The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-28

OF the C0llO uedtu, anu tnat WnlCu Wdh
hers as his guardian during his minority,
passed away.
She cared very little, for her heart
was broken by this second blow, and
with what little remained to her she left
the house endeared to her by such fond
recollections, plainly seeing that the new
heir was glad to have her go. He had
always hated his brothers wife, "that
Yankee woman"
That was five years before. Time had
softened her sorrow, but life had little
to offer her. She had loved too well to
well to marry again. Her parents were
dead and she had been an only child.
She had travelled quietly over Europe
during these years. and had now re-
turned to dwell in her native land, bring
ing her maid p oebe with her.
The girl now knelt on the floor play
ing with the child. pretty little fellow,
we'll cared for as to cleanliness.
"Why does she beat you 80, darling p
she asked. "How could any one strike
him, ma'sm p
"Heaven knowns," said Lady Vernon.
Phoebe, he is just the age my boy would
have been, think" Her tears began to
fall.
A foolish fancy that the child was like
her lost son came into her mind.
Trouble softens tie brain, / fancy"
she said to herself.
The child played with Phoebe for an
hour, and then the girl conveyed a mes
sage to the janitress that Lady Vernon
would like to have him come up when
ever he chose, as she had taken fancy
to him.
The old English woman, overawed by
the fact that great lady patronzed the
child, beat him no more, and sent him
up stairs as fresh and tidy as hands could
make him. She had at least the virtue
OF cleanliness. and hour after hour the
child played in the tasteful apartments
Of the dear good lady as he called her,
showing no trace of the ob,tinacy oil
which his grandmother accused him.
He was gentlemanly little fellow land
n .ver broke what he was allowed to play
with; and Lady Vernon, who fancied
her heart had grown cold since the OBJ
ject of her alteration had been torn from
It, found herself once more warmly at
tached to living creature.
She began to wish that the child be-
longed to her, and from that went on
saying to herself that he might. She
could adopt the boy perhaps; remove
him from his grandmother's influence
educate him and bring him up as heI
son. He was one to do her credit. Yet
any mother will understand how moth.
er would shrink from putting another
in her dead sons place. 1t seemed like
treachery to that other nearer and dear.
er one. and Lady Vernon hesitated, and
indeed abandoned the idea more than
once only to recur to 1t again. She strove
hard not to love the child, but her hear
was beyond her control,
Little Martin crept into IL though she
strove to Danish him by the thought oi
her baby Roderick, whose grave was in
the sea. One day to steel herself against
this new love by memories Of her boy.
Lady Vernon took from the depths oil
one of her travelling trunks box, ir
which she kept Roderick's toys. She
turned them over and over, and tears fell
upon them.
mo, my baby she said, 81 will moi
have another son to take your place.
will not" Then she cried out to Phoebe
"Ah, Phoebe, here is the mandarin he
loved 30 ! He had the head in his hand
| WUeU tD6 uuTo6 lelt ullu Ou bho ohOiO
Oh. Phoebe y
"Dear heart. 80 he had," said Phoebe
"He used TO take the head out Away"
At that moment little Martin ran into
the room. lie espied the box of toys
aud rushed towards it.
"You must not touch them," said
Phoebe. They are dear little Master
Roderick's and he is is dead" And she
drew him back.
For the first time the child showed the
temper the jini,ress had credited him
with.
They are mine ~ he said.
He ran up to Lady Vernon again and
caught her arm. -,
Say he cried, 'they are mine u
and suddenly he saized the mandarin in
both hands and dashed out Of the room
with it.
Lady Vernon stared IN amazement.
The toy he had clutched was 10 her eyes
sacred relic of her dead son.
"Stop him, PHOEBE !" she gasped. He
is bad child--a rude little creature af-
ter ALL"
Phoebe started in hot pursuit, but the
child was already back again. He had
avsiled himself of the elevator, which
was just coming up. He was radiant
smiling. his cheeks aglow.
"See r. he cried to Lady Vernon; and
presented her with the china mandarin,
DO longer headless. but wearing his
round, smiling face, his arched eyebrows
and his braided pig'sil again,
"That is ju-t what he wanted" added
little Martin.
Lady Vernon had never tainted In her
life, or she would have done so then.
She was bewildered, terrified.
She examined the mandarin closely.
She was positive that the head he wore
had originally belonged to him. Besides
the toy was not an ordinary one to be
matched IN every shop.
This was the head that had been in her
child's hand when he was left by his
nurse upon the beach. She looked st
Martin sgain.
"Where did you get that ?" she asked.
1T is mine," said the child, "and SO
are all those"
Lady Vernon was trembling from head
to foot. A moment more and she had
sent for the ,nitress. ..-....
The woman came at once.
"Where did your grandson get this p
the lady asked, pointing to the NADIA
rian's head.
"The chauy head. He has always had
it," said the old woman. "It fits the
image; bu', indeed, think he is nc
thief. Anyway, it's been with hin
since bad him."
when did you get him?' asked Lady
Vernon. Where? whose child Is he
You call him your grandson-is he really
SOP
The woman hesitated. Then she an
swerd slowly.
mo, my lady; I've nothing to do with
him. any way. He's nobody g child I've
always thought. William aud me never
had any children--we married late in
life--and one day gentleman William
had been groom to come 20 him. Tn
: going to be married, William, says he
'and there's boy Id like to get out ol
the way. I've been little wild. and
you understand ? And William, Of
course, thought he did. 81 he told Will
liam that he'd give him sum Of money
to take the child to America and cal
him his grandchild-snd it was enough
to open public house with, and thai
: was williams ambition. SO he paid the
money and we got the boy the day We
went aboard ship, five years ago thu
; autumn. He cried a good deal and
wanted his mother-some light of love
I A. = II