Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-03-03


an unqualified fact, and an established
fact. And facts, you know, are stub
born things!"
'Of course" Mrs. Maynard resumed,
In the same cold, constrained tone,
''you have taken the precaution of sat
isfying yourself with indisputable
proofs of her identity, before accepting
her as the heiress?''
ooh, most assuredly, have taken
every precaution of that nature. With
in the last thirty-six hours the papers
that establish her identity have all
been in my possession
"Do you know where she is at the
present time?'
Il think 1 may confidently assert
that 1 do" He smiled as he spoke,
looking lzeenly at Mrs. Maynard, who,
however, was unconscious of the
glance.
"Have you brought those papers with
you, Mr.. North-the documentary evil
dence of which you spoke?"
Il have not brought them with me.
They are not now in my possession"
'Tndeed! May inquire where they
are?'
"They are probably now in the hands
| of Mrs Dunllirk's attorneys and eXecu-
tors, Messrs. Hunter and Ketchum, of
New York"
"Hunter and Ketchum?" She repeated
the words involuntarily. She was for
| the moment startled out of her cold
composure; she looked up at him with
perplexed speculation.
cts perfectly regular proceeding,
Mrs. Maynard, as you will presently
understand" added North, answering
the mute inquiry in her glance. But
we are losing valuable time. Allow me
to proceed without further delay to the
brief narrative of fact"
He drew out his watch as he spoke
and laid it open on the small table at
his elbow. lie had the air of a man de-
termined to accomplish a set task with
in q given time. The ladies waited,
each composed in outward mien, for his
recital.
at was in Baltimore, you recollect,
| Mrs. Maynard" he began, addressing
himself directly to that lady, chat
| Hamilton d uponts death occurred. lie
was q perfect stranger in that city,
having gone thither in search of en-
ployment, leaving his wife and child in
| Charleston. This latter fact, by the
way, corrects q mistaken impression Of
mine. l had always supposed that Mrs,
| Dupont also died in Baltimore, and that
in order to discover any trace Of Annie
the search must commence in that city.
This same idea was doubtless what
baffled Mrs. Dunllirl1's detectives. They
persistently sought in Baltimore for the
child, following up one false cIew after
another, on the theory that if she were
living at all that was the place to find
her. AS matter of fact, neither Mrs.
| Dupont nor the child was in Baltimore
at the time of Hamilton Dupont's death,
| although the published accounts of the
affair gave the impression that they
were there.
GAS you yourself told me, Mrs. May
nard, the poor young wife died soon
after of broken heart; and little An
ME, thus cast upon the cold charities of
the world, found refuge and loving care
in an orphan asylum in that city. She
was received and registered there in
her own name, as ! discovered few
days since on searching the records Of
the institution. The date of this regis
try do not recall it at the moment,
but 1 have u memorandum of it some
| where-cOrresponds exactly with the
date furnished me through another
source; and thus it affords most salts
factory confederation Of my chief docu-
mcntary evidence.
"Now, before the child had been in
the asylum three weeks, a lady who
was then a transient visitor in Charles
ton presented herself at tho institution,
inquiring for Annie Dupont. She soon be-
came convinced that tho child who was
entered by that name upon the books
was the Annie Dupont whom she was
seeking; and, that question settled, she
proceeded to declare her reasons for max
ing this inquiry. She had known Hamil-
ton Dupont and his wife intimately, and
was greatly attached to them both; and
for their sal1es she felt an unusual in
terest in their infant daughter, who
was, am told, at that time remarlza
bly, beautiful child-which l can very
easily believe, having seen for myself
what a charming woman she has be
come"
AS he spoke these last words with the
same air of simple good faith that had
characterized all his previous state
ments, Mr.. Maynard glanced involun-
tarily at Miss Hilary, as if putting his
verdict to the critical test of her own
dispassionate judgment. Miss Hilary
| with eyes OOWnCiSCS WAS UNCONSCIOUS o.
the swift scrutiny, Smiling little as
he observed it, North continues:
This lady furthermore stated thai
she was slightly acquainted with Mrs.
Dunkirk, Hamilton Dupont's sister
'Now'-this is in effect what she said
to the authorities at the asylum
Mrs, Durl<irl1 is a wealthy widow
and Annie, as her only living relative
: has claim upon her which no one
can dispute. But Mrs. DunkirlI is 6
, cold, stern woman, utterly unfit to bc
the guardian of tender child like
Annie. Let me adopt this little one ant
,, rear her lovingly for her own and he1
parents sakCs. Lest MS. Dunkirl
: should discover hCr and t.,y t. take hel
l from me, will concc2! he real name
and call her by my own; not even thu
child herself shall ever know that an
not her own true mother until shall
deem that the proper time has come t.