The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-24

Hiss W 8yDo uEtW cClQfY away ITOW the
soft hold. ..You can speak plainly. You
mean John Boughton. He never has said
that be wished me TO be his wife,"
-, He Is afraid OF your money" said Mrs
Wayne. with energy. You know that he
on his wife. He cannot ask you to 60 to
that ranch in Texas. Would you 90 to it,
to herd sheep aud cooki Womb your"
Margaret laughed. lyon would, you
dear, romantic woman. belong to another
generation. i have ambition. / think /
could hold a salon in Rome such as we read
Of In the old times. Besides"-witn a sud
den sob-"he never asked me 60 herd
sheep" She kissed her mother passion
ately, and hurried out of the room
Mrs ayne mechanically took up her
embroidery. She always worked at her
embroidery at this time In the afternoon.
But. was she to go on fussing with hosses
and patterns when Maggy was selling her
self for title. and David was going to
rum! She dropped her silks and began to
cry and shiver. Ii she could do aDything
The evils were so great. 80 terrible and she
was helpless. She started up pale and
trembling.
Prsyf IL He loved his mother Mary He
wonld hear mother who was trying TO
save her children. He would hear. She
went to her own room and locked the door.
When Mrs. Wayne joined her children in
the afternoon In the library there was a
bright expectation In her mild blue eyes,
She was SO sure that He would hear and
answer. Tomorrow would be Tn nksgiv-
ing Perhaps then Magsy would tell her
that she had given mp this marriage, and
David would suddenly become again the
good. pure boy he was once. God was all
p0werful; he could make this come to ppss.
1t was at this moment that the great
event of her life happened to her. 1t was
colo. rainy afternoon. log fire burned
on the hearth. David and Margaret sat
before 1t busy with their newspapers and
books. Mrs Wayne moved restlessiy abont,
taking down n volume from the shelves.
glanciDg into 1T and replacing It. One of
these was dusty old copy of Montaigne.
She opened 1t, walked to the window, her
back to the room. and stood there so long
that Margaret said
What are you pulling over, Mammal
Can help yOuf"
Mrs. Wayne did not speak for O minute
or two. Then she went to the shelves and
put MOntaigne back IN his place.
1T is very-dusty," she said In q faint
voice. looking at her hands. But you can
not help me. Nobody can help me-" walk
ing the floor.
Mother. are you ilI'D said David. start
"Illi No. child. II must wash my
hands,"
An hour later David saw her coupe drive
to the door. A cold rain was falling. He
stopped her in the hall. why do you 60
out In such weather, Motheri" He was
always fond and careful of her, She caught
his hand. smiling.
81 must see Mr. Banks. 1 am going to
town."
Il will wire him to come up. Or cannot
i attend TO the busnessf"
mo. no; must d o il! / can d o something
now Send for him 10 come at once,
David"
She went back to her room and did not
return to the library until the lawyer
came. David and Margaret were there
when he arrived.
When their mother entered they rose.
''Stay, children" she said. This is thing
that concerns you. / want to know
that you think l am taking the best
course"
Mr. Banks looked at her. There was q
decision in her voice that startled him.
He often had boosted that she was the
ideal woman client. She never fused nor
asked questions nor thought for herself.
She even drew her regular income apollo
getically, as If she were borrowing the
money from him.
She seated herself and handed him q yell
low paper. Il found that to-day" she
for you. You must go TO work at once"
AN old bill. ehp putting on his spec
tacles.
She did net answer, and he read the
glanced OF her sharply and then OF the Curl
Gus faces of her children, and turned to it
AGAIN. He was b"sn- witted man. lie
understood il already. If 1t was genuine,
1t meant poverty for her and her children,
and, in consequence, ruin for himself.
"Where did you find this. MADAME he
said at last. In n careless tone.
'In an old book of which my brother
was fond. 1t :, has probably never been
"Do yon know what it isl" turning to
David: Have you seen Iti"
at purports to be letter from your un-
cle Mr.. Peter Boyce, to q woman. Emma
speaks of their child. The letter appar.
emily was written but never sent. The
woman was living under an assumed
name at Flushing. New Jersey"
''My uncle was never married. exclaimed
"That is the ground that we shall stand
on certainly" said Mr.. Banks. This let
ter may be q torgery-part of q scheme OF
some woman who means to black-mail the
"Oh, nov said Mrs Wayne's gentle voice;
cit 10 not q forgery. That is Peters writ
ing. And the letter must have been there
dust / remember Emma Vitry. She was
my mothers maid. Cuban. and very
pretty girl"
"She and her child are probably dead
long ago." said the lawyer, cor they would
have made claim at the time of Mr..
Boy ces death-even if there had been no
legal marriage"
David, who had kept silence until now,
| stepped hastily forward.
but If they are not dead, and il the mar
rage was legal-what thenW
Mr.. Banks laughed uneasily. lyon
young people do leap over such great CULTS
of i'm ssibilities." he said.
lyon do not answer my question, sir2"
81 will answer 1t, of course. Mr. Boyce
left no will. Your mother inherited as the
only living relative. If he had O legiti-
mate child. and 1t 10 still living, it is the
herr
ITO oil of his propertyf"
"To all of his property. But what a
| trouble you are basing upon nothing An
| old scrap of writing about q hypothetical
wife and child"
There was an uneasy silence.
lyon might have thrown the paper INTO
| that fire. mamma" said Margaret, with a
nervous laugh, land nobody would have
| been q bit the WISER"
I "Maggyl" exclaimed David.
Your sister is only joking, my son, said
| Mrs. Wayne. ave must find that poor
| child, Mr.. Banks"
"Yes. certainly. madam. The child (if
there ever was such child is an adult
now If it has any claim upon your estat Q
| it will press it. or course. The onns of
| proof rests upon the claimant. We con-
| test. He Tor shel may not be able to keep
up sucn q costly war. and at worst we
| compromise, cheaply enough"
81 don't quite follow you" said Mrs.
! Waype. gently. III Peter has n living
| child. of course / shall give up the prop
erty to it,"