Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-11-06

sever days wonder about the boy had almost
he'd away. Everyone, of course, felt sure he
was somebody, but no one knew what body.
If there was any scandal the serene brothers
heard it not Its true thst old Lady Bowker,
l very important parsonage, paid them a visit
IN purpose to find out all about everything.
She had known the Talberts as boys, 50 felt
entitled to ask them point blank for an explain
alton. People who have known you as y
boy sire, rs a rule, great nuiSsnces.
She told them she wanted 10 speak to them
on private business 50 Beatrice left the room.
Then she turned from one TO the other Of the
grave, long faced men:
Now, Horace; ROW, Herbert, what is the
meaning of this AFFAIR." Who is the boy you
are making such fuss aboutFr
Il don't think we ever make fuses said
Herbert in a deprecating way.
Certainly not, " said Horace, with decision.
"Well, mysteries then; we sill want TO know
who this child really is-the child who came
in the desd of night wrapped UP in an anti
macaSSar or something by Rckfond's
van, l am told"
Il wish You could tell US, Lady Bowker
We know no more than YOU do"
That's all nonsense, Horace. I hear YOU
have engaged a nurse, and that the child is 10
y
siderate''
I'VE are never inconSdsrate,' : said Horace.
Certainly not, = said his brother.
YES, you are. You are inconsiderate in
not letting at leaSt one safe. discreet person
into the secret. Some one like myself who
could Souch for you"
I'VE don't want to be youched for
YES, you do don't see that YOU are any
better than other people
Lady Bowker was growing cross at their
mild obStinacy.
You are most inccnsidsrate towards Miss
ClauSon. Herr, week after she comes 10
live with you, this infant makes its appear
ance. OF course people say you were only
waiting until there was lady at Hazlewcod
House to look after him"
They say that, do they" asked Horace.
reflectively.
What else can they say! don't say 81;
but then l have known You 81 long. say
that You have some excellent reason for keep
ing this child: but you ought to tell one per
son st least who he really is"
But we don't know"
YES yea Go. Now tell me- like good
men"
They repeated their simple statement, add
ing that the child was kept by Beatrice's ex-
press wish; also because they hoped the
mystery would one day be solved and be-
cause they themselves felt a friendly DISPOSE
ton toward the little wait
Il don't believe word of it, said Lady
Bowker rudely, and rising TO SO. The brothers
smiled calmly.
You will only have yourselves to blame for
the scandal" continued their visitor Still
they smiled.
4
ly, will you still ask us TO dinner occasion
ally!"
''Of course / shall"
your preSence!"
"Ses-when you ask me-"
Then" said Horace, ''wc feel we can hold
our own against the world"
Lady Bowker drove away i'll a thorough
bad temper, but feeling moro certain than
ever that tho child was somebody Indeed,
she managed to convey to most people tho
impression that she was in the secret.
Lady Bowker is q trifie vulgar sometimes, y
said Horace sadly.
She is, assented Herbert.
1t was painful thing for them to be COM
PEELED to make such an accusation against a
we'll known member of the ariStocracy; but
they were conscientious men, and spoke the
truth even when it lacerated their feelings.
Then in a quiet, methodical manner they
went to work and busted all the Oriental china
in a large cabinet on the first landing. They
were fond of Oriental china, which they CON
sidered the aristocrat of ceramics.
1t is of course proud position for man to
hold when he feels he can defy the scandal of
place like Oakbury, but nevertheless Horace
Talbert was much annoyed, and as week after
week went by this annoyance increased. He
thought that Herbert should have spoken to
him He had waived his objections to keep
ing the child at Lakewood House, and now
that the matter was settled Herbert ought to
have told him everything. Faithful to his
creed of nCn-interference he said or showed
nothing of his state of minS until the great
= came round.
June audit was this: We have
.&esu low exactly JUS the brothers We're
towards one anotnor in the meter Of
pounds, shillings and pence. SO AZ will be
eaSlIy unueTSlpou UnaG the accou,IGS were kept
with the most clerkly CORE ltness Horace
was the paymaSter, and every item of ex-
penditure was dull 7 entered in an account
book-his long, elegant handwriting looking
quite out of place when used for such base
purposes. If the accounts were not kept by
the Italian. system of double entry, they were