The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-01-24

II hope so. What will she say to her
naughty little grip"
81 know came the confident reply; 'she
will look at me as if she is going 10 beat
me, and then she will cry, like she does
when ask about papa"
But any further condolences were checked
by the arrival of the cab at the police
station. The interview was not, however,
entirely satisfactory. A stern looking but
kindly guardian of the peace, replying to
Grahams questions, vouchsafed the inior-
nation that no less than FIVE people had
visited the station during the previous
night in search of lost children Ii was y
common occurrence enough, though usually
the children We're speedily found. In his
perplexity Graham suggested that if the
officer saw Miss Nelly he might perchance
be able TO give some information. In
answer to which the constable shook his
head doubtfully. Directly he saw the
child his stolid face frightened.
"Bless me, Of course know her!' he
exclaimed. "My wife keeps lodging
house, and this young lady's mother lives
in the same street. can give you the
address if you like, sir, or | will take
charge Of her"
Graham demurred to this proposal for
two reasons-(1) because he felt Il strange
reluctance in parting with his tiny friend;
and (2) he felt some curiosity to see the
mother
The house TO which he found himself
directed was by no means striking looking
one, nor by any stretch Of imagination
could it be called aristocratie. There was
about it general air of pretentious seedi-
ness-dingy curtains, and windows more
or less grimy, in contrast to a new red
front; house to be summed up in the
expressive expression, shabby -genteel'
such an abode, in fact, as is usually
affected by those who have "seen better
days" In answer to the bell, and on
inquiring for Mrs. Gray, swarth domestic
vouchsafed the information that she was
in, compiled with a side whisper to Miss
Nelly containing the dire intelligence
that she would "catch it," Mrs Gray
was not yet down, Graham discovered,
having been out very late the previ-
Gus night in search of her child. In
answer to an invitation, Graham followed
the dusky maid up the innumerable stairs
leading to Mrs. Gray's room, and sat him
self down patiently to await her coming.
He had ample time to note the common,
hard furniture, the uever-failing, neutral
tinted Brussels carpet, and the dim looking.
glass, termed, by courtesy, mirror, over a
mantei decorated with those impossible
blue shepberdesses, without which no Lon
don lodging house is complete. Some wax
flowers under glass case and a few play
bills scattered about completed the adorn-
ment of an apartment calculated to engender
suicidal feelings in the refined spectator.
Graham had time to take in all this, and
at the moment when the mans natural
impatience began ta assert itself, a rustic
of drapery was heard and Mrs. Gray entered.
She was tall and fair, in age apparently
not more than twenty five years, with fine
open face, its natural sweetness chastened
by the presence of some poignant sorrow.
As she saw the child a bright smile illu-
minated every feature, and she snatched
Miss Nelly to her arms, covering her with
kisses; indeed, so absorbed was she in this
occupation that she failed to note Graham's s
presence until Nelly pointed in his direc-
ton. Then, and not till then, she looked
up to him, her eyes filed With tears. His
back being to the light, his features were
to be seen but indistinctly.
"T have to thank you deeply" she said,
and her voice was very pleasant to the
listener. "You will pardon mothers
selfshness. All night"
Graham, at first halfdazed, like man
in dream, came quickly forward, and
with one bound stood by the speakers side
He had turned toward the light She
could distinguish every feature now
"What Nellyr'
Lance -
For few moments they stood in kind
of dazed fascination; the eyes of each fell
upon each Others face. But gradually the
dramatic instinct inherent in woman, and
carefully trained in her instance, came to
Mrs. Gray's assistance. With a little
gesture of scorn, she drew her skirts
little closer around her, and as her cold
ness increased so did Graham's agitation
"Well, what have you to say to me"
she asked, with quiet scorn. "Have you
any excuse to offer after all these years
What no words, No apology, even, for the
woman you have wronged so eruelly?"
''I did not wrong you-not intentionally,
at least" said Graham, with an effort
"No, there has been no forgetfulness; my
memory is as long as yours. 1t seems
only yesterday that 1 returned from Paris
to find my home empty, and proofs, strong
as Holy Writ, of your flight.
"And you believed? You actually
believed that Il Shall | condescend to
explain to you how received letter to
| sar Won were luinr there ut the nnint nf