drew from her
pocket the labc! E7hich had been cut Of the
child's cape-''the person who has right 70
that child must produce the half Of the card
which fits this. When wanted it can be
produced"
Il know nothing about cards and proofs"
said the woman, whose understanding could
not, perhaps, grasp the ingenuity OF the
dovice "Ail know is this, I.iss; my hus-
bad swcars it is our boy, and believe him,
pcor man. Sore enough be has grteved for
two yoaTs-Il5vor bcca the same man since"
s'You do not believe him, said Beatrice,
in tho Same deliberate way, "but for the
sake Of setting his mind at rest you humor
his delusion, and are willing to rob another
woman. You seem to be kind woman, yet
YOU are ready to work irretrievable harm to
another"
"Imcaa 10 harm to any one, miss IL it
shouldn't benny child, the mother can't be
Of much account who could desert pretty
little dear like that. But there, I've listened
too long, and perhaps said more than
ought. If you like to see my husband, III
send for hi,e."
Mrs Rawlings rose as If to terminate the
audience. Beatrice also rose and faced her,
She threw up her veil, and for the first timo
during the interview showed her face to her
companion.
INC" she said, with strange vehemenco
II have more much more to say to you.
Look me in the face, and feel sure that am
speaking the truth. What if tell you that
know the mother Of this child-know why
it was sent to Hazlewood House-know that
if forced to do so the mother VIII claim 1t
publicly - will face whatever the shame,
rather than yield it to anotherl viii these
things have weight with you, and make you
persuade your husband to let the matter
restp
rimpaSsioned manner had its effect upon
her listener. Mrs. Rawlings fdgeted about,
ard her round eyes, which hitherto had
rested wonderingly on Beatrice's face, were
cast down.
Its no use" she muttered, shaking her
head. mot bit Of use He has set his
heart on the boy, He'll say it's only q
trick"
! 'lTlon have yet more to say. Look al
me dgain, and listen. Put yourself in my
place, and realize what you compel me to do
tell you the child IS mine-it is mine. DC
4 you understandN
Mrs Rawlings shook her head feebly.
"It is mine, repeated Beatrice 'Iam it
mother Do speak clearly enough' That