Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13

l.
point? And here nm wandering farther
and farther away from it. 4 la"v..r is hui
man; there is the only s.X,:uS.'. Now Mrs
Linley. i'll two words! Your i'aS5aAI is de-
termncd t. have little Miss Fi:t.; and the
Law, when lie applies to it, IS his ",'edient
humble servant"
do you mean that the law takes my chic
away from me?"
Il am ashamed, madam, 10 think that
live by the law: but that, must own, is tx
actly what it is capable Of doing III the pres
ent case. Compose yourself, | beg and pray.
\ time will come when women will remind
men that the mother bears the child aan
feeds the child, and will insist that the N Il,
er'S right is the best right OF the two. III tie
meanWhile-'
In the meanwhile, Mr.. Sar&zin, l won't
submit TO the law"
Quite right, Catheriner' cried Mrs Presty.
Exactly what L should do in your place"
Mr.. oarrazin listened patiently. Il am al!
attention, good ladies' he said, with the
gentlest resignation. Let me hear how you
mean to do it,
The good ladies looked at each other. They
discovered that it is one thing TO set an abuse
at defiance III words, and another thing TO
apply the remedy in deeds. The kinu-hcart-
cd lawyer helped them with suggestion.
perhaps you think of making your escape
with the child, and taking refuge abroad?'
Mrs. Lialey eagerly accepted the hint.
THE first train tomorrow morning starts at
halS-past Z" she said. 1--WE might catch
some foreign steamer that sails from the east
coast of Scotland"
MIS-. PreSty, keeping wary eye on Nj.
SaTraZin, was not quite SO ready as her
daughter in rushing at conclusions. Il AIN
afraid" she acknowledged, "Our worthy
friend secs some objection. What is it?"
II don't presume to offer a positive Opin-
ion, ma'am; but I think Mr.. Linley and his
lawyer have their suspicious. Plainly speak
ing, | am afraid spies are set to watch Us al
ready
"lmpOssibler'
You shall hear [ travel second-clasS:
one saves money, and one finds people to
talk to-and at what sacrifice? Only hard
cushion to sit on! In the same carriage with
ME there was a very cOnversible persona
smart young man with flaming red hair.
When we took the omnibus at your station
here all the passengers got out in the town
except two | was one exception and the
smart young man was the other When |
y
few yards, and set my fellow-traveer at the
village inn. My profession makes me sly. |
waited little before rang your bell; and,
when [ could do it without being seen, |
crossed the road and had look at the inn.
There is a moon tonight; | was very care
full. The young man didn't see me. But [
saw a head of flaming hair and pair of ami
able blue eyes over the blind Of u window
and it happened to be that one window of
the inn which commands full view of Your
gate. Mere suspicion, you will say! L can't
deny it and yet have my reasons for SuS-
pecting. Before / left London one of my
clerks followed me in great hurry to the
terminus and caught me as | was opening
the carriage door. We have just made dis
covery,' he said; 'you and Mrs. Lnley are
to be reckoned up 'Reckoned up is if you
please, detective English for being watched.
My clerk might have repeated a false report,
OF course. And my feliOw-trayeler might
have come all the way from London to look
out of the window of an inn in Cumber-
land village. What do you think your
sci~eS?"
1t seemed to be easier to dispute the law
than to dispute Mr.. Sarrazins conclusions.
Suppose l choose to travel abroad and to
take my child with me-" Mrs. Linley per-
sisted, who has any right to prevent me?'
Mr.. SarraZn reluctantly reminded her that
the father had right. No person, not even
the mother, can take the child out Of the
fathers custody" he said, Except with the
fathers consent. His authority is the SUI
preme carbohydrates it happens that the
law has deprived him Of his privilege, and
has expressly cOntided the child to the moth
er's care. Hap cried Mr.. SarraziM, twist
ing round in his chair and liking his keen
eyes on Mrs PreSty, look at your good
mother; ST secs what [ am coming to-"
Il see something more than you think"
Mrs. Presty answered. "If l know anything
Of my daughters nature, you will find your
self before long OH delicate ground"
what do you mean. mammal
Mrs. PreSty had lived in the past age when
persons occasionally used metaphor as an aid
to the expression Of their ideas Being call
ed upon to explain herself she did it in meta
phor to her own en;re satisfaction
''Our learned friend here reminds me, my
dear Catherine, Of q traveller exploring d
strange town. He takes turning in the
confident expectation that it will reward him
by leading to some satisfactory reSult-and
he finds himself i'll a blind ally, Or, as the
French put it q speak French iluently) in
cool de sack. Do make my meaning clear,
Dir. SarraZin?'
Not the least in the world, ma'am."
How very extraordinary! Perhaps I have
been misled by my own vivid imagination.
Let me endeavor to express myself plainly
let me say that my fancy looks prophetically
at what you are going to do, and sincerely
wishes you well out of il. Pray go on"
And pray speak more plainly than my
mother has spoken" Mrs. Linley added.
LAS understand what you said just now,
there is a law. after all, that will protect me
in the possession Of my little girl. l don't
care what it costs; want that law"
May | ask first" Mr.. Sarrazin stipulated,
whether you are positively resolved not to
give away to your husband in this matter of
Kitty?"
''Positively.'
Zone more question, if you please, on a
matter of fact l have heard that you were
married in Scotland. Is that true?'
'Qute true"
Mr.. Sarrazin exhibited himself once more
in a highly unprofesSional aspect. He clap
ped his hands and cried "BraYov' as if he
had been in theater.
Mrs. Linley caught the infection of the
| lawyers excitement. ''How dull amp she