Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-01-15

u I A@
You ,cere right not to come atone" he said
"Will you step in and ask if a lady can see
a Mrs. Rawlings, wko is staying therer
Mordle obeyed.
Beatrice drew down her vail and laaneS
back il the cab. She closed her eyes, as i
for tho moment to shut cut her surroundings
At must be donc!r she murmurcd He,
eyes were still closed when she heard Mordle,
his clear accents just tempered By surprise.
saying that tho person she wanted was in the
house. and wouli see he. Beatrice moved
as if to leave tho cab. The curate kept thu
door closed
Miss Clauson," he said, 'can l not dc
your errand for you! This seems scarcely
the place fer YOU to enter
He spoke more gravely than usual. HI
mind was picturing the CONSERVATION int,
which Horace and Herbert would be throw
did they but know that Their niece was visit.
ing such a 7 lace as this. He felt h, was DO
tray:ng a trust, and until he could assure
himself that the end more than justified the
means would be i'll at ease.
NO" said Beatrice, II alone can do it.
Please do not follow me; but should be glat
if you Will wait for me-"
Very reluctantly he opened the cab door
and with many misgivings watched Beatrice
90 past tie soldan-raced man, who cast after
her a look of maudlin approval; he watched
her 60 past the colored bottles and the pewter
counter, and disappear from sight AS she
vanished, Sylvanus, who was shrewd enough
to feel that it would be moral ruin for clergy,
man, espec:> 'ly one who was but a curate to
be seen at such an hour Of the morning hang
al
himself in the depths of the cab, and waited
and wondered He honestly believed tina
whatever might be the mission which
brought Beatrice to such place, its objec
was perfectly pure and womanly. Yet h,
was unhappy, and felt guilty. Horace and
Herbert sat heavily on his conscience. Char
table as he knew them to be, prompted by
charity as he persuaded himself was Bea-
trice's unknown errand, he ives fully aware
that no mix OF human kindness possessed by
the Talbe-ts would induce them to consent to
their niece's exercising the sacred quality in
such dingy purlieus, or under the roof of
such ques ionable establishment as the
Cat and Compasses.n The limits Of the
charitable obligations of Hazlewood House
were strictly defined by the boundaries of
Oakbury parish.
At the end of the cleaning pewter coun-
ter Beatrice encountered the widowed
landlady, whose frame, expansive after the
manner Of widowed landladies, filed up the
narrow passage. She eyed Miss Clausou
curiously, end then conducted her to a snug
parlor at tn, back Of the bar. Inn parlors
of this sort are always cosy and warm. This
was no exception to the rule. y cosy, low
room, and lct without cheerful ornaments
seeing that it boosted a large tea tray maid
4. yt,ov. -
and handsomely framed copper-plate writ
ten document, which proclaimed to all who
cared to read it that the deceased proprietor
was member of the Ancient o. Ter of Odd
Fellows.
Beatrice noticed none OF these artistic en-
bellishments. She took the chair which was
offered her, and, without raising her veil,
awaited the appearance Of Mrs. Rawlings.
As no woman with any professions to re-
spectability and solvency would think of
facing an unknown visitor without some
little smoothing Of plumes and adjustment
of attire, Miss Clauson had to wait several
minutes for the desired audience. At last
she heard the door open, and, with stihed
sob, she rose, turned, and faced the new
conner.
Mrs. Rawlings good natured round, CON-
monpla.o face wore an expression Of wonder
rlent She saw that her visitor was OF
class different from that which usually hon
ored her with morning call. As a tribute
to Miss Clauscn's undeniably lad like appear
ance the good woman's greeting, which be-
gan with a nod, ended in something like
curtsey.
Please be seated, miss" she said 81 bear
you want to speak to me-"
Eyes" said Beatrice, in a low but cleo,
voice. Il wish to speak to you about the
child which you Calm as yours. wish to
hear what you have to T."
The woman's face grsw grave. "Ah, she
said, II Lust send for my husband He's
managing the business"
Beatrice made an imDerious gesture Ct dis
sent. What / have say must be said TO
you. kindly see that We speak without In
terrJ:p. ioII.- Mrs Rawlings settled back N
her chair rather sulleniy. and eyed her yelled
risisor with increased curiosity. Suddenly
Beatrice again ss,o-e:
Tel Ire, SEE said, in tone: Of strong 70
preach, and, perhaps unw.seIy, sco-n-.'teL
me why you dare to claim as your own I,
III I'd whoa you saw for the first aIne few
las agoF'
Mrs. Rawlings seemed troubled she could
not see her visitors eyes, but had ths IN
comfortable feeling that they were gazing
sternly at her, as il striving to read the
truth in her pcrturbed features.
I'VE lost little boy" she faltered out,
a dear little boy Of that age Ny man is
certain this is ours"
"But you-you are not certain. A man
may make a mistake as TO bis own child, but
not a woman The mother does not forget |
her child, or believe the child Of a stranger |
Re her own
ely man is 30 certain repeated Mrs. |
0e."lings, The must be right Poor fellow,
ever since or boy was los. he has been seek |
ing HIN, hi-h and low. 1t has driven him |
al bat rad at times. Now he kas found the |
.hl1, ed mems to have HIM Sc spoke |
tho lat sentence somSshat defantly.
lie VIII never have him. said Beatrice, |
slowly Listen to me There is no chance |
Of yozr obtaining that boy. His mother |
Enowsin whose hands he L. II your claim |
is pressed, proof rs to whose tie ch-ld really |
Is Will be forthcor.sr. The production VII |
csuse pan and grief, bu. that VIII be borne,
il necd-ul See herer-she drew from her /
POCKET the l:hcc.. "ssich bad been cut OF the /
chld's cape-'ttne person who has right to /
that child must produce the half Of the card /
which fits this When wanted il can be
produced
Il know nothing about cards and proofs
aid tie woman, whose understanding could /
not, perhaps, grasp the ingenuity Of the l
1evice. IAN know is this, miss: my kus-
bad swears II b cur boy, and believe him,