The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-08-01
CHAPTER XVI.
A TAME SURRENDER,

A TAME SURRENDER.
This is true copy Of the letter which fell
ike bombshell between the gentle and
peace-loving Talberts:
"BLAcKTowN, Dec 81, 1S-.-To the
Messrs Horace and Herbert Telbert: Gen.
tlemen--We have this morning been con
suited by Mr.. Rawlings with reference to
your refusal to restore to him his child, JOHN
Rawlings, whom he lost about two years age
in mysterious manner, and whom he has
recently discovered to be living in your
house.
The circumstances as explained to us by
our client tend to show that the ciI.d was
left by some person unknown in a railway
carriage, and that it eventually arrived at
yoar house, where, we under stand, it has
81 erenlCined.
"..r. rawlings will call at your house on
n = saturday afternoon, at o'clock, with
ca;r.are, ad we trust you will, without
.u.thcr opposition, allow the child to depart
Wa I'm.
m case you still refuse to give up the
CHA l,r. Rawlings has instructed Us to take
iInmcG.ate legal action to obtain possession
Of lis son, ard we are informed that proper
LEGAL proof as to the identity Of the boy will
he Hereafter ad,!uccd.
eve are, gentlemen,
Your obedient servants
"BLACKETT AND WIGGENS.'
10 wCnGcr that after reading the last para
gr.ph, I'd realizing the fact that TIE man
wiki Ike tc:i .L!e Lame meant to fight for his
oiiSgring, Horace calculated: The child
must lie given up!' No wonder that Herbert
in his t.. IL echoed his brothers exclamation.
Unimaginative as tLey were, dreadful pc
ture Of the consequences Of resistance fixed
Itself on TIE mental retina Of each
But Beatrice was by far the most agitated
of tie party. Her cheek grew white; the
hand which she mechanically held out for the
letter tremb,ed. Herbert gave her the epis-
toary bombshell, and whilst she read it the
two brothers gazed at each other in that
sadly calm and gravely reflective way at
times natural to men whose minds are made
up that particular path Of duty must at all
cost be trodden to the end. When such q
gaze passes from man to man it strengthens
the feet of each to tread the stony course
Beatrice read the letter twice. Without Q
word she returned it to Herbert; then she
walked across the room TO the fireplace and
stood for some minutes tapping her foot upon
tie fender. Her back being turned to the
Talberts they could not see the supreme emo
ton shown by her contracted brow and In
every line Of her set, white face. Had they
seen it they would have been more than sur
prised--they would have teen shocked.
Strong emotion was thing to be shown by
well-tred persons only under the most intense
provocat:on. In this case IL was uncalled
for r.....-.. ,....
Presently the girl turned to them. "You
have quite made up your minds to yield to
these peoples threatr she asked. There was
curious strained sound in her voice.
'Wecan do nothing else, answered Horace.
Herbert nodded a sad assent to his brothers
view Of the case.
Nothing else!" echoed Beatrice with q
touch Of scorn in her voice. What right
can these people have to the boyl II Is not
theirs. Uncle Horace. Uncle Herbert, you
can remember how he was sent here. How
beautifully dressed he was-how thoroughly
cared for. Can you, can any one for .
moment imagine him a. belonging to such
persons' What are theyl Pork butchers,
you said,
"Purveyors,' interpolated Horace, who
loved to Re precise. 4
"How is il possible he can b their childf'
People in any station Of life may hav.
children, my dsar,' aid Herbert, utteing
the truism like newiyfound proverb Of
Solomon. ..
"And,p said Horace, speaking more to the
pc:nt, the broad fact remains that they
l:iIn the child and are prepared TO MAXI
hat claim good before the magistrates"