Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-04-27
CHAPTER VIII.

have never seen anything 80 sup.
erb as shc was In her splendid scOrn
Of this weaker character Her fnce
fairly glOwed with the passion of
maternity and her words rang on the
air like the vibration Of hot metal be
ing beaten into shape. When she paus-
"a the poor shamed creature whom she
addressed skunk again TO her side and
clutched the edge of her mistrcss's
gown IN her nerveless. trembling
hands.
.'8h, Madam, Madam, think how she
has wrOnged you,'
II may think Of that. but should youf
should you. her mother. think OF wrong
done n stranger when your child,
stricken and suffering, calls to youf'
Il do long for her" she walled miser-
ably; but what can / do? Where can
! take herr
There was an impressive pause.
Madam turned her poor eyes vaguely
about. as If in scarcn for someone.
had been looking at Darracott. con
strained 10 watch him by reason Of the
swift play of emotion in his counter.
aucc. The blttcrne IS OF his expression
when Madam made allusion to her lost
son, an alluaion which was then. Of
course. quite without meaning TO
me, was such as Tor brief instant
made me wavcr il my strong allcg.
lance to my dear lady. There must
have been potent cause for such II
look And yet-Mi dam! AS she wal,
ed. glancing thus lrrcsolutcly abou'
the mask Of repression settled Oyt.
his features. ccllpslng self-betraya
lie took n few Bteps forward, an
touched his mothers arm. signiGcan;
~, with his strong right hand. TIN
touch sent q tludll coursing through
her being hat brcEc up all It's icy self.
restraint. Her stately head dropped
her face worked with emotion, and her
beautiful eyes melted and grew bright
with unshed tears. With quick,
proud, and yet tender gesture she drew
Dhrracott's hand from her arm aud
clasped 1t within her own.
"My son has bddcD you bring your
daughter again beneath hisroof Have
you or ! a right to express inclinn-
tfon or hesitation In n matter wherein
his authority Is az absolute as his
generosity and clemcncy are uncom-
mon and noblcT'
For n brief instant, /, watching the
man with passionate interest that
fash Of brightness light up his cycs.
The next moment his hand was with
drawn from the detaining clasp, and
his businesslikc tones eliminated all
tragic element from the interview.
MY mother must not remain here,
Nh nybcrry. The place Is unfit for her.
Make your daughter ready, and when
/ have taken my mother and Miss
Lothrop home / will return for YOU"
My dear lady turned quickly 10 him
N he spoke. md | flushed with pleas.
ure as she said, with unmistakablo
affection In her voice:
MY little Dorothy, Where Is she,
my SOM"
| went forward, and took her hand
tciiderly I'm mine. Her fingers closed
eagerly over my own, as II she found
comfort In the contact MnyberrY. in
the presence Of such mngHanimity NJ
had been shown her. was. for once. too
oycrawcd for lachrymOsc indulgence.
With an lndistnguishablc murmur shc
moved AWAY from our little group and
took UP her station by the side Of the
insane girl who had been watching the
whpls interview with marked delight
Just nA we were about 10 turn away.
the witlcsa creature gave q sudden cry
and would have sprung forward 10
Madam's side. had not Mnybcrry fallen
swiftly upon her and restrained her ~
actual force OF arm. | felt Madam
sliuddcr. and as she turned eagerly
towards the door. as If desiring to IS
capc, / anticipated hcg wi4n and lei
het from the dark and horrible den.
No word was spoken as we drove
boncl but as we got out OF the cur
riage and were about 10 enter the
house Madam turned to Dnrracott.
"My son my dcnr son" | heard her
say. with n heart breaking trcmblc in
her voice. ~ thank you"
But there Yas no corresponding
emotion In the tone In which he re-
piled:
There Is no occasion for gratitude,
| mother 4 man hns no choice In
matter Of plain duty"
AZ she and | mounted the steps. she
| sighed so heavily that II made my henrt
| nche for her unknown trouble. But ]
was tongue tied by ignorance and
| could only manifest my sympathy BY
infusng SURPRISING tenderness lUto tue
mLnlstrations I was allowed 10 perform
for her, In place Of Mnybcrry. whom
she would not see again TINT night, she
hIVl w llFH bH' Hf'f'' Ai'i W VIZ
dress and had made her comfortable,
sha hndc me throw wrapper about
her ami send Franklin 10 her, as Sho
wished to give instructions relating to
the disposal Of Mnybcrry's daughter.
Il elu' ItfH fierce struggle ~
! ov.3 ig. l -.d mans objection to
| harbcr're-N ..ii." she remarked, with
cnd little smile. but he must yield
n point which my son has not thought
| 1T 10 contend My son my dear son"
abe repeated carcssingly Dorothy,
did not tell you hc was Of heroic
noul1l But ! forget. How must nll
the sad mystery Of these events define
| Itstdf to you? You must be taught to
understand them even If II costs me
! something Of your regnrd TO enllghten
| YOU Tomorrow. perhaps perhaps
can find strength TO tell you. It Is your
! due my child my comforter
My tcnra moistcned her hnnds as she
! took my face between her pnlms to kiss