The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
den resolution


There was moment of profound ST.
lence; then, in a hard voice, the old lady
said: Il am sorry to put you to so much
trouble, DR.. Morrill,. This is not the
child we lost"
A heavy fall startled US, and / turned
to see the young stranger senseless on
the floor. Her mother spoke quickly:
THE disappointment is too much for
her. We had SO hoped to find my grand
son."
l did not reply. The delirious raw
lngs of the child were still ringing in
my ears as he pleaded wi III the harsh
grandmother and aunt. 1 did not be-
lieve the old lady's statement, but, hav-
ing no proof to the contrary, was forced
to accept it.
Long after my visitors had departed,
the beautiful blonde still trembling
and white, mother and talked of their
strange conduct.
'1t is evident they want to deny the
child" said.
Il am glad of it," mother replied.
'~" will keep him, John. He shall have
a grandma to love, not one to fear"
SO the summer and early autumn wore
away, and Freddie was dear to us as if
he had claim of kinship. His rare
beauty, his precocious intellect and his
loving heart had completed the fascina-
ton commenced by our pity for his suf-
fering, weakness and loneliness. He
called US Grandma" and "Uncle john"
and chung to us with the most affection
ate caresses.
Being blessed with ample means,
mother and 1 had quite decided to form
ally adopt pretty Freddie when he had
been little longer unclaimed in our
house.
Dennis, my coachman, was very fond
of Freddie, and careful; so 1 was not
afraid to leave my little charge with
him while was indoors, and he was
very happy chatting with the good
natured lriShman and waiting my COM
ing.
1t was early in November, and mother
had dressed Freddie for the first time in
a jaunty suit of velvet, with a dainty
velvet cap over his brown curls, when
one morning / sent him out with Dennis
until | was ready to start.
l was making my final preparations for
departure when I heard a piercing
scream under my window and Dennis
saying: by jabers, she's tainted, the
crather!"
While Freddie cried: "Mamma-pretty
mammal
[ ran out hastily to see an odd tableau
Dennis was supporting in his strong
arms slender figure in deep mourning,
half leaning on the shafts, while Fred
die chung to her skirts, sobbing:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Bring her in, Dennis,' l said.
''I'll do that same, sur" was the re-
ply, as Dennis lifted the little figure
like feather weight and crossing the
pavement came into the surgery. l
shut out the curious people who fol-
lowed, and Freddie chung fast to the
black dress, never ceasing his loud
cries Of ''Oh, mamma! 1t is my
mamma; come home to Freddie! Mamma
pretty mammal"
The sound rang through the house,
reaching my mothers ears as she sat in
her room. She came hurrying down the
stairs and entered the surgery just as
Dennis deposited his burden in an arm
chair. omprehending the situation at
a glance, mother tenderly removed the
heavy Grape vail and bonnet, loosening
a shower of brown curls round marble
white face, still insensible.
At that moment the stranger opened
a pair of large brown eyes, as brown and
soft as Freddie's own, and murmured, in
faint voice: ''Freddie! Did l see nv
boy?'
Then her eyes fell upon the child and
in moment she was on her knees be-
fore him, clasping him to her heart,
kissing him, sobbing over him till moth
er broke out crying, too, and l was
obliged to assume my professional ex-
preston by sheer force of will.
Come, come" I said, gently. Erred
die has been very i'll, and can not bear
so much excitement"
This quoted the motherin an instant,
and she rose, still holding the child's
hand in her own.
at is my boy" she said, looking into
my face.
Freddie" asked, sis this mamma?''
Yes said the little fellow, decided
ly; ''of course it is. My own pretty
mamma, come from Heavenp
''Come from Heavenw she repeated
with ashy lips and gasping breath.
''They told me he was dead, my boy, my
Freddie-that he was run over and
killed! The nurse saw him fall under
the horses feet
''But you see he was not killed."
mother said, in a gentle tone, ''but is
we'll and strong again"
And then, motioning me to keep
silent, mother told the widow of the
child's injuries and recovery, of his
winning ways, and our love for him.
81 must tell you first who I am" our
visitor said. Il am the widow of
Carroll West, who died of cholera in
Liverpool only two weeks ago.
'When l heard he was ill 1 went to
him at once, leaving my boy with my
husbands mother and sister 1 knew
they were not very fond of him, but I
had no choice. I found my husband
very i'll, but he was recovering, when
he had relapse. During all his ill
ness 1 heard only twice of Freddie
once that he was we'll, once that he had
been killed in the street.
81 came home only two days ago, and
they would tell me nothing of where
my boy was buried-nothing but the
bare fact of his death. l-I-oh! do
not blame NEIL was on my way to
the river to end it all, when / met
Freddie
1t would be tedious to tell in detail
all the long conversation that followed.
but, authorized by Mrs. West, l called
unnn her husbands lawuar and there