The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-08-08

''.4-Zl--'3teAZ -Ez ~
- &
an IS mhte,' rcpeated Beatricc. ~ an
its mother"
boy is my son. ] bore him in marriage, bu
in trouble and in secrecy. Now will you OF
your husband dare to lay claim to hm-darc
to swear it belongs to you' Answer me"'
"Oh, dearl On, DEAR dear" calculated
Mrs. Rawlings. Beatrice's face was pale a
death. She breathod quickly, rs one in pain.
! Now, that her hand was forced, now that the
guarded secret of her life was wrested from
her, she seemed to speak like one who having
told the worst, cares little what follows.
Save myself and one other no one knows
of its birth. Iloved it and longad to have
it ever with me. But for years | scarcely
dared to see it. Then came a chance. ]
schemed so that it might come to me and be
always with me, and yet no one need know
it was my very own. | injured no one by SO
doing. / had my child ald could love it and
care for it. l was all but happy. And now.
for what can lie of no ben fit to you, you
will force ne to tell my tale to the world or
part with my child. Yotyou arc n woman
and must have wOman's Leart!'
She looked at Mrs. Rawlings and saw that
tears were in her eyes.
Il believe you are kind continued Z. o
trice in a softer voice. You have forced
me to tell you al. But believe you viii
keep my secret end hel me to keep it," She
did not mean to sue, nevertheless there was
an implorng tone in her voice. Mrs. Raw
lings clasped her plump hands together; the
tears streamed down her cheeks. In spite Ct
years of practice in plating up those mystic
rious white integuments whose fancifu
shapes adorn shops where pork is sold, the
worthy woman was still humane az heart.
ooh, my poor young lady My poor young
lady" she cried. You SO young, SO proud
looking, so beautiful To be- led astray Oh,
dear! oh dearl What villains men are, both
high and low!'
Miss Clauson flushed 10 the roots of her
herself. "You are satisfied now!' she asked
after pause.
'Oh, yes, miss. Oh, am so sorry for you.
You were right to trust me- Not word
shall pass my lips"
But your husbandp
"Oh, dear! oh, dear! must do the best
can. must tell lin it is not ours. lie will
be so unhappy. He's good man and kind
husband, but rather excitable. / assure you.
miss, lie was fully convinced that sweet little
boy was his. owr wasn't. but humored
nim. seeing the thought made hin. so happy
Anyway l would have loved the boy like
my own. Now promise you there shall be
no moro trouble. But my poor man, no will
be disappointed.
"Will any sum of money" began Boa
trice rather timidly.
'Oh, no, miss Although Rawlings has
neglected business drcadfuly for tho last
two years, and his brother is grumbling, we
are fairly weil'todo people with n tidy bit
saved. Oh no, my man is single-eyed. He
only wanted his boy
''How was your child lostr asked Bea-
tricc.
Mrs. Rawlings looked rather confused
81 can't help believing, miss, that the poor
LILLE fellow was drowned and never found.
Bat Rawlings he went have it so. He says
he was stolen and we shall find him some
day
After this Miss Clauson thanked her hostes
with grave dignity. Then she dropped her
veil and attended Try Mrs. RAWLINGS wen.
back to the cab and Sylvanus. She had
gained her end, but ut price only known to
herself. What it had cost her to reveal the
secret of her life to that strange woman can
scarcely be over estimated. Such was her
feeling of degradation that she almost wished
that her uncles had been in the room when
Yesterday she went with the child in her
hand to tell them what she had to-day told
Mrs Rawlings Sand after ALL" she muir
INJURED with bitter smile on her face, lit Is |
but staving Off the crash which must come
sooner or later" Here she sighed involun- |
tarilv. Mordle's quick ear caught the sound |
Nothing unpleasant happened, l hoper he
asked.
My business was not Of the pleasantest |
nature, but accomplished it successfully |
replied Beatrice.
He said no more. By her desire she was
vet down at one of the principal shops in |
an emporium of articles of femi-
nine need into which Mordle could not ven
ture TO accompany her. She thanked him
FOR his services, and he knew that those
thanks were dismissal. He strobe back to
Oakbury looking very thoughtful; indeed it
was not until he was well into his own parish
hat he remembered tho necessity of resum-
ng his usual cheerful air. at must have
been charitable he muttered. But why
he secrecy Why the Cat and Com
lassesfn
Saturday came. All that morning, the
busiest of the week, Horace and Herbert
vero fidgety and uncomfortable. Long be-
ore the hour fixed by Messrs. Blackett &
Niggens for the appearance Of their clients
,arriage the brothers were glancng down
he drive. Miss Clauson. however, appeared
aim and at her ease. Her woman's instinct
old her that all danger from the claimants
vas at an end. About 9 o'clock Horace
urned to her. "My DEAR he said, has
Yrs. Miller made any preparation for the
.hild's departurer
"None whatever. He will not be sent for
{ was but an idle threat"
Horace and Herbert exchanged glances
They knew it was no idle threat, but they
title knew how the fulfillment had been
Iverted.
Three o'clock came-four-fve o'clock
'ut no carriage, no Rawlings, no Blackett