Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-01-21
CHAPTER XVI
LONDON.


fate and ask her."
CHAPTER XVI
LONDON.
Harry Evesham almost gave the
whole thing up in despair before he had
been a month in London.
1t was wild-goose chase, for all the
clews he had wherewith to trace the
Identification of an infant wait, tossed
on the waves of humanity nearly TWEEN
ty years ago, were:
1. The case containing the effects of
Ambrose Arlington, as found in his
room after his demise.
2. A parchment label attached to a
silk cord.
3. A case containing the clothes worn
by Wanda Arlington on the voyage, and
those afterwards discovered in her
trunk.
4. Two photographs-one of Wanda
Arlington as child, the other recently
taken.
5. A pale coral necklace.
6. A gentleman's gold watch.
z. The deposition of Sarah Wilkins.
8. Copies of all dispositions taken at
the coroner's inquest.
9. Mrs. Evesham's written narrative
of events attending her guardianship
of Wanda.
And these were all.
He interviewed scores of Arlingtons
without success, consulted old files of
newspapers, and advertised for the bap-
tismal registration of any such infant.
No good.
Then it suddenly occurred to him that
he ought to see the sister-in-law, Mrs.
Wilkins, in her evidence had stated to
have been in her company at the time
she had received the child.
Referring to Mrs. Evesham's notes he
found that she lived at Repton and Der
byshire, nor when he got there had he
much trouble in discovering her. for she
was hOuSekeeper to Rev. Silas Swart-
house, perpetual curate of the parish.
1t was some time before he could in
duce her to talk about anything but her
brother and hers brothers wife, who
were doing SO nicely in Wisconsin. and
who had invited her to join them. For
a time Harry pleaded in vain that Wis
consin was long way from New York.
and that it was quite possible that, no
matter how good a carpenter Mr.. Will
lzinS was, his fame had never reached
him.
but his wife says he keeps carriage
of his own and a pair of horses, just
like the squire do; that he bought her
real silk dress last ChristInas-just sit
still one minute, young sir, and III get
her letter and read you all about that
dress; why"
But Harry was desperate.
lone moment, Mrs. Wilkins. Never
mind the dress just now; for haven't
time to hear about it. ! don't want to
take up your afternoon with gossip, and
should be very glad to remunerate you
for your services if you will give me
your whole attention for a little while"
An American woman of her station
would have scorned the suggestion of
pay for such slight service, but Miss
Wilkins had been reared on a diet of
tips, so she instantly subsidized into re-
spectful attention.
you accompanied your sister-in-law
to Liverpool when she sailed for
American
(Which / did, SIR
''And you were present when a lady
committed to her charge a baby grip
(Which most certainly were, sir, an
if it hadn't been for me she'd never have
taken that child
Did you ever see the lady before that
day you met her on the Liverpool land
ing stage?"
Never"
''Have you ever seen her since?''
Eyes, twice.
''Ah."
''Once, sir, on the eve of the day my
sister-in-law sailed: once in London,
five years afterwards
''Please, Miss Wilkins, give me the
particulars of these meetings. Try and
recollect every incident connected with
them, for l would not miss the most
trihing circumstance.
well, sir. I'm not likely to forget
anything, for 1 was much put out both
times
How was that?"
"WeH, you see, I was going to the
station to take the train home after see
ing Susan off in the ship. when who
should l meet coming straight towards
me but the lady as gave US the child
She was a fine, handsome young madam
as ever l see, an she was stepping out