Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-26

ing Softly, y want YOU 10 cell me when
your baby was born"
II was cruel to take her thus by sur
prise. but MIR Mitchell thought himself
justified, even though ne was unwill-
ing to give her pain. She looked IN at
him. with horror depicted upon her
countcnancc, and was Obliged to put
her hand over her mouth TO suppress
III" cry that sprang 10 her lips
What do Won mcan?" she gasped
Just what ! said. When was your
baby born"
But hut | have no baby" she
blurted ont desperately
"Oh but you have" persisted Mr..
Mitchell
Then he saw the girl in new aspect
A different side Of her character was
revealed to him. She turned upon him
defantly and exclaimed:
so that's your game is ~ You
think YOU are smart. don't YOU But
you can't play tricks on me. If you've
found baby. you'll have hard time
trying 10 prove its mine. tell YOU
haven't any"
suppose that the infant of which
am speaking was abandoned by its
PARENTS"
What Of itt That happens every day
in the ycar. What does that provc?"
but suppose II was found in a
gravoyardt'
In graveyard" she repeated and
her eyes opened wide in astonishment.
Yes in a graveyard. \ strange place
for baby. is IT not o.
well | should say 90. How did il
get there"
Let me tell You tho story This baby
was found in a graveyard without any
clothes on-not any at all. you under.
standf"
"rhc poor lttle dear! she said
softly.
III had been crawling among the
tomhston"s for several days when il
was discovered"
"Rut how did il got there
"Ah. that is tho question, We know
that II was placed there al night by 2
man. We think that the man was this
childs father"
impossible, No man could he such
monster Somebody stole that baby.
I'll bet. and then didn't know what ia
do with it"
mo. In that case he would have lcf,
it where it would be- found rhiS man
wished the child to die. That is why
say it was the father who wished n
get rid of the child"
Put why should father wish 70
Kill his own child|"
Perhaps because he had not mar
riod the mother"
She shuddercd and remained silent
The words evidently aroused unploas.
ant thoughts. yet her manner through
ont had been such that Mr. Mitchell was
assured in his own mind that a. least
she had no guilty knowledge ~ the
abandonment of the infant. And. this
being true. il greatly complicated tho
case, for if she We're innocent in that
respect how could She have consented
50 readily to the disappearance of her
childt This almost led him TO believe
that she had spoken the truth and that.
after all. he might have been mistaken
in connecting her with the ease hut
just then she noticed that h. held 4
handkerchief in his hand and asked:
why. isn't that mine?"
"lS it," asked Mr. Mitchell. handing
il to her.
"Why. yes" said she "Soc. here is
my mark in th" corner. | mark all my
things with a lily of tho valley"
This decided Mr. Mitchell. He would
make n supreme test especially as
they were approaching a station whore
if they should descend to the street he
would have but a few steps to go in
order 10 carry out his plan.
ION. by the way" said he Il would
like 10 get ont here VIII you come
with me: | will not detain YOU more
than few moments. and then We viii
resume our conversation. | wish be-
fore we part 10 explain to you why
I Thought you were mother
She consented 10 go with him, and
together they walked as far as The
building wherein are the rooms Of the
Metropolitan Founding society 1t so
happened thar "a they went in Colonel
raytOn was just coming out. He stop
ped to speak TO Mr.. Mitchell. but kept
his eyes OH Lillian. who modestly with
drew and stood aside.
We'll, Mitchell said the colonel.
'how do you prosper with your line
notions about justice. CHI Found any
one TO agree with you YETI
Il have not been looking for an ad-
vocaIc Of my views" said Mr.. Mitchell.
81 have been summing. colonel
"Sunming Ell: hope you haven't
very sharp nose. Rut. ! say. YOU
did not pick that up in the sums
he added a. he cast an admitting glance
at Lillian.
That is exactly where | found her"
said MIR. Mitchell II SEQ you are not
too old TO notice a pretty face.
TOO old: Well. 81 Id say not,
sir. But what you tell me seems mar
velous Found her in the slums, oh?
Well well, What pretty flower 10
be growing among weeds
True. colonel. but then. you know,
the wind may watt the seed from the
choicest blossom into the foulest soil,
and vet these seeds may take root and
grow. and blossoms may como again
no doubt But its very careless
gardener who allows good seeds TO
blow away
.,-True Ard Whit shall Up Sav ~