Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-09-06


on until they reached the outskirts OF the
city. Here, by Beatr ce's command, the
curate hal ed a cab. "Where shall we
drive to-" l. Q asked.
There, If You please" said Beatrice,
handing hi n pape'. Mordla started,
and could scarcely repress a cry OF sur
prise The paper bore the words, 'Fhe
Cat and Compass, Market Lane lie
wondered what in the world Miss Clauson
could want Mt a fifth rate Blacktown inn.
Howevet, lie gave the order, and In due
time the cab drew up at its euph nicai
destination.
What could bring Miss Clauson to such
a place? Simply this; the w.dowet land
lady OF the house was an old friend o. Mr..
and Mrs. Rawlings. These respectable
people were staying with her, and Beatrice
had learned the address given to her UNI
Giles. Her bu mess was to Ms. Raw
lings."
'Miss Clauson," said Mordle, can
not do your errand for you? This seems
scarcely the place for yoa to enter.
NO." said Beatrice, Il alone can do It,
Plea d. not follow me; but | should be
glad If you will wait for me. "
Mrs. Rawlings good natured, round,
commonplace face wore an expression o.
was of a class different from that which
usually honored her with morning call.
AS tribute to Miss Clanson's undeniaby
ladyl Ike appearance, the good woman
greeting, which began with nod, ended
in something like a courtesy.
'Please be seated, M IS, - she said. 81
hear you want TO speak to me.
"Yes, said Beatrice. II wish to speak
to yoa aboIt the little child VIII CHI YOU
claim as your. l wish 10 hear what you
have to say"
The woman's face grew grave. "Ah,"
she said, Il must send for my husband.
He manages the busin S.
Beatrice made an imperious gesture of
dissent "What | have to say must be
sa d to yol. Kindly see that we speak
without interruption" Mrs. Rawlings
settled back In her chair rather sullenly,
and eyed her We led visitor with increased
curiosity. Suddenly Beatrice again spoke.
TELL me, she said, in tones OF strong
reproach, and perhaps unwisely, scorn-
''tell me why you dare to claim as your
own a child whom you saw for the first
time a few days ago"
I'VE lost little boy, 4" she faltered out,
"a dear little boy of that age. My man
is certain this is ours. "
"But you-you are not certain. A man
may make mistake as to his own child,
but not woman. The mother does not
forget her child, nor believe the child of
stranger to be her own. -
'My man is so certain" repeated Mrs.
Rawlings, 'he must be right Poor fell
low, ever since our boy was lost he has
been seek ne him, high and low. 1t
has driven him all but mad at times.
No, ha bo nd 30,
have him. >
ale will never have him, said Beatrice
slowly. Listen 10 me. There Is no
chance of your obtaining the boy. His
mother knows in whose hands he is. If
youc claim is pressed proof a. TO whose
the child really is will be forthcoming.
The production will cause pain and grief,
,jut that will be borne, II needful. See
mere she drew from her pocket the label
which had been cut off the child's cape
1.-The person who has a right To hat child
must produce the half of the card which
fits this. When wanted it can be produced. I"
Il know nothing about cards and
proofs, aid the woman 'all | know Is
that my husband swears it is our bog, and
| believe him, poor man. Sore enough he
has grieved for two years never 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 humOr
his delus!On. and are willing to rob anoth-
er woman. You seem to be kind woman,
yet you are ready to work an irretrievable
harm to anOt err "
II mean no harm to anyone. miss. If Il
shou II lie my child the mother cant be
of much account who could desert a pretty
little dear like that. But there, I've listen
ed too long AMI perhaps said more tn IN
ought If you like to see my husband I'll
sen for him. y
Mrs. Rawlings rose asif to terminate the
audience. Peatrice also rose and faced
her. She threw up her veil, and for the
first time during the interview showed her
face to her companion.
"No," she said, with strange vehemence;
~ have more much more to say to you.
Look me In the face ami feel sure that |
am speaking the truth. What If l tell
yoa that l know the mother of this child
know why it was sent to la lewood
Hoase-know that If forced to do so the
mother will claim it publicly-wil face
whatever tie shame. rather than yield it
to another. Will these things have no
weight with you, and make YOU persuade
your husband to let the matter rest"
'It's no use," she said, shaking her
head. mot bit of use. lie has set his
heart on the boy. He'll say it's only a
trick. >
''Then l have yet more to say. Look at
me again and listen. Put yourself in my
pace and reali what you compel me to
do tell you the CHI Id is mine-it is mine.
Do you understand"
Mrs. Rawlings shook her head feeb'y.
lit Is mine, repeated Beatrice. 81 am
its mother. DO | speak clearly enough?
That boy is my son. / bore him in trou ble
and In secrecy. Now will you or your
! husband dare to lay claim 10 him-dare to
swear 1t belongs to you? Answer me 5"
"Jh, dear. Oh, dear, DEAR CALCULATED
Mrs Rawlings.
Save myself and one other no one
KIN WIS of its birth " continued Beatrice.
~ loved it and longed to have it ever
with me. But for years ] scarcely dare |
to see it. Then came a chance. / schemed
so that It might come to me and be always
with me, and yet no one need know It was
my very own. injured no one by so do
ing had my child and could love It and
care for II. / was all but happy. And
now, for what can b. of no benefit to you,
you would force me to tell my tale TO the
| - A. III W.