The Dillon tribune., 1885-06-06

wv
six, gentlemen"
There must be some mistake. What arr
we to do!" asked the brothers.
Don't expect any visitors. supposeY'
asked the curate.
None Whatever. You must take the child
away again. said Horace, turning to the por-
ter. The man gaped.
Nv hat am to do with it, sir" he asked,
Lost parcels Office" suggested Mr.. Mordle
quietly. Whitaker gave him reproachful
LOOK The matter was too serious one for lest.
"Cut the label Off," was the curate's next
piece OF advice. There may he letter under
It." >>''>'o'
They took it off, The label was a piece of
writing paper gulnned on to plain card
which had been torn or cut irregularly. No
letter was concealed beneath it. Then they
searched the pockets Of the child's little coat
but found nothing. Their perplexity in
creased.
I'm wish you good evening, gentlemen
said the porter. Cab was three and six"
The Tables We're on the horns Of dilem-
ma. The eyes which could detect the discrep-
ancy in the unfortunate Mrs. Jenkins stock
ings were able to see that the baby was
well, even very we'll, clad. It was Just possi-
ble that letter had miscarried-possible that
some one was coming to Hazlewood House
without invitation or notice-that she had
really missed the train at Didcot: that she
would arrive in the course of an hour or two
and explain matters. The safest plan was to
keep the child for while
Having settled this, Horace flshed five
shiliings cut Of his pocket and sent the porter
away happy. Thereupon Herbert produced
a half crown which he handed to his brother.
who pockered it without comment and as a
matter Of course They were not miserly
men, but made point of being just and ex-
act in their dealings with cne another down
to the uttermost farthing. Much annoyance
would be saved ii all men We're the same as
the Talberts with respect to small SUMS. New
ertheless, this rigid adjustment of matters
pecuniary was a trait in their characters
which greatly tickled Mr.. Mordle.
All the while the little boy, with fat sturdy
legs placed well apart, stood upon the great
oak hall table, The lantern Of many colored
glass over his head threw rich, warm tints on
his sunny hair. He seemed in no way shy or
terrified: indeed if any fault could be found
i'll his bearing, it was that his manners were
more familiar than such short acquaintance
Justified. As the dignitied brothers once more
bent over him to resume their examination,
he seized Mr.. Herbert's watch chain in his
chubby fist and laughed deightedly-a laugh
which Mr.. Mordle echoed. He had long looked
for u suitable excuse for expressing his feel
ings in this way. The situation was so funny.
AN unknown child foisted upon his friends at
this hour OF the night! No dirty beggar's
brat, but q pretty. well-aressetl little boy, old
enough to possess row OF tiny white teeth,
but not, it seemed, old enough to give any
explanation Of this unwarrantable intrusion.
The child had such large, bright blue eyes,
such wonderful golden hair, such fearless and
confident ways, that Herbert, who was fond
IF children, patted the bright head and pulled
out his watch that the little rascal might
hear it tick; while Mortlle slipped back to the
dning room and returned with couple Of
nn"holesone macaroons
Nearest way to a child's heart through the
stomach, he said, as the youngster deserted
his first friend for the sake of the sweets.
Horace eyed these advances discontentedly
But what is to BE- donc!" he said
Just then the n,ufiled strains of piano
passed through the closed door of the drawing
room.
II should Think" said the culate ''vou
had better take Miss Causon's advice on tbs
subject"
CHAPTER w.
BEArRIcE's PROPOSAL.
In describing HaZlewood House and its be
longings, no mention has been matla OF Mis-
Clauson, for this reason-her position in thai
wen-regulnted establishment was, as vet
scarcely defined She was neither mistress
nor guest She was, in short, the only
daughter-iAdeed, the only surviving result
OF that brilliant marriage lnado by Mis-
Telbert when she allied herself with .sil
,Aaingay Clauson, Bart.
There is no reason for enlarging upon thu
y ln,irable way III which Lady Clauson lillce
.ho position which her own merits had gained
" to which fate had assigned her. Socially
and donlestically-in tho outward us we'll u
che inward ife-she was all q baronct's wift
s.,o,,ld bc-all save that she presented hel
husband with no heir to his titles and estates
This was sad omission, but, for tho sake OF
her many other good qualities, Sir ala!ngay
overlooked il, and laado her very good hus
band, as husbands go. When Lady Clrusn
died, some twelve years after the birth of the
daughter who lived, Sir Maingay wept copi
ously. Ho even opened his Bible-the frs;
time for many ycars--and by the aid oi
"Crl,len's Concor.ancc,' looked out q text
appropriate to her many virtues. Moreover
for her sake, or his own, he remained single
for five long years Then he went tho way
Of all middlc-agei, titled, wife-bereft flesh
and married again.
Beatrice Clauson, just about to leave school
romantic young lady, whose head fer the
present was, however, ouly occupied by pret.
ty, tilial ,lreams oil looking after her fathel'
ministcrins to this comforts, ruling, his house
and generally doing the best slao could to fill
the pla,p OF her dead mother, found herself
without word oi warning, presented to Il
new mother: one, moreover, but four year.
older than halsa i. 1t wa a crushing blow
1t was girls first lesson in the vanity and
instability Of mundane expectations.
She <,,rft OF course to have 0nticipate