Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-08-14

gan Win a nou, enuea IN sone1nng IlKe d
curtsey.
''Please be seated, miss, she said. 81 hear
you want to speak to me''
EYES," said Beatrice, in low but clear
voice. L wish to speak to you about the
child which you claim as yours. wish to
hear what you have to say"
The woman's face grew grave. "Ah, " she
said, 81 must send for my husband. He's
managing the business"
Beatrice made an imperious gesture of dis
sent. "What have to say must be said to
you Kindly see that we speak without in
terruption." Mrs. Rawlings settled back in
her chair rather sullenly, and eyed her yelled
visitor with increased curiosity. Suddenly
Beatrice again spoke:
"Tell me" she said, in tones of sarong re-
proach, and, perhaps unwisely, scorn-"tell
me why you dare to claim as your own
child whom you saw for the first time few
days ago?'
Mrs. Rawlings seemed troubled. She could
not see her visitors eyes, but had the I'M
comfortable feeling that they were gazing
sternly at her, as if striving to read the
truth in her perturbed features.
ssWe lost a little boy" she faltered out,
"a dear little boy of that age My man is
certain this is ours"
tsBut you-you are not certain. A man
may make mistake as to his own child, but
not q woman. The mother does not forget
Ter child, OF believe the child of a stranger
y be her own"
My man is so certain" repeated Mrs.
Rawlings, she must be right. Poor fellow,
ever since our boy was lost he has been seek
ing him. high and low. 1t has driven him
all but mad at times. Now he has found the
child, and means to have him." She spoke
the last sentence somewhat defantly.
"fIe will never have him." said Beatrice,
slowly. sListen to me- There is no chance
of your obtaining that boy. His mother
knows in whose hands he is. If your claim
is pressed, proof as to whose the child really
is will be Forthcoming. The production will
cause pain and grief, but that will be borne,
if needful. See here''-she drew from her
pocket the label "hich had been cut off the
childs cape-''the person who has right to
that child must produce the half of the card
which fits this When wanted it can be
produced"
81 know nothing about cards and proofs"
said the woman, whose understanding could
not, perhaps, grasp the ingenuity of the
device. Gail know is this, miss: my hus-
band swears it is our boy, and I believe him,
poor man. Sore enough he has grieved for
two years-never been the same man since"
''You do not believe him. said Beatrice,
in the same deliberate way, "but for the
sake of setting his mind at rest you humor
his delusion, and are willing to rob another
woman. You seem to be kind woman, yet
you are ready to work irretrievable harm to
another"
81 mean 20 harm to any one, miss. If it
shouldn't be my child, the mother can't be
of much account who could desert a pretty
little dear like that. But there, I've listened
too long, and perhaps said more than l
ought. If you like to see my husband, I'll
send for him.
Mrs. Rawlings rose as if to terminate the
audience. Beatrice also rose and faced her
She threw up her veil, and for the first time
during the interview showed her face to her
companion.
''No," she said, with strange vehemence;
81 have more, much more to say to you.
Look me in the face, and feel sure that l am
speaking the truth. What if tell you that
know the mother of this child-know why
it was sent to Lakewood House-know that
if forced to do SO the mother will claim it
publicly - will face whatever the shame,
rather than yield it to another? Will these
things have weight with you, and make you
persuade your husband to let the matter
rest?''
Her imprisoned manner had it's effect upon
her listener. Mrs. Rawlings fdgeted about,
and her round eyes, which hitherto had
rested wonderingly on Beatrice's face, were
cast down.
''It's no use" she muttered, shaking her
head. 'Not bit of use. He has set his
heart on the boy. He'll say it's only
trick"
''Then have yet more to say. Look al
me again, and listen. Put yourself in my
place, and realize what you compel me to do.
tell you the child is mine-it is NINE Do
you understands"
Mrs. Rawlings shook her head feebly.
cit is mine, " repeated Beatrice. II am its
mother. Do speak clearly enoughs That