, 1899-05-12

That's a sensible sort of wish to have
when you know your boy wants a mother
more than most boys. You're talking in
riddles to me, my dear, and it seems likely
l shall have to unrayel them as | best
may. However, l know so far that you
made an effort to free yourself from that
man, for as you didn't come here to learn
VIA news L had for you from my solicit
tor, | walked round to your place on Fri.
day and heard the whole story from your
landlady."
The mention of the solicitor arrests De-
lia's attention.
"Oh, what did he say?' she inquiries,
eagerly. rs there any hope for me? Shall
l be allowed to live in peace with my
boyT"
He's over sever years old, and that old
fool Bond tells me that after that age
you ave no legal claim to him."
mo legal claim to my own child that
| brought into the world! No claim! l
his mother. No right to supply him
with the necessaries of life which his
father won't work to do. Oh, Mrs. Hor-
ton! it cannot-cannos be truer'
ut is true, Della Moray, and a more
Infamous law was never enacted. But
Mr.. Bond was clear enough ON the sub
ject. He says no law in the calendar is
more stringent or binding in its effects.
A married woman has no right to the GUS
tody of her child after it is seven years
! DID,"
"a married woman!" Why a married
woman?" cried Della, quickly.
Because, If you were not married to
that inhuman brute you might take your
lila nwrax fra,a hsO, 10 ,av.a-~x - =
one would dare to say you nay; because.
if you were not married, you would have
the sole right to keep, and love, and pro-
tect him, and you might imprison the
father for not contributing to his support.
That's the law of England, Della Moray,
and you may take it and make what you
like of it, for l am sure that no one with
any sense would desire to dispute the pos
session with you, When that old fool
Bond, made it plain TO me, l could have
torn every hair out of his head with the
greatest pleasure"
Meanwhile Della Moray, having sank
into a chair, is repeating in" a stupefied
manner to herself:
"Not mine! My Willy not NINE"
"Mrs. Timson told me that from what
| she could gather Of the conversation that
| took place between that drunken husband
of yours and his brother, the day you left
home, she thinks when they took Willy
out with them the evening before, it was
to William Moray's house-and l expect
that is where you will find him now"
"At BrixtonT'
Eyes, at Brixton-if that is where the
man lives. What is the address,"
II don't know. 1 lave never been there
The William Morays don't think me good
! enough to visit them"
1T is easily foundi Just hand me
down that postofice directory. Here IL
is: William Moray, Esq. the FRS, Co
dalming Park, Westborough road, Brix-
! ton, s. e." -
"But do you really think lean go
there?" asks Della, looking half alarmed
at the idea.
go there! OF course! What is to pre-
vent you? You're not afraid of the wool
merchants wife2 Go there boldly and
demand your child, and il you don't get
him, you will at all events get the chance
, of telling YOU own story"
"But you say my husband has the law
on his side"
; "Quite true; but you have a greater
power on your side unless, which l strong
ly disbelieve, Mr.. William Moray intends
to charge himself with his brothers fu'