Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-02-26
IN VT FREE Press FRIDAY FEBRUARY

manner OF widowed landladics, filed up the
Narrow pas age. She eyed Miss Clnuson
curiously, and thon conducted her TO snug
parlor at til, back of the bar. I'm parlors
of this sort are always cosy and warm. This
was 10 exception to the rub. y cosy, low
room, and nlt without cheerful ornaments
seeing that it boosted n large ten tray iniaid
with mother of pearl, several CoiOrcI prints
and n haadsome y-framed copper plate writ
ten document, which proclcitlcd to all who
cared to read it that the deceased Proprietor
was n member of the Ancient Order Of Odd
Fellows.
Beatrice noticed none Of these artistic en-
bclishments She took the chair which was
offered her, and, without raising her veil,
awaited tie appearance of Mrs. Rawlings
AS no woman with any pretcnsions to re-
spcctabilty and solvency would think Ct
facing an unknown visitor without some
little smoothing Of plumcs and adjustment
of attire, Miss Clauson had to wait several
minutes for the desired aud ,nCc. AT las
she heard the door open, and, with a stifed
sob, she rose, turned, and faced the new
conner.
Mrs. Rawlings g)od-natured round, com.
monplau, face wore an expression Of wondcl
mont. Shc saw that her vsitol v..i of
class different from that which usually kol.
ored her ith a morning call. As tribute
to Miss { lau ,ons UNI, niably lady -lihceIp"ar-
ance the good woman's greeting. which i>e-
gan with a nod, ended in something Ike n
curtsey.
please be seated, miss" she said. ~ hear
you want to speak to me-"
YES" said Beatrice, in a low but clear
voice. Il wish to speak to you about the
child which you claim az yours. wish to
hear what you have to say.'
The woman's face grew grave. "Ah," she
said, IL must send for my husband. HeI
managing the business
Beatrice made an iinperious gesture Of dis
sent. 'What l have to say must be said to
you. Kindly see that we speak without in
tcrruptionn Mrs Rawlings settled back in
her chair rather sullenly, and eyed her yelled
visitor win lii .c~,,,l curiosity. Suddenly
Beatrice a;Hia s,,O..2:
Tel -, sail, in tones of strong re-
proach, and, perhaps unwisely, scorn--"tell
me why YOU dare to claim as your own o
ch.ld whom you saw for the first time few
! las az !"
Mrs. Rawlings seemed troubled. She could
not sec her visitors eyes, but had the un-
comfortable feeling that they were gazing
st-rnly at her, as if striving TO read the
tI'Jth in her psrturbed features.
"Wc lost little boy" she faltered out,
"a dear i. 10 boy Of that age. My man is
certain tbs is ours
But y1u You are not certain. A man
may NAL mistake as to his own child, but
not women. The mother does not forget
her child, or believe the child of stranger
to be her own
My man is SO certain" REPEATED Mrs.
RawlingS, he must be right Poor fellow,
ever sinc, or boy was lost he has been seek
.ng him, high and low 1t has driven him
all but ln4l at times. Now L. has found the
;hilI, and means to have him" Sic spoke
the last sentence somewhat dctnntly.
"He Will never have him. said Beatrice,
.lsHlY. Listen to me. There is no chance
of your obtaining that boy. His nc, ner
knowsin whose hands lie is. If your claim
is pressed. proof as to who t, Q call real. !
is will re forthcoming. Tie production vii
cause pain and grief, but that viii lie borne,
if necdtul. See here"--she drew from her
pocket the laL-. .;hch had been cut or the
child's cape-"the person who has a right to
that child must produce the half Of tho card
which fits this. When wanted it can he
produccl.'
Il know nothing about cards anl proofs,
said the woman, whose understanding coul
not, perhaps, grasp the ingeum,y of the
device "Ail know is this mss: my huS-
band sweaIs it is our boy, and | bell &c him,
poor man. Sore enough he has govcl foI
two years-nevor 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 lumoI
his delusion, and arc willing to rob another
woman. You seem to be kind woman. YET
you are ready to work Unbelievable harm It
another
81 mean 40 harm to any one, miss If ii
shouldn't be my child, the mother can't be
of much account who couid desert n pretty
little dear like that But there, I've listened
too long, and perhaps said more than
ought. If you like to see my husband II
send for him."
Mrs. Rawlings rose as if to terminate Tho
audience. Beatrice also roso AMI faced her
She threw up her veil, and for the first. tim,
during the interview showed her ia Q to hol
companion.
No" she said, with strange v,heinence
II have more, much more to say TO You
Look me in the face, and feel sure that | an
speaking the truth. What if tell you thai
know the mother of this chid-know why
it was sent to Lakewood House-know thai
if forced to do so the mother will claim i
publicly - will face whatever the shame
rather than yield III 10 anotherf VII thes,
things have weight with You, and make yol
persuade your husband TO let the matter
res;F'
Her imprisoned manner had its effect upol
her listener. Mrs. Rawlings fidgeted about
and her round eyes, which hitherto hat
rested wonderingly on Be'trice's face, wer
cast down.
1T no USE she muttered, shaking he
head. Not bit of use. He has set hi
heart on the boy. He'll say it's only
trick"
Then l have yet more to say. Look a
me again, and listen. Put yourself in IN,
place, and realize what you compel me TO do
1 tell you the child is mine-it is mine. d.
you understand
Mrs. Rawlings shook her heal foatly.
ut is mine. repeated Beatrice II an i,
mother. | speak clearly en,u rht Th9
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