Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-08-30
CHATTER XIV.


TAME SI'RNESDER.
This Is I ne coply I the letter which
fell like bomb shell between the gentle
and peace-loying Talberts
'BLACKTowN. Dec. 81, IS.
ITO the Mcssrs. Horace and Herbert Talbert
Gentlemen; We have this morning
been consulted by Nit. Rawlngs with ref
erence our refusal to restore to him
his child, John awnings, whom he lost
ab ut two ears ago In mysterious man
ner, an whom lac has ecent y discovered
to be living in your house.
The cir umstances "a explained to us
b. our client tend to show that the child
was left b me person unknown in a
railway carriage and that it eventually
arrived at your house, where we under
stand, 1t has since rem ined.
'Mr. Rawlin wi call a. your house
on next Saturday afternoon at three
O'Clock, with a carriage, and we trust you
will without further opposition, allow
to child TO depart with him.
In ase you still refuse to give up the
child, Mr.. rawlings has Instructed US TO
take immediate legal action to obtain ros-
sessi u OF his son and we are informed
that proper legal proof aS TO the identity
OF the boy will be hereafter adduced.
We are, gentlemen.
''iOur Obedient ser ants,
'B.ACxETT n WTGGESs.
But Beatrice was by far the most agi-
tated OF the part Fer cheek grew white
tho hand which she nee anically held out
for the letter trenbled. herbert gave her
the isto AIRY bomb-shell, and whilst she
read It the two brothers ga2ed at each
other In that sa ~ calm and Grayely re-
Elective way at times ma ural to men whose
minds are made up that a peculiar path 4
duty must at all cost be trod 'en 10 the
end. When such gaze passes from man
TO man { strengthens the feet of each to
tread the stony course.
Beatrice read the letter twice. Without
a word she returned II TO Herbert; then
she walked across the room 10 the re-
place and stood for some minutes tap
ping her foot upon the fender. Her
back b'ing turned TO the Talberts
they could not see the su rene emo
ton by her contracted brow and in
every line Of her set white face. Had they
Ell it they woul have been more than
surprised they would have been shocked.
It ong emotion was a thing to be shown
by well-bred persons only under the most
intense provocation. In this ,ase it was
uncalled for.
Presently the girl turned to them. 'You
have quite made up your minds TO yield to
these people threat she rs >ed. There
was curious, strange sound in her voice.
I'VE can do nothing else, answered
Horace. Herbert nodded sad assent to
his brothers view OF the case.
Nothing else! echoed Beatrice with a
touch of scorn in her voice What ght
can these people have to the boy 1t is not
theirs. Tn lie Horace, Uncle Herbert, Oh
can remember how he was sen here. How
beautifully dressed he was-how thorough
ly cared for. Can you. can anyone for a
moment imagine him as belonging to such
persons What are they Fork butchers,
you SAIL
"PFN eyors.' interrupted Horace who
loYed to be precise.
chow is il possible he can be their
child urged Leatrice.
''People in any station o. life may have
children, my dear, said Herbert, uttering
the trui m like newly-found proyerb OF
Solomon.
'And, laid Horace, speaking more to
the point, ",he broad fact remains that
they claim the child and are prepared to
make that claim good before the magis-
tra,es.
Before the magistrates, my dear Bea
trice, "echoed Herbert, dutifully accepting
his brother version of the law.
'rell /, EN- TO do so-tell them to prove
their right said Beatrice.
The bro theirs held up their long shapely
hands N horror. My dear Beatrice
said Horace, with the solemnity of
bishop rebuking a curate. for heavens
sake be reasonable. How can we possibly
appear before & bench AMI contest this
claim? Fancy the talk the ridicule You
must see the utter absurdlty Of your sug-
gestion-the utter impossiblity of our
compliance.
"Yes, Beatrice, am sure you must see
it." sa Herbert.
But Miss Clauson still continued un-
reasonable. She even returned to the
attack, 81 do not see it at all" she said.
'If this man lal claim to one OF your
fields you would not give 1t up
"A field does not arrive unexpectedly
in the middle of the night, said Horace
mot humorously, but as one who states
a simple fact.
Take better smile, my dear" said
Herbert suppose you picked up SOW
ereign on the street and a man came up
and swore IL was his. Although you
IN ght have cry reason TO doubt his as
sertion, on would, l am sure, give 1t up
In order to avoid unseemly dispute.
81 don't think should, said Beatrice
dehantly.
'Oh, yes, my dear. you would" said
Horace grayely.