Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-02-19

The brothers faces were perfect studies.
That two people like this should lay claim to
Beatrice's boy was simply absurd. 'Impos
sible" they CALCULATED in one breath.
Don't say impossible" sail Mr.. Rawlings
'We may find our little boy at last; we have
been hunting about all over England for
foundlings such as this. 1t may be this one
is ours"
"Why should it have been sent herer
81 can't tell, sir. But won't leave n stone
unturned. May we see the boym
The situation was growing ridiculous, and
if the Talberts disliked one thing riore t,4un
another it was a ridiculous situation The
best way out of this one seemed to be that
Mr.. Rawlings should see the child and be sat
isfied it was not his missing of.rprng. So
Horace rang the bell and desired that the
little boy should be brought down.
Mrs. Miller, the nurse, upon receiving in
structions to this effect, imagined that her
charge was to be shown to visitors of i'm
portance. So she quickly put on LIS bcs gar
inents, and made him look very cheluAic
lie trottei into the drawing room cabinet
picture of childish scalth and beauty.
Rawlings looked at him with excitement in
every line of his face. His light blue eyes
seemed to he starting out of his head.
MARIA" he whispered ho.rsely to his wife,
look at him. Just what ours would have
grown to. The same hair-the same eyes.
Maria is this not Your boy? Answer me
and thank heaven we have at last found
him."
The wife looked at the child but did not
answer at once
sit isl know it is, said the man "Tell
them so, Maria"
~ hope it is" said his wife.
The Talberts on hearing this looked stupe.
fed. The case was assuming undreamt OF
proportions. Dimly they saw that this recog-
milton meant strange things.
"My good man." said Horace, "you are
making q complete mistake"
ooh, no, sir-no mistake. How can a
father be mistaken Oh, my pretty boy-my
long-lost lamb! Come to me and give me
one kiss! Come to your father"
He shot out his arms so vehemently that
Harry was frightened, and instead of accept
ing the invitation ran to Herbert, and hiding
his face against his leg set up howl, which
brought in Mrs. Miller, who Mt once whipped
him away. She had strict instructions from
Beatrice never to let the child become nui-
sance. Horace and Herbert, with arched eve
brows, sat staring at their visitors.
"We may take our little boy back with us
=.
Certainly not" said Horace. "You have
not given us the slightest proof it is your
child"
But it is, sir. know, and Maria knows
it is"
"Tell us how it came here. Until YOU can
do that we cannot admit your claim for an
instant. 1t is ahsurd-you must be mis-
taken
"Absurdr echoed Herbert.
"Toll INC whore child it is if it isn't minor'
retorted the man. 'Do that and | will GO
away. don't care how it came here Iknow
it. recognize it. 1t is my poor lost little
boy, and | will have it,
The man grew more excited than before.
Horace was intensely annoyed He turned Ia
the woman. "Yousee TO have some sense, y
he sad; edo you claim this childr
She glanced at her husband and tears
sprang into her eyes eyes, sir" she said,
II believe it is my child The situation
grew worse and worse. 1t was well for the
boy that he had made such friends Of Horace
and Herbert OF he must have been sacrificed
forthwith, If only to rid the house of his
self-styleI father and mother.
As it was the Talberts temporized; they
promised to consider the matter for a fsw
'ays, and let Mr.. Rawlings know the decision
they might come to. MIR, Rawlings wrote on
! his business card the name of a hotel at
which he was staying, and having again and
again asserted that he would not be robbed
Of his rebound son, at last, to the unspcak-
able relief of our friends, drove away in his
| gig.
Never had Horace and Herbert leen placed
in such difficulty. They sat stroking tn ii
boards for at least half an hour, but could
see no way out of it. The arrival OF The
child ON that evening of last year was a.
! nothing compared to the present dilemma