The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-08-20
A FAMILY AFFAIR.
BY HUGH CONWAY,
"Author Called Back" and Ozark Days."


one morning Horace and Herbert were IN
earnest discussion respecting a hip'bath, tho
paint OF which showed mgns OF wear. Tho
question was whether IL should be sent 10 the
anctioneer'a and sold for the best price, o.
should be rejapanned. Herbert, who was
given 10 temporisng, favored tho roparation.
Horace, who was more thorough In his ideas,
thought 10 should 60 at once TO tho saleroom.
The matter was 80 important and interesting
that neither OF tho brothers heard tho sound
of carriage wheels outside the house,
The wheels were those belonging TO a gig,
q genuine, unmiatakable gig, Whitaker,
who saw II come up tho drive and stop at tho
'front.' not tho side door, was much disguGtOd.
10 did not know the traditional rsspsctabfity
enjoyed by the driver OF gig. Ho drew tho
line at dogcarta. sylvanuS' tricycle. was
only borne with because ii carried a clergy
man.
Tho gig In question was driven by man
who dlsmounted and helped 10 the ground q
woman with good-tempored looking shiny
face, and who was dressed In refreshingly
bright colors. Ono of them rang tho boll
timidly, aud after q beAtting interval the
dlpniaed Whitaker condccended 10 opon
Che door. Tho man asked II the Mossrs,
Talbert were In. This collective style Jared
upon Whitaker, who had been In tho family
long enough 10 remember tho time when
HAlessrs. Talbert and CO.. was well-lmown
form Of address. IIe replied that Mr. Tai
bert and Mr., Herbert were In, but ut present
Engaged.
1--WE viii wait until they can 200 u.s." said
the man. 30 Whitaker lot thom como into
the house They wiped their feet on enter
Ing 40 carefully and thoroughly that all
doubts as 10 their being persons OF any ini-
portance were at onco set at r0st Whitaker
felt no was quite right In offering thom
chairs In the hall Thoy were too respect
ablo 10 DO left standing, but the gig and tho
foet-rubbing combined showed they were not
10 be ushered into tho drawing-room.
''What name shall sayr he asked.
1--WE are strangers" said the man. "You
can say we have called on private and conf
dential business"
"You had better give mo your name" said
Whitaker
"Mr. and Mrs. Rawlings" answered the
woman.
So Whitaker went up stairs, found his
masters, and told them that Mr. and Mrs.
Rawlings wanted 10 500 them on private and
confidential business.
''nawllngs said Herbert, with a shudder.
ave know no one with such an awful name,
Who arc they, Whittakorr
al have no idea, SIR said Whitaker. AS
his masters adjudged the name horrible, ho
felt half offended at II being supposed he
knew any ono nancy Rawlings.
HWlere aro they, asked Horace
"In the hall, slr.n Whitaker felt thankful
bo had not been tempted TO give them sitting
room honow
"Whittaher,n said Horace, grNvcly, two
shall be extremely annoyed II you have lot
persons come inside our house who nro book
hawlers, or worse still, those who try TO buy
up secold-hand clothes, as thoo people say
they come on private and confidential bua-
neas.n
However, they put their eyeglasses up
and went down 10 tho hall and confronted
their visitors. They found woman whose
philiStlnlc attire sot their tooth on odgo, and
palo-faccd man with rather prominent light
blue eyes and weak looking agitatod kind
Of face, Tho brothers wondered nightly
what these people could want with thom,
"You wish 10 speak 10 usT said Horace,
mavely. Although they kept persons at
distance, az long as possible at arms length,
tho Talberts were always polite and kindly
spoken.
'If you pleasc, sir" said tho man. Horace
and Herbert waited.
"Wo should like TO SEQ YOU In private,n
Hld tho woman, glancing round tho hall So
Herbert opened tho drawing room door, and
they all walked inside "Now, then" said
Horace, onoouragingly, 'whnt can wo do for
you, Mr.. Rawlings-I boliovo that Ia your
manor
eyes, sir,n said Mr.. Rawlings, drawing
out pocketbook, and handing Horace
card, on which was printed, Drawings
Bros, Purvoyors Of Pork, 1l2 Gray street,
London Horace shiyerod. Ho felt very
angry,
0Pork,n hc said, ''is meat we mover
touch Then ho motionod 10 Herbert 10
ring the bell, But Mr., Rawlings intorposod,
al didn't come ON that sort Of business, sir,
Tho fact Ia, have heard that some time last
yoar child, n little boy, was left at your
house, sent from no ono knows whore, IL
this correct gontlemenr
Mt Ia quito trucn answered Htrncc Ho
was sorry ho had misJudgcd the man In
thinking him touting tradcsman. "But
why do you al, n ho added,
Tho man grew visibly excited, "Mo and
my wife, osid, "hayo strong hopes that
tho llttlo boy is ono wo lost, or had stolen
from US moro than two years ago"