Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-06-25
Txles mud Sketthes.
1Harper's Bazaar.
OUT OF 4 FAMILY JAR.
BIZ E,nnr +. WHEELER
CONTINUED from Tuesday.

IL was all from the french nurSes -
said 1t once TO Pam; and had said oftel
before that no good could come of gettin,
q clustering foreigner to care for III
child, and make him learn her tongue be
fore he found bis own. 1t was the queen
dowaqer's idea, was sure, and ! had d
patience with it. But Marie seemed
good girl. and she certainly was pictur
esaue and handsome in her peasant cos
tune, and it was pretty to hear the litti
fellow lisp his 'estee gues' Rob mad
rather more of her than OF the other ser
wants, / noticed bat he was generous +
them all. and it was only natural that h
should have more to say to Prince Harold
hapdmaiden. But when one soft Septem
Der afternoon prince and handmaiden dis
appeared together-why, Lefty remem
bered it.
It appeared from the incoherent accoun
Lefty gave when she came over distracted
to tell us, that Marie and Harold had gone
ont, az usual, little before ten that morn
ling. She had given orders to keep him
out in the pretty little park until lunch
time, and she had delayed lunch little
when they did not come. and then she had
sent one of the servants after them. and
she came back with distressing tale that
nurse and child had been seen to take the
ten o'clock train tor Forthington. She
had bought her ticket, so the agent said.
chattering an indistinct something to him
about Monsieur Graham and message.
Now Northingfon was great junction
twelve miles of. and one could get east.
west or south from it, and OF course we
all leaped to one conclusion. nearly bit
nv tongue off to avoid saying. Il told you
SOL and to keep out of temptation | set
off for the little police station, while
Annie, too distracted to think of the car
riage rushed down to the mills for Rob
had gone to the city that mosning on bust
ness. but we didn't know what or where.
and one can't send a telegram at random.
Frank Truman offered to send the mes
sages. and proposed also to wire the chief
of police. and to bring up the return mes
sages himself and Annie was glad to ac-
cept. Then, while we were all running
about distractedly. sending the servants
here and there Tor information, and watch
ing over Lefty, who threatened Mysteries.
who should drive up but Talbot with his
splendid team. And while we were tell
ing HIM and asking advice--for we five
womep felt as helpless as babies in the
emergency-in walked Frank with the
return telegram from the office where
Rob's business was.
Not here Left for Northington at
10 :l0.'
Lefty read it, and shrieked. oh |
knew it | knew it!' And for one
dreadful instant perhaps we women all
had the same thought: but it was too out
rageous a possibility for sisters heart,
and Pam stiffened at once.
1t is probably some business affair." she
said, something we know nothing Of
The trouble is now we don't know how to
reach him.
Reach him ~ Lefty burst out. "Oh,
he is beyond that now Oh, that could
have been so blind all these weeks You
were right, Mira"-this to mel might
have known the sly creature would bring
trouble; but didn't believe-I couldn't
that my own husband could be guilty."
For shame, Lefty I" cried Pam. Don't
dare to say another word against my
brother. There is not particle of rea
son"
"And l saw them together last night, -
Lefty went on, utterly beside herself,
planning it all out. and never suspected
little fool He gave her money yester-
day,-her months wages. he said-but
who knowsp And oh oh to rob me of
my child. tool" But what more she said
| can't tell. for 1t was too dreadful. The
family skeleton was paraded before them
all. and all our efforts TO hush her only
made it worse
Pam had grown white at her first words,
but now she just turned to the gentleman
and said, as quietly as possible: IL beg
that yon will not think she meant any
thing. She is out of her head over the
child"
"Of course, Frank Truman said, but he
certainly looked a little Disguised. but
what we have to do now is to prove her
wrong by finding Mr.. Graham. If you
will give me you horse. Mr.. Talbot-cool
as you please to the nabob--"l can catch
the l.50 train for Northington; and if he s
there, as of course he is. can find and
bring him back in three hours. And
meantime Mr.. Talbot can direct the search
here for the child. We have them both to
hunt up now, and my half is the easier. "
''How good you are. pam said, putting
out her hand. "And-she flushed and
hesitated-you will not tell him-excep,
about the baby. IL am so ashamed and
sorry for poor Lefty. may trust you
am sure, as-as one of ourselves" And
she didn't think till Frank had bowed owe,
her hand and said fervently. "A Thousand
thanks dear Miss Graham" and then with
one glance at Annie. rushed off, she didn'
think till she saw that CLEAN of his ey,
and Annie's answering smile, what she
had said.
We got Lefty to bed with some Difficult
ty, and Mr.. Talbot went tor the doctor
By that time the servants had begun to
come back. but all the satisfaction they
brought was that slender. dark eyed
man, supposed to be foreigner, had beer
seen hanging about Marie for the past few
days. They're confederates, of course, >
| saw at once. land ii is all plan to stea
the child for reward"
Perhaps it's sweetheart" Annie
suggested.
MY dear" said. little sharply, so
course you think So"
ut is as natural superstition as tn,
other" said Mr.. Talbot. which was wha
was to be expected from him. But
could have told him that Annie needed
none of his support. She had look il
her eyes rs if Letty's jealousy just mad,
her faith in-some one--deeper and truer
sort of tender pity every time the pool
child shrieked out some fresh arraignmenl
OF Rob-
We had miserable afternoon. though
thanks IN an anndvna We nuiated pon,