The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-06-20

Beatrice walked into the nail. Inc emu
had made great progress during Horace's
absence. The curate was tckling him and
making him laugh HerNrt was strosing
his bright hair in quite paternal way
Even the respectable Whitaker was smiling
pleasantly.
"What dear little mapW exclaimed
Beatrice, as she walked to tho table and
looked at tho sturdy urchin
She was the first woman the child had seen
since he left his friends at the refreshment
room. Maid servants, with the curiosity OF
their sex and kind, had peeped surreptitiously
over the balustrade but had not attracted
notice. At such tender age as his, woman
sn childs natural protector. He at once
quilted his stalwart friends and ran across
the table to the fair girl, who smiled and
opened her arms. The little man darted into
them, and with a chirrup OF delight laid his
head on the girls shoulder and seemed per-
fectly happy and at rest. He was so pretty
that no woman could have RETAINED from ca
ressing him. Miss Clauson kissed him again
and again, then, like every one who came
near him, fell to stroking his golden locks
and twining them round her fingers. The
child's eyes began TO close under her soft and
soothing touches.
"He must go to bed" said Beatrice, de
cisively
Certainly" said uncle Horace Where
| had he better sleep"
"Janc has Il most comfortable bed, said
Herbert
Jane was the parlor- maid, but Herbert in
his housewifely capacity knew the quality of
| every bed in the house; even the amount OF
bedding on each. Mr.. Mordle turned away.
Ho was afraid OF dsgracing himself by
burst of il-timed mirth.
mo, no. exclaimed Beatrice; "he shall
sleep with me, Look at him, uncle Horace;
| isn't he q perfect cherubi"
Hes a pretty little boy but we don't
know where he comes from, my dear hardly
think you ought 10 take strange infant to
sleep with you"
ooh, nonsense, uncle Horacel See what a
clean, beautiful boy it is. Whitaker, send
| large can OF hot water to my room. Come,
M pet | will see how | can act the part of
nursemaid.n
Singing and grooming and carrying the
child in the most approved fashion, Miss
Clauson proceeded to bear her prize away.
"You had better look at his linen,
Beatrice" said Horace. at may be marked
with his name"
After this tho three men went back to the
dining-loom and talked the curious occur
renee over and over.
In about half an hours time Beatrice reap
pearcd with the intelligence that the boys
clothing bore no mark OF any kind. Indeed,
it all seemed brand new. She was apparently
much delighted with her new toy. She kept
running up and down stairs, to ascertain that
her protege was sleeping the sleep of innocent
babyhood. At last she went away alto
gethcr.
Beatrice Is more demonstrative than be-
lieved her to be-" said Horace, regretfully.
Herbert echoed the regret, but Mr.. Mordle
said nothing. He thought the instructive
kindness she showed towards this mysteri-
ously sent child added another charm to the
many he had already discovered in Miss Clau-
son.
The three men sat together until it was too
late to hope that matters would be clearedup
that night. No mother, no telegram came.
The curate babe his friends good night and
walked back to his lodgings in tho village,
thinking what Il charming picture Miss Clau-
son with the child in her arms made. Poor
Mr. Mordlel He had only known Beatrice a
week, and was already beginning to dream a
foolish dream.
The brothers continued sitting one on either
side of the fire. They were not earlTto-bed
people. Now that they were alone they said
I little more about the arrival. For three hours
they had been discussing every possible the
DRY which might account for the childs APP
pearance among them, SO the subject was
threadbare, and they sat in silence trying to
invent fresh causes. Suddenly most curious
and startling suspicion entered Horace Tai
bert's mind-a suspicion which now and again
made him glance at his brother. Could Her
bert by any chance know all about the mat
ter He had certainly seemed greatly taken
with the little boy. Horace remembered how
much at home the child had made himself
with Herbert How, when he, Horace, came
out of the drawing-room with Beatrice, he
had found Herbert stroking and patting the
little head Could there be romantic pass
ages in Herberts life about which he knew
nothing! He pooh-poohed the thought; but
it came again and again.
just after l o'clock, and when the brothers
were thinking Of retiring, to their great sur
prise Beatrice reappeared. She was in dainty
dressing gown and slippers. After waiting
until Mr.. Mordle must certainly have gone she
had come down--of course to hear II any news
had arrived. Uncle Horace, with his eyes
fixed ON Herbert expressed bis conviction that
no news was meant to arrive. Beatrice looked
musingly into the fire. Her head was bent
forward, her hands clasped round one Of her
knees. She made pretty, almost classical
cooking picture, no doubt duly approved Of by
those men Of taste, her uncles.
Then what will you dor she asked, at
last.
I'VE viii wait until tomorrow, or the day
after; then put the matter into the hands of
the police" said Horace decisively.
Herbert said nothing, 80 his brothers sus-
oicions increased. Beatrice rose as II to say
good night. She stood for awhile on the rug,
apparently intently interested in series Of
tiny circles which abe was describing with the
point Of one slipper. Presently she looked up
with flushed cheek and spoke in aquick hur-
ried way.
III nobody comes for the boy would you
mind my keeping bimF'
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