The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-21

even occurred to me. But l VIII tell
you what did think. The fact that
you, an aristocrat could have such
deformity proved conclusively that it |
was not impossible that this waif, with |
her crooked finger, might have blue
blood in her veins, as the matron sug-
gested."
ooh! That was your deduction, was
it? Well, go on; so on, sir! Come to
an end! am tired of this affair" The
colonel mopped his forehead and seem
ed nightly relieved.
''You will know all in a few mo-
details of my investigation. Suffice to
say that traced the infant to it's
mother, though, as you are aware, 1
was forced to bring the two together
before could obtain the latter's con-
fession. In the mother, however, /
found that which greatly emphasized
the value of the crooked finger as evil
dence. Her little fingers are similar
to her child's and to yours colonel
That is the point Do you see it?"
This time the colonel did not buster.
There was that in Mr.. Mitchels voice
which indicated that ne spoke from I
kept from possible ill wishers. We
recei,re patients here without demand
ing their real names, purposely, that
the children may not be too easily
traced. This is our idea of the truest
charity. So also we make no registry
of those who take children away. The
| adoption may be as secret as the new
parents may desire, all this for the
child's sake
But how do you know thad these
children may not be ill treated?"
"Oh. we do not lose sight of them,
but their whereabouts is known to but
two persons, our matron and one other
lady, Il patron, one of our board of di-
! rectors We have two persons in the
secret, fearing that We're there but one
her death would break our connection
with our charges"
"Oh! Then | am to understand that
your matron may know where this
child is?'
Eyes. Perhaps she will see you. 1
! will explain your desire to her.
Five minutes later woman entered,
one of those whose faces teach US that
even the very old may De beautiful.
Perhaps long years of kindness to
others had in some way created in her
face moral beauty whose purity was
reflected in her countenance.
Here is mother to all the mother
less"' thought Mr.. Mitchell.
t'You wish to speak to me, gentle
men?" said she in a voice as gentle as
the flow of ripping brook.
eve wish very much to trace child
who has been adopted from this insti-
tution," said Mr.. Mitchell. ''This gen
tleman is her father"
eyes. The doctor has told me Of
whom you seek information. do not
mean to be unkind, but this is pro-
found secret which you wish me to
divulge. cannot without good rea-
sons disclose it even to the father who
comes after his child so late. must
first consider the interests of the girl"
Mr.. Mitchell found himself in q
quandary. It would be impossible to
disclose his purpose to this old lady.
She would very properly hesitate to
accept his story without investigation,
and that would entail a delay which
would entirely upset his plans. He
deemed it best, therefore, to resort to
circumlocution.
'But suppose that tell you that
this gentleman is rich; that he can
give his child very luxurious homer"
The matron smiled as she answered:
'she has every luxury now that
money can buy. She has more than
that-the love of mother who wor-
ships her. Her adopted father is dead,
and he has bequeathed $5,OOO,OOO to
her."
Both men started in amazerlent.
What fortune for an outcast! What
difference between her fate and her
sisters! But Mr.. Mitchell was much
pleased and replied:
"You seem to keep fairly accurate
knowledge of your charges even after
they leave you. Why, it is nearly Is
years, is it not?"
"The girl is quite as old as that, but
we have a regular system. The par.
ents are required to report to us reg
ularly and occasionally to send us a
photograph: In this way we, have
some confederation of what they write
us. If the children are not well cared
for, we often detect 1t by comparison
. of their pictures, taken from year to
year."
''Then you have this girls photo.
i. graph also.''
eyes, indeed, many of them"
. Mr.. Mitchell now endeavored to gain
his point by strategy. Taking photo
graph from his pocket, he suddenly
held 1t before the old lady and asked:
do you recognize that?"
..Why, it Isl
. The matron was taken by surprise,
yet SO careful Vas she Of her secret
that she stopped before mentioning the
name which had risen to her lips. But