Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-05-31
A FAMILY AFFAIR.
CHAPTER III (CoxrryrrD,.
~ HUGH CONWAY.


"This is amost extraordinary thingr'
said Horace. THE child is sent by
rail addressed here"
Mr.. hordle read the ticket: II. Tai
bert, Esq, dazlewood House Oakbury,
near Bla ktown.'
Where did you say it came fromP"
asked Here er turning to the stolid
faced porter. Let us hear about it
again.
Guard of five o'clock down, gentle
men; he SAYS child was left IN first
class carriage. Mother got out at
Didcot, and missed the tram or didn't
come back. Guard told me to get cab
and bring the chill here. Said I'd be
paid well for my trouble. Cab was
three and six, gentlemen
There must be some mistake. What
are we to do?" asked the brothers.
Don't expect any visitors, / sup
poseP' asked the curate.
None whatever. You must take the
child away again. said Horace, turning
to the porter. The man gasped.
What am | to do with it, STRIP he
asked.
Lost parcels office" suggested Mr..
4uOIulc Hulclly - Hllldh6T gave MIN
a reprOachful look. The matter was
too serious a one for Jest.
"Cut the label Off" was the curate's
next piece of advice. There NAV be a
letter under it, :"
They took it off. The label was
piece of writing paper gummed on to n
plain card which had been torn or cut
irregularly. No letter was concealed
beneath it. Then they searched the
pockets of the child's little coat, but
found nothing. Their perplexity in
creased.
az II wish you good evening, gentle
men" said the porter. Cab was
three and six" The "Tabbies" were
IN the horns Of a dilemma. The ewes
which could detect the discrepancy in
the unfortunate Mrs. jenkins stock
lngs were able to see that the baby was
well, even very well, clad 1t was Just
possible that letter had miscarried-
possible that some one was coming TO
Hazelwood House without invitation or
notice-that she had really missed the
train at Didcot; that she would arrive
in the course of an hour or two and ex-
plain matters. The safest plan was to
keep Jne cnllu LOT Wnlle.
Having settled this, Horace fished
five shillings out of his pocket and sent
the porter away happy. Thereupon
Herbert produced half crown which
he handed to his brother, who pocket
ed it without comment and as matter
of course. They were not misery men,
but made point of being just and
exact in their dealings with one anoth-
er down to the uttermost farthing.
All the while the little boy, with fat
sturdy legs placed we'll apart, stood
upon the great oak hall table. The
lantern of many colored glass over his
head threw rich warm tnts on his sun
ny hair He seemed in no way shy or
terrified; indeed, if any fault could be
found in his bearing, it was that his
manners were more familiar than such
a short acquaintance justified. AS the
digniied brothers once more bent over
him to resume their examination, he
seized Mr.. Herbert's watch chain in his
chubby fist and laughed delightedly-a
laugh which Mr.. Mordle echoed. He
had long looked for suitable ex-
cuse for expressing his feelings in this
way, The situation was so funny. An
unknown child foisted upon his friends
at this hour of the night! No dirty
beggars brat, but pretty, well
dressed little boy, old enough to pos
sess row of tiny white teeth but not,
it seemed, old enough to give any ex-
PLANTATION of this unwarrantable intru-
sion. The child had such large, bright
blue eyes. such wonderful golden hair,
such fearless and confident ways, that
Herbert, who was fond of children,
patted the bright head and pulled out
his watch that the little rascal might
hear it tick: while Mordle slipped back
to the dining-room and returned with
couple of unwholesome macaroons.
Nearest way to q child's heart
through the stomach" he said, as the
youngster deserted his first friend for
the sake of the sweets.
Horace eyed these advances discon-
tentedly. but what is to be done?"
he said.
Just then the muflled strains of
piano passed through the closed door of
the drawing-room
II should think" said the curate,