Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1890-11-21

| mios aticuoo tWO Hhuus Wcro over
her face; the child was pulling at them
Because" she said, II think you'd
be a very pretty mamma, without that
ugly cap and those big ugly eyes you
know, and that queer hair. Oh, Miss
Patience, Miss Patience, you're crying
But that'd never do for mamma. Now
would it, papa?
Nobody had heard him come in, hui
there he was.
Lilias took his presence as matter
of course.
''Now would it papa ?" she said again
instantly.
Mr.. Ferguson came forward.
~ beg your pardon for entering with
out knocking" he was saying TO Miss
Patience, whose back was toward bin.
but | never supposed the school room
was occupied at this hour. | suppose
the heavy rain drowned my step. II
came pelting down so, Just as | was pass
ing, that | was glad for any refuge -
And then heard the voice Of my little
chatterbox here -"
He broke off, for he was now standing
on the hearth, facing the schoolmistress
Miss Patience had made one hurried
effort to reach out after her discarded
cap and glasses, which she knew, when
she laid them off, that she could easily
adjust at the first sound of the approach
ing wheels of the hall carriage.
But the cap and front had slipped to
the hearth-rug. Mr.. Ferguson had set
his foot Inadvertently upon them.
Feeling something underfoot, and see
ing that the little schoolmistress made
him no manner Of answer, but kept her
face bowed on Lilias' curls, he stopped
and in some amazement picked up the
grizzlcd front.
Certainly he did not know what to do
with it. He looked askance at the school
mistress bowed head. Or was the shin
ing head hers, or was it Lilias' They
both glittered alike, with their wealth Of
golden hair, there in the freight.
He let that grizzled front fall from his
hold. He forgot all about it in looking
on that little schoolmistress.
''Bell!' he said very low "Bell +"
do you mean Lilyboll, papa :" asked
the child.
He did not even hear her.
BELL !" he said again.
This time the schoolmistrcss lifted her
cleaning head. She looked up at him
with eyes wild with pain. Her arm
tightoned about the child.
EYES," she said hoarsely, ~ know
will have to 60 away. know was mad
to come here. | was mad--wild and
mad for glimpse of the child. But
will go away"
He Ame step nearer TO her.
Bell, before you 40 away the second
time demand to know why you went
the first
''You can ask me that p she said be-
tween her sct.teeth. "You i"
~, who have the right to know why
my wife deserts me and her child"
She pressed her eager kisses on the
child's hair, the child who sat aud played
with the great blue spectacles on her
lap, not needing anything of the low
and thrilling voices around her.
II left the child" she answered him,
"bocause l knew [ could trust her ut
least with you. And it was better for
her, she would be quite happy, she
would forget. And---Harold, do you
think | did not care, that it woaid be
better and happier for you to have Lily
BELLS little innocent life in your keep
ing ?"
She held up her loft hand, ringless,
in the fire-light.
THAT night | found had no right to
wear your wedding-ring---'
BELL Are you mad p
"rhat night" she went on, trying to
steady her trembling lips--"that night
that other woman came and told you to
your face that she was Harold Mfergu-
sons wife. Haunting her marriage certi-
ficate before you and daring you TO prove
that she lied"
"Bell And was so sure you had
not seen her p
The poor thing hid her working face
in the ohild's curls.
"And you would condemn me utter
ly p he said; without word, without
giving me chance
"What could be the good Of that---or
of this ?" she answered brokenly. "You
never denied that marriage certificate !;
| could see as much in your stricken
face before | crept out at the library
window on the terrace, where had fall
en- asleep among the curtains, when you
and she came in there. Oh, | never
thought you meant it, Harold !. -
doubt you had married her long BE-
whom you were so young you
knew what you were doing--anu
thought the woman was dead. Mo-
it was all her fault, the--the NJ Il
she looked cruel and wicked
But what else could do than
creep away ITO die, thought
misery does not kill" she erie
with bitter laugh.
"Bell, did you ever hear hal
brother? p
"A brother Never n
"a brother who had fed the country
for the crime of forgery 1t is no wonS
uer tnaI you never neard OF IL. My
proud old father would never let his
name be mentioned among us when y
moved to this distant part of the cot
try, and built our fortunes anew-hef
where no one had ever heard Of they
crime and shame Of Harry Fergus2p.--s
''Iarry-Ferguson 2"
Her voice died in gasp
All, now you sec how you misunder-
stood the name on the certificate, and
how it was a thunderbolt to me.
There was one long, long moment Of
dead silence.
Then Bell Ferguson put her child =
her lap and fell down on her knt
clasped hands raised, her pale ia
go, Lily-bell-ask papa if i,
late indeed-if he could let me como
ka .,A.,- ~