Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-06-17

upon my knee. embracing me. Wa
were disturbed by knock at the door.
went to the door, and the detsctivo
I had employed stood before me.
"We have found her." he said. curt
ly.
my mother!" l cried.
NO" he replied: 'the other one"
With glad eagerness Pearl handed
me my cap. ~
Good night. dear child" said. kiss
ing her. go to bed at once. and do
not open the door till you hear my
voice. may be out late"
! waited outside the street door till
l heard the key turned. Goodnight"
l cried again. Goodnight, daddy"
she called out; II shall keep awake
till you come home"
"A pretty lass, that daughter of
yours" said the detective. as we walked
away. ! did not undeceive him as to
the relationship. but his remark made
strange impression upon me.
Have we far to go?" aske..
1--WE had better ride. l think" said
he. I'VE are going to Whitechapel."
By the time we reached our destina
tion 1t was nearly eleven. o'clock. But
few words were exchanged. My
thoughts sufficiently occupied me. and
my companion was rot dispose.t to be
loQuacious. Yet l observed him occa-
sionally by the dim light OF a street
lamp regarding me with curious and
thoughtful observance. We stopped at
the corner OF narrow street.
BEST not drive down here" said the
detective. I'm fond of peace and quiet
| ness"
I desired the cabman to wait for us.
and we turned into the street.
"A miserable place for woman to
live in." observed. noticing the signs
Of squallor and poverty around us.
He shrugged his shoulders: he was
more used to the signs than I.
| We paused before one Of the mean
est Of all the mean looking houses.
This is the place." said the detec-
tive. THE woman you want lives on
the third noor-in the garret. in fact.
I'll stop below. You may have some
thing private to say to her."
| He gave mo some loose matches. for
the passage and staircase were in total
darkness. I made up my way slowly
to the top Of the house. never dream
ing Of what In the next few minutes
would be revealed to me. There was
no choice Of doors to knock at when
reached the top landing, for there
was but one. At this I knocked. and
a faint voice desired me to enter.
1t was a large room. with a sloping
ceiling. At the farther end sat a wom-
an. working with her needle. The only
light in the room was supplied by one
thin candle. and my heart was stirred
by pity at the misery of the apartment.
and at the struggle for bare subsist-
ence which that and the aspect Of the
woman presented.
| II hope you will excuse the intru-
sion." said. Eat this late hour; but !
have been directed here in the hope
that you may be able to give me some
information OF my mother. whom
have not seen for years. and OF whom
am in search
The woman rose when commenced
to speak. and stood with her hands
pressed tightly to her bosom. could
not clearly distinguish her features in
the gloom. but 1t was evident she was
strongly agitated.
DO not be afraid of me-" I contin-
ued. II have not come to harm you
in any way. l am sailor. and have
been home but n few days. 1t Is my
mother | am in search OF. Her name
is Beecroft."
The woman staggered toward me
and fell at my feet. Great God! it was
either Mabel's white and fear-strucls
face. or the face of a spirit. that my
eyes rested on as l looked down.
We gazed at each other In terror for
full n minute, and 1t was l who broke
the silence.
"In the name OF God" asked, "who
are you?"
"I am Mabel" she gasped: "your
wife. believed you to be dead! Was
1t not you saw on that terrible night
in The Rising SUM-"
ITO BI coSTISuED.)