Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-06-21
A FAMILY AFFAIR.
by HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTER VII.

salt instead sugar into it. Let it then
be no detraction from the Talberts'
general administrative ability, that the
nurs e-grl turned out badly.
They decided TO engage AN older and
sta der body, and being perhaps rather
crestfa len allowed ISIS Clauson TO
have a voice in the matter. One morn
ing n quiet looking, pale-faced woman
waited upon them. che heard that
nurse was wanted and offered her ser.
ces. Character she had none to give,
having been out of service for some
wears; but plenty of people would
speak for her spectaDility. The
alberts were much taken with her
general demeanOr; but hummed
and hawed when they found she did
not come rcd hot from Il place. Hor
ace examined her attentively through
his eyeglass.
Haven't l seen you beforc?' he
asked.
Yes, sir. lived many years ago
with Mr. Merton of Cavendish Square.
You were often at the house"
She said her name was Miller and
that she was a widow She spoke well
and in that respectful. but not servile
l.
could brlng themselves to ret over the
absence of credentials, and deny them.
selves the pleasure OF calling on and
cross examining IA former mistress, they
thought this woman might do.
Beatrice had no doubt about it; and
upon such inquiries as could be made
being answe ed satisfactorily, Mrs.
Miller was inst He'd in the place of the
frail ia lure whose eScapade with the
gardner had lowere the whole moral
tone of the establishment
But Mrs Miller was very different
matter. Miss Clau,on found her per-
icction-nimble-han kind, and eX-
perienced moreover quite qualified TO
fulfill the duties of ladv'S maid when
occasion required. Whitaker approved
of her. She was a coadjutor after his
own respectable heart The first one
to be considered the boy. took to her
as read " as he had taken TO Beatrice.
Horace and HerDert, in spite of the
sharp lookout they kept for a while.
could hnd no flaw in her conduct, and
when at the end of two months they
a,certained that she had used less soap
-four cakes ess than her predecessor
had during her short stay, they began
to think they had acquire a treasure
" or the child looks as clean as
ever said Herbert t. Horace. II
always fit sure that that girl left the
soap in the hot water and forgot all
about it.
The last winter months and tie spring
months passed very quietly at Halle
W, cd House. The Talberts and their
neice' dined occasionally with the best
families in the neighborhood, and in
return the Talbcrts asked the best ia mi
lies 10 dine with them. The seven
DAYS wonder about the boy had almost
died away. Every one of course felt
sure that he was somebody, but no one
knew what body. If there was any
scandal the serene brothers heard it
no.. 1t is true that old Lady Bowker,
a very important parsonage, paid them
q visit on purpos3 to find oat AL about
everything. She had known the Tai
berts as boys, so fit entitled to ask
them point-6lank for an explanation
People who have known YOU as boy
are us a rule great nu sance'.
She told them she wanted to speak
10 them on private business. so Beatrice
left the room Then she turned from
one to the other OF the long-faced
men
"Now. Horace. now, Herbert, what
the meaning of this affair? Who is
the boy you are making such a fuss
aboutP"
81 ont think we ever make fusses,"
said Herbert in deprecating way.
Certainly not" said Horace, with
decision.
''Well, mystt res then we all want
to know who this child really is ID. the
child who came in the dead of night
wrapped up in an anti-macassar or
something-came by Pickford's van, l
am told"
II wish you could tell us Lady Bow
ker. We know no more than you do"
That's all nonsense, Horace. hear
YOU have engaged nurse, and that
the child is to stay with you. think you
are most inconsiderate.
1--WE are never inconsiderate, said
Horace.
Certainly not" said his brother,
Yes, you are. You are in onsider-
ate in not letting at least one safe,
discreet person into the secret. Some
one like myself who could vouch for
you"
eve don't want to be vouched for"
eyes, you do / don't see you are
any better than other people,"
Lady Bowker was growing cross at
their mild obstinacy.
"You are most inconsiderate toward
Miss Clauson. Here, week after she
comes to live with you, this infant
makes its appearance. Of course
people say you were only waiting until
there was a lady at Lakewood House
to look after him."
"They say that, do theyP" asked
Horace, renectvely.
''What else can they sayP i don't
say SO: but then have known you so
long. / say that you have some ex-
cellent reason Tor keeping this child;