Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-08-18

he had lived to grow up. I've looked
Tor him so long" she added wistfully,
"all the world over, think: I'd never
found anything like him yet"
She parted the boughs and looked
out. Dody and Doune came dancing
through the shadows hand in hand.
their voices preceding ,:lem as they
came. DOune was imprea.ing on DOdy
that the latter did not understand rid
dies, ard therefore was not competent
to propose to their mother: but D0dv
maintained d contrary opinion, and
pleaded to be given trial. Though
to be sure" he added, with a shout of
glee, ''mummvll uergr guess ill.,
Suddenly the bOuLhs were thrust
aside, and Hester, stepping out, ran to
the startled children, and down she fell
on her knees before one of them, and
Rugged him all up together TO her
breast, then put him from her. gazing
wildly on his features. then pushed the
clustering hair from his brow. and
caught one Of his little hands and twin
ed il round her neck, then dropped her
brow on his soft neck. My child. }"
she cried in a voice of rapture-''it's
my child come back to me from the
dead!'
DObg ONlCGCl1Cu HIS dI Ills LOW dIu MAI
cap. "Mdmma!2 he said, scared bv
HeSters wild look and feverish clutch;
she iOOSed him ana looked up. a CLEAN
as Of heaven shining athWart her face.
do you hear?" She said; 1T was not
my baby that Janet drowned in the
pOOl-eyeS, lips, hair, all are my child's;
she told me lie, but I'll forgive her,
and he knows his mother"
Mummy" cried Dody, once more
struggling to escape, while Madcap,
fearing to permit the illusion to con-
tinue, yet dreading to awaken her from
it, knelt down beside the poor distrauht
woman and said:
1T is not your little baby-but you
shall love him as you willard ne will
you"
Over Hester's face look of awaken
ing came-slOWly her arm relaxed, and
DOdy raj 10 clutch his mothers neck,
while with his little soft hand he patted
her cheek and kissed her fondly. "Mum-
N.Y." he said, ''dcHr mummy"
He calls you mother, 100" said Hes
ter slowly; but ne is mine, mine
speak, or [ shall 90 mad" she cried,
Selling Madcap's arm; 8. IS he not mine?"
No" said M2dcap gently; The is my
child-it is a chance resemblance that
has miSled yOu."
"a chance resemblance" cried Hes
ter in terrible tOne; The is either my
child or my cLjId's brother-and you
are his mother? OhI it is impossible
he is mine, say. And who are you
what are you-that you say you are has
qlOiber?"
For a moment her eyes seemed flames
that drank up Madcap'S tears of pity
t'l = n q 10 hD
My husband is Mr.. Eyre" said Mad
cap, feeling as though IIaster's eyes
beckOned her over a hideous precipice,
at whose base life. love and happiness
must needs be shattered for ever more.
Neither had perceived Frank ap-
preaching with steps that devoured the
distance, but at this moment he reach
ed them, and Selling Hester by the arm,
lifted her from the ground, and with
out q word dragged her away.
Poor o0man," said D0dy, looking
after them; Il hope he won't hurt her.
Wonder if that's the one daddy punish
ed the other day, eh, mummy?0
Mother" said DOune, returning
from a prolonged chase after yellow
butterfly, we've got ariddle to ask you:
WHATS q cat got, no other animals
got?'"
Not none" cried Dody, dancing
about with delight. ION, she'll never
guess it, not never!"
Their voices pierced her heart. she
looked down at the two little upturned
faces without word; she seemed to see
three, not two, and the father of all
three Was-was-"
''She can't guess it" said Dody'5
voice, sounding in her ears as from a
great way Off, don't you see how hard
she is trying, and She can't? Why,
mummy dear, kittens, to be sure!''