People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-02-09

from"
THAT is true; but have great hopes
that some day / shall find out. The
only wonder is to me that hor friends
never took the troul'e to find out the
name of the ship o. which she was
found"
Her friends, indeed! They were
very glad to throw the girl off on US
They knew well enough what she was.
| can easily understand why they
never write to her. They are only too
glad to be rid of her."
what do you mean. Maria?'
81 mean she is the child of a former
slave in Savannah-white father, per-
haps, but negro mother"
1T is simple nonsense, my dear"
Look at her black hair, her black
eyes and dark skin"
May she not be Cuban-or Span
ish?"
His wife turned upon him quickly.
There was peculiar expression of
mingled hope and anxiety in his face,
and she said, after a pause
You can't think that?"
NO; | only begin to hope. That is
all"
1T is wholly improbable, my dear.
Besides, l have it from the best
authority that the girl is of African
descent, and therefore quite unfit to
stay with US. She must be sent away
the moment we land l shall never
consent to open the house to a single
guest while she remains in it. Ishould
die of modification.
ANY guest who entered my house
unwilling to recognize my adopted
daughter would be shown the door.
What authority have you for these in
sinuations?"
81 make no insinuations I only tell
you the truth"
"Who is your authority?"
Mrs. Gearing, shallow and narrow.
minded woman that she was, recog.
nized that her husband was an up.
right and honorable man, judge among
men, and one who would be master OF
his household. Being weak and shifty,
she evaded the question.
Il had it from one who had it from
the people who lived at the light"
who is it?"
why, how persistent you are, my
dear! 1t was Mademoiselle Rochet
who told me-"
"Mademoiselle Rochetm
Eyes Didn't you see how the girl
behaved when she met her? On deck
this morning she was confused and
frightened; and now at lunch she
refused to sit with her at table"
There's nothing surprising in that
Mademoiselle is not the person whose
society l should seek. Singular she
should be crossing the ocean and her
name not on the list of passengers
"She told me about that herself when
| first met her this morning. She ar
rived on board just at the last moment,
too late to be entered on the list"
The Judge made no reply, but rose
and touched the electric bell.
Mercy, Judge! Why do you call a
servant?"
"Pll show you presently. What is
the number of Mademoiselle's state
room?"
81 think it is 60. Yes, it is 60. l
asked her, so that / could call her by
and by to look at one of my dresses. -
John, will you please find out from
the head steward who occupies No 60?
/ think we have an old acquaintance
in that room, but we are not sure of
the name" paSks
The man withdrew, and for a
moment or two neither said a word,
each busy with their own thoughts.
Presently the man returned, and
said,-
"Simpkins says he thinks it is a
Madame Potard The lady's been
quite ill all the way, the stewardess
says. Only left her room for the first
time to-day"
Thank you, John. Sorry to hear
the lady has been ill We shall call on
her"
Mrs. Gearing had nothing to say.
The discovery of the duplieity of her
petted dressmaker mortified her be.
yond expression. She had taken the
woman to her home and almost to her
heart, and now she was travelling
under an assumed name Might not
Madame POtard be her real name?
Might she not be some dreadful crea-
ture with French husband and French
babies?
"Your witness, my dear has no
standing in court"
81 will never speak to the upstart
again"
"Who?-Mai?" ..
"No; this Potard. A married woman.