Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-10-03

70 welcome could not be prevailed upon
TO notice him, or enticed to Leave his
mothers arms.
Excuse hin; he is so tired" pleaded
the young mother, reading the disappoint-
ment on her father-in-law's face
''Well, we'll on TO bed with him, then.
Bring him to me bright and sm.lingfn the
morning
Bright and smiling! Somehow the words
struck ne-even haunted me-they were
so totally inapplicable 70 Charlie. | tried
to remember if had ever seen a smile
upon that grave baby face, but tried in
vain.
When I entered Lord Wel5ury's room
next day-my presence there at nights was
now dispensed with-the old man, ID
dressing-gown and slippers. was reclining
in an easy chair. In front of him stood
Mrs. Wilton, with Charlie clinging to her
long black draperics.
Come here, Gray" exclaimed his lord
ship, irrirably. II cannot get my grand
son TO notf'e me- What is to be done"
Charlie is shy He mas been used to nc
one but me, +" murmured the mother, rails
ing her eyes with an appealing look il
them to mine.
Madam, fear you are spelling him, l"
said Lord Welbury, sharply. THE other
child took to me at once but this"
send for the other, sir" l suggested,
and presently THE little heir" with whom
had previously made acquaintance, was
brought in by his nurse. The latter sat
down in a far corner with some knitting.
The child-as apparently he had been &C.
customed TO do-ran to the old man and
scrambled at his knee. Il love lou, love
'ou." he cried.
Lord Welbury's face was radiant.
Now, Charlie, my man, said he, as the
other child, after his aiTecuonate greet
ing, scampered oil 20 play beside his nurse.
Charlie was placed on his grandfather's
knee
SAY I love YOU" whispered Mrs.
Wilton, as she tried to clasp her own child's
arms about Lord Welbury's neck
SAY, I love on, - echoed the boy, me
chemically; then dropped his head and lay
quite placidly as though he slept
"Ha, hal the young rascal He's max.
ing himself at home at last" observed
Lord WelOury, well pleased. "And now
that I come to see him more closely, he's
not unlike what his father was at the
same age, only quieter DO you know he
almost strikes me as being a little dull!
Have YOU found him 50, madam"
81 have been too ad a companion for
him, sir. | know-I feel it now" sighed
the poor mother, her eyes wandering from
her own boy to follow the antics of the
merrily about the room
n,
Welbury, putting Charlie of his knee
"let the two Youngsters romp together
warrant they will make friends if let
alone.n
And in order to try the experiment we
three sat apart and kept up some desultory
talk. This lasted but a short time, how
ever. 1t was broken in upon by a startled
cry from the younger boy, Georgia Nho,
apparently terror-stricken, rushed across
the room.
Naughty boy!-naughty boyl Send
him away He's making faces at mem
cried the spoiled child in an outburst Of
passion, pointing with outstretched finger
at his little companion.
The nurse dropped her knitting and rose
Instantly. 1--WE seen it from the first, !"
she said, calmly confronting Us. ''The
child is half an IDIOT my lord
All eyes were turned TO poor Charlie,
who stood among some broken toys, his
features distorted into the CHASTITY sem
bance Of a smile
Mrs Wilton. running to her boy, shield
ed him with her arms. MY darling my
darling! Has God no pity?" she cried, aud
bore him from the room. She had prayed
day and night-ths unhappy mother-to
see either smile on her baby's lips or o
tear in his eye, and hitherto her prayer
had been denied. It was granted now
The poor dulled senses of the child, reused
into something like activity by the antics
OF his lively playfellow, had caused the
lips to smile. But what a smile
Lord Welbury turned pale. A look Of
disgust not unmixed with anger, settled
on his face.
There is no doubt the boy is imbecile."
he said, as | was about to follow Mrs. VIII
ton from the room. "Dr. Gray, were you
aware of this when you allowed him to be
brought here"
II was not aware of It" replied, readi
w. For the sad fOreboding that first as
sailed me on the lawn at Croft house had
received no confirmation hitherto. But
even If the case is as we fear" | added,
earnestly, lit may be durable"
Excuse me, DOCTOR" he interrupted,
"no man who has seen that child as W
have seen him can have the slightest doubt
but that he is an idiot for life.n
con the contrary, my lord: we must re
gard the mater from another point. Re
member the shadow that rested on his
mother before his birth. Where there is
no hereditary faint
"What then2 On the mere chance of the
child being durable, do you suppose I am
going to leave my money to him? Non' he
cried, excitedly. "My own life is too pre-
oarious for me to delay longer the settling
of my affairs, Ny nieces child is still my
heir l regard the other as non est. For
heavens sake don't let me have my feel
ings narrowed by the sight of that poor
idiot any more. The mother shall have a
handsome annuity pity her"
And that day Lord Welbury made his
WILL leaving his immense fortune AS he
had said.
Once more l returned 10 my country
practice. Mrs. Wilton and Charlie 70 Croft
house.
Never was grief grander in its simplicity