The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-04
CHAPTER XIX.
HAND N HAND.

sick. aud early that evening Or. Heron,
with Squire Warren in the carriage, had
called for Babe. Sam was very low, and
the old doctors face wore a look OF i'm
portance when he said that the sick man
had asked 10 see Babe and the magistrate
st once, but be made no explanations.
When the clock struck 10 Mr.. Lorraine
wound up his watch. lit his lamp and
started for his own room. There was
light tap at the door. He opened it and
Ira walked in. The old gentleman saw
that he was pale and nervous and that his
eyes glittered with suppressed excitement.
His hat was soaked with rain and his
clothes were dripping In his hand he
carried a square package well wrapped.
He shook hands hastily with Mr.. Lorraine.
"Where are Babe and Nancy" ne asked.
Both away" said the old gentleman,
and he looked at the young man inquir-
ingly.
II saw through the window that you
were alone can We 90 10 your room or
somewhere where no one viii see me?'
yes but come and hang your over
coat and hat by the kitchen fire"
''No, never mind them, | want to see
you"
Without reply Mr.. Lorraine led the way
10 his room.
Talk low and no one will hear you
here" he said.
How is she ?-Babe, / mean-when
will they be back" IraspOke stumblingly,
and under mental restraint.
"Shs is well. DIR. HERON has driven her
over 70 see Sam Specifies, who is sick;
Nancy has been gone week, nursing
him"
Ira hung up his Overcoot and hat, and
sat for some time silent and distracted.
Mr.. Lorraine quietly removed the wet and
dripping garments to the kitchen
The young man hardly knew how to
begin. Babes unexpected absence dis
arranged the carefully planned manner in
which he had expected 10 tell his i'm
po-tant news, ana the familiar objects
that surrounded him on every hand al
most unnerved him. This was his OLD
home-Babe's home too, as yet, and he
must steal in and out of it like thief IN
the night; like any common criminal. He
thought that he had schOoled himself to
face these things for this probably the last
time, but the cherries night, the coy
home the evidence of Babes late presence
overcame him. lie nearly broke down.
Mr. Lorraine watched with his piercing
ewes the sad and troubled face, but kept
silent.
Ira shaded his eyes and asked falter-
ingly when will the marriage take
place, Mr.. Loraine?'
'Eh? oh. very soon ] understand"
And he thought, poor fellow he has heard
OF 1t someway bat ne ought 10 have had
sense enough 10 have given up Laura
Warren long ago.
For some time neither of them spoke.
Ira was forgetting the object OF his COM
ing but he was brought back to it by
question.
what can do for you?" asked Mr..
Lorraine
Ira reused himself. Il want to ask YOU
question and / want straight answer"
be SAID bluntly.
81 am not in the habit of answering
questions otherwise" said the gentleman
a little stitily, what DO YOU want to
know"
How much do you think of Babe?"
Mr.. Lorraine stared at him. 81 suppose
you have reason Tor asking and l will
answer you. There is 10 one l care SO
much for; perhaps there is no one else 1
really do care for Vow I want 10 know
WHY you ask me this"
Because" said Ira, solemnly. "she is
your granddaughter Mr.. Lorraine
turned little pale; for an instant he was
startled and his eyes blszed, but he had
q strong viii and good sense. This Young
doctor certainly did have mental aberra-
tiOns; he was undergoing one now. He
smiled cOmpassionately. Il should be
glad TO have you prove that" he said
IN soothing voice. Ira knew the mean
ing of the smile and the calm re-
ply He said: You think Pm crazy but
] am not and never was one moment.
You want proof" lie arose and took the
wrappings from the tin box and standing
by It, continued: when You were clerk
oil the boat running between Panama and
San Francisco, you married an actress;
your wife ran away to Australia taking YOUR
child, and died on the passage. The child
lived and was brought up By family of
chow people. She married very young
aad became Dora Lorraine Fielding. Do
you recognize these letters?"
Mr.. Lorraine seized the letters and
glanced them over. My God" he ex-
claimed, "this may be true" and strOn e
willed man as he was, he sank back help
lessly into his chair.
There are other papers here to prove
what have said. and you can learn more
by writing or visiting this woman" said
Ira, and ne wrote out the address OF Mrs.
La Grange.
Il thought the child died with her
mother" exclaimed the excited old GEN
tleman, "but do you know, ! was first at
trected 10 Babe because her mothers name
was Dora, the same as that OF my lost
child" For some time he nervously ex-
Rmined the box OF papers. Many of them
were discOlOred with age and his mind be-
came absorbed Ia the remembrance OF
that past that bad also grown dim and
faded with the long years.
Ira recalled Mr. Loraiue's answer to his
question OF a short time before. 50 they
were 20 be married soon. He sighed deep
l.. No, he had not the forlitude he had
thought. Tne old loved home the my
riads OF familiar things that reminded him
of her wherever lie lOOEed-it was too
much 10 bear. He vas an outcGsta and wan
Gsrer and II would be better TO leave at
once. before ne broke down comp etely,
for hs must 90 back TO his lonely, dreary
life He blamed himself for not having
trusted the box 20 the express company.
He summoned al his forlitude--it was
best not to meet Babe at all.
He went and cot IA : coat and hat and
came back.
"Good-by, Mr. Lorraine" he said.
Absorbed in the papers Mr. Lorraine had
been obliyi0us to his movements He
looked up. No, no, Ira, you must not 90
not out into this storm" he said, anx-