The Red Cloud chief., 1897-06-25

The wretched mother, whoever she
was, had indeed chosen wisely when
she had resolved. while Determining
to abandon her infant. to leave It at
the gentle minister's door. Days
passed. and in spite OF Solomon's pro-
testations, 1t was still an inmate Of
the manse. Mysie Simpson under
stood the rearing process well, and
since the child. as she had sYrmised,
had never known the breast. 1t throve
well upon the bottle" The minister
went and came lightly. as IL tile bcr-
den OF twenty years had been taken
from his shoulders: had 1t indeed been
his own offspring he could not have
been more anxious or more tender.
And Solomon Mucklebackit. despite his
assumption Of ~sternness and indlgna-
ton, was secretly sympathetic. He.
TOO. had a tender corner In his heart,
which the child's innocent beauty did
not fail to touch.
One morning, some seven or eight
days after the arrival Of the infant,
when the storms had blown themselves
hoarse, and a dull black thaw had sSc-
ceeded the falling and drifting snow
news cume to The manse that tho body
Of a had been found lying on
the brink Of the Amman, just where Its
waters meet the wide sands OF the
Solway, and mingle with the salt
stream OF the ocean tide. Greatly agt-
tated, Mr.. Lorraine mounted his pony
and at once rode along the lonely high
way which winds through the fiat
reaches OF the Moss. Arriving close
to the great sands, he was directed to
a disused outbuilding or barn, belong
ing to a large ~sea-facing, and standing
some hundred yards above high-water
mark. A group Of fishermen and peas
ant men and ome were clustered al
the door; at his approach the men lift
ed their hats respectfully, and the
women courtesied.
On making inquiries. the minister
learned that the body had been dis
covered at daybreak by some salmon
fishers, when netting the river at the
morning tide. They had at once giver
the alarm, and carried ut" up to the
dilapidated barn where 1t was Their
lying.
The barn was without a door, and
partially roofiess. Day and night the
salt spray Of the ocean was blown up
on It, incrusting It's black sides with
species of Almy salt; and from the dari
rafters and down the broken walls
chung Shiny weeds and MOSES; and
over 1t q pack of sea-gulls wheeled ant
screamed.
The minister took or his hat and en-
tered in bare headed.
Stretched upon the earthen floor was
what seemed at first rather a shapeles!
mass than a human form; a piece o.
coarse ~tarpaulin was placed over 1t
covering 1t from head to foot. Cent,
and reverently, Mr.. Lorraine drew
back a corner Of the tarpaulin and re
vealed to view the disfgured Inca
ments Of what had once been q living
face; but though the features wer'
changed and unrecognizable. and tn
eye-sockets were empty of their shin
ing orbs, and the mouth disfigured ant
hidden by f~oulness. the face was still
set in a womah's golden hair.
With the horror deep upon him, thu
minister trembled and prayed. Then
drawing the covering still lower, HI
caught a glimpse Of the delicate hand
clutched as In the agonies OF death
and sparkling on the middle fngeri
thereof was a slender ring of gold.
God forgive me-" he murmured t.
himself; IF this Is the mother Of thu
child, I did he: a cruel wrong"
He stood gazing and praying FOL
some time, his eyes were dim will
sympathetic tears; then, after replac
ing the covering reverently. he turn
ed away and passed through the grouI
which clustered. watching him. at tn,
door.
ITO BE CONrINUED.)