Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-08

Chapter IV.-Continucd from last week.
She was the first woman the child had seen
since he left his friends ut 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
is child's 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 refrained from ca
ressng him. Miss Clauson kissed him again
and again, then, like every one who came
near him, fell to strokng his golden locks
and twining them round her fingers. The
childs eyes began 20 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
"Jano has most comfortable bed" said
Herbert.
Jane was the parlor-,naid, but Herbert in
his houscwifey capacity knew the quality of
every bed in the house; even the amount of
bedding on each. Mr.. Mordle turned away.
He was afraid of djsgracing himself by
burst of ill-timed mirth
"No, no. exclaimed Beatrice; che shall
sleep with me- Look ut him, uncle Horace;
isn't he u perfect cherubi"
"He's pretty little boy: but we don't
know where he comes from, my dear. hardly
think you ought to take a strange infant to
sleep with you"
ooh, nonsense, uncle Horace See what
clean, beautiful boy it is. Whitaker, send
large can of hot water to my room. Come,
my pct | will see how / can act the part of
nursemaid.n
Singing and grooming and carrying the
child i'll 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 the three men went back to the
dining-room and talked the curious occur
renee over and over.
In about half an hours time Beatrice reap
peared 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
gether,
Beatrice is more demonstratve than be-
ieved 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 chara 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 clearedu up
that night. No mother no telegram came.
The curate bade his friends good night and
walked back to his lodgings in the village,
thinking what 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
foolish dream.
The brothers continued sitting one on either
side of the fire. They We're not early-to-bed
people. Now that they We're alone they said
little more about the arrival. For three hours
they had been discussing every possible the
DRY which might account for the childs ap-
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 ut his brother. Could Hor-
bert by any chance know all about the mat
ItI Ie greatly taken
with the little boy Horace remembered how
much at home tho child had made himself
with Herbert. How, when he, Horace, came
out of the drawingroom with Beatrice, he
bad found Herbert strokin1 and patting the
little head. Could there be romantic pass
ages in Herbert's life about which he knew
nothing He pooh-poohed the thought; but
it came again and again
Just after 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.. Mordlemust certainly have gone she
bad come down-of course to hear if any news
had arrived. Uncle Horace, with his eyes
fixed on Herbert, expressed his 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 a pretty, almost classical
looking picture, no doubt duly approved Of by
those men of taste, her uncles.
Then what will you dor she asked, at
last.
1--WE will wait until tomorrow, or the day
after; then put the matter into the hands of
the police" said Horace decisivcly.
Herbert said nothing, 50 his brothers sus-
oicions increased. Beatrice rose as if to say
good night. She stood for awhile ON the rug,
apparently ntently interested i'll n series of
tiny circles which she was describing with the
point of one slipper. Presently she looked up
with flushed cheek and spoke in quick hur-
ried way.
If nobody comes for the boy would you
mind my keeping him"
~ 4, 81 g, !