Evening star., 1897-04-17

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gone!' he said, in some dismay.
WELL said Mrs. Barker. q little impa-
tiently, you didn't expect me to take him
into the public parlor. where l Was seeing
nurse into the lower hall to play with the
other children
A shade momentarily passed over Bar
ker's face He always looked forward to
meeting the child when ne came back. He
had a belief. based on no grounds what
ever, that the little creature understood
him. And he had a fathers doubt of the
wholesomeness Of other peoples children,
who were born into the world indiscrimi-
nately and under the exceptional conditions
of his own. 'II go and fetch him." he
said.
You haven't told me anything about
your interview; what you did and what
your good friend Stacy said," said Mrs
Barker, dropping ianguidly into a chair
away again after that child. might just
as well have asked Capt. Heath TO stay
lor ger"
"Oh. as to Stacy" said Barker. dropping
beside her and taking her hand, well
dear. he was awfuliy busy. you know. and
shut up in the innermost office like the
agate in one of the japanese nests of boxes
But" he continued. Frightening up. Just
the same dear old jim Stacy of Heavy
Tree Hill, when l first knew you. Lord.
dear. how it all came back to me! That day
proposed to you In the belief that 1 was
UNEXPECTEDLY rich. and even bought a
claim for the boys on the strength of it,
ard how came back to them to find that
they had made big strike on the very
claim. Lord! 1 remember how l was so
agraid to tell them about you-and how
trey guessed it-that dear old Stacy one of
the first"
Yes" said Mrs. Barker. "and I hope
your friend Stacy remembered that but for
me. when you found out that you were not
rich. you'd have given up the claim. and
that 1 really deceived my own father to
make you keep it. I've often worried over
that. George. she said. pensively, turning
diamond bracelet around her pretty
about it,
But. Kitty. darling" said Barker. grasp
ing his wife's hand, II gave my note for it !;
you know you said that was bargain
enough. and 1 had better wait until the
note was due. and until 1 found 1 couldn't
pay, before l gave up the claim. 1t was
very clever Of you, and the boys all said
so, too. But you never deceived your faith
er, DEAR. he said, looking at her gravely
for l should have told him everything"
oI course, If you look at it in that way
SAID MS Wife, lanSuidly. Its nothing only
think 1t ought to be remembered when
people go about saying papa ruined YOU
with his hotel schemes"
Who dares say that?" said Barker, in
dignanty.
Well. if they don't say it they look it."
SAID Mrs Barker. with toss of her pretty
mead, "and believe that's at the bottom
of Stacy's refusal"
But he never said a word Kitty" =" said
Barker, flushing.
There, don't excite yourself, George"
sald MRS. Barker resignedy, but go for
the baby. l know you're dying to go, and
suppose it's time Norah brought if nm
stairs
At any other time Barker would have
fingered with explanations, but just then
deeper sense than usual Of some misunder-
domestic colloquy. He rose. pressed his
wife's hand, and went out. But yet he was
not entirely satisfied with himself for leav.
ing her. Il suppose it isn't right my going
OH as soon as l come in." ne murmursd
reproachfully to himself, but l think she
wants the baby back as much as l: only.
woman like, she didn't care to let me know
He reached the lower hall. which he know
was a faVorife promenade for the nurses
who were gathered al the further end
where a large window looked upon Mont
gomery street. But Norah the Irish nurse
was not among them. he passed through
several corridors in his search. but in vain
AT last, worried and little anxious, lie
turned to regain his rooms through the long
saloon where he had found his wife preyi-
ously. 1t was deserted now; the last caller
had left-even frivolity had it's prescribed
limits. He was consequently startled by a
gentle murmur from one of the heavily
Curtained window recesses 1t was a wo-
mans voice, low, sweet. caressing, and
filled with an almost pathetic tenderness.
And it was followed by distinct gurgliBg,
satisfied crow
Barker turned instantly in that direction
A step brought him to the curtain. where
singular spectacle presented itself.
Seated on q lounge. completely absorbed
and possessed by her treasure. was The
''horrii woman whom his wife had tndi-
Gated only a little while ago, holding a
baby-Kitty's sacred baby-in her wanton
lap. The child was feebly grasping the eEd
OF the slender jeweled necklace which the
woman held tenlptingly dangling from q
thin, white jeweled finger above it. But its
eyes We're bcaming with an intense delight,
as II trying to respond to a deep, concen-
t-ated love in the handsome face that was
bent above it.
At the sudden intrusion of Barker Mrs
Horncastie looked up. There was rain,
rise in her color, but no loss of self posses
sion.
please don't scold the nurse" she said,
nor say anything to Mrs. Barker 1t is all
MY fault. / thought that both the nurse
and child looked dreadfu!ly bored with each
other and borrowed the little fellow for q
while to try and amuse him. At least l
haven't rade him cry. have l, dear?" The
last epithet. it is needless to say was a,l-
dressed to the little creature in her lap,
but in its tender modulation it touched the
fathers quick sympathies as if he had
shared it with the child. You see" she
said softly 6isengaging the baby's fingers
from from her necklace that our sex is not the
only one tempted by jewelry and glitter
Barker hesitated: the Madonna like de-
votion of the moment ago was gone; it was
only the woman of the world who laugh
irgiy locked up at him. Nevertheless, he
vas touched. Have you-ever-had a child.
Mrs. Horncastle?" he asked gently aud
hesitatingly. He had a vague recollection
that she passed for widow, and in his
simple eyes all women were virgins or
married saints.
No" she said abruptly. Then she added
with a laugh, 'or perhaps I should not ad-
mire them SO much. / suppose it's the
same feeling bachelors have for other peo-
pies wives. But 1 know you're dying to
take that boy from me. Take him, then.
and don't be ashamed to carry him yourself
Just because I'm here; you know you would
delight to do it if 1 weren't
Barker bent over the silken lap in which
the child was comfortably nesting, and in
tfat attitude had faint consciousness that
Mrs. Horncastle was mischeviously breath
ing into his curls a silent laugh Barker
lifted his first born with proud skillfulness.
but that sagacious infant evidently knew
he was comfortable. and in a paroxysm of
objection caught his fathers curls with one
fist while with the other he grasped Mrs
Horncastle's brown braids and brought
their heads into contact. Upon which hu-
morous situation Norah. the nurse, entered Z
It's all right, Norah," said Mrs. Horn
castle laughing. as she disengaged herself
from the linking child. MIR. Barker has
claimed the baby and has agreed to forgive