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

the man, and we must hope that she
will win him after marriage, for mar
ried they must be. But now, colonel
if | am to accomplish this, you must
frankly answer a question that am
compelled to put, however painful it
may be. Will you do 500"
Il am entirely at your command.
will not finch"
We'll, then, tell me this-did you
not have another child?"
yes" said the colonel in low tones
and with a bowed head.
''Also a girl?'
eyes"
"Ihe same mother?"
Eyes
"By heavens, knew it! The next
thing to be done is to trace that child,
and we have but "a hours. 1t seems
hopeless"
sit may not be. That baby was born
in maternity hospital. We could go
there. Perhaps their records might
tell us what you wish to know
"This is fortunate. feared that she
was another founding. Come. We
must visit that institution at once
They had not far to go and We're
ushered into the presence of the house
physician, young woman whose face
was made lovely by her sweet sympa
thy for her sorrow laden patients. 1t
was quickly explained to her that a
| father sought his child, wishing to of
| fer her his love and protection. On
! this statement access to the records
was at once granted. and without diff
Guilty they found the name under
which the mother had been received.
There also was a record of the birth
and sex of the child, while in the. last
column, written in red ink, appeared
the significant word, adopted" fol-
lowed by the date.
4 "By whom was she adopted?" asked
Mr.. Mitchell. zsasss
"Ah! OF that we keep no record"
said the doctor
.Do you mean that child intrusted
to your care is allowed to pass thus
completely from your supervision?"
mo; it is not so bad as that But
we deem it best that the name of a
person who adopts child should be
prove the feasibility of my theories by
discovering the father of this infant
and compelling him to support his
child
| Eyes; you did talk some such non
sense. Well, what of it?''
81 have partly kept my word.
know who the father Isl
Yes; heard .,er tell you his name.
That in itself proved to me that the
girl is thoroughly bad. Why, even
the worst woman will keep the name
of her lover secret"
81 discovered more than that, colo
mel. I know who the grandfather is"
1 "Why, naturally. The father being
known to you, you easily go back an
other generation"
II am not speaking of the mans ia
Their, but of the GIRLS"
d ooh, hers! But 1 thought you said
she was foundling?
4 Exactly. Her own father abandon
ed her, and have learned his name''
;. s.Well, who is he? Why make q
mystery about it?
l
see my point in moment. Now, as
: man experienced in these matters, give
me your opinion. Suppose that it could
be proved that this girl was truly
/, guilty of abandoning her babe. Then
:, suppose that in her behalf I argued
, that she herself, having been cast
adrift by her parents, became dou
! BILE victim-frst, of her heredity, which
), /, made her congenitally deficient il
parental Instincts, and, secondly, Of .hel
environment, bad one, into which she
had been thrust by her father WoulG
. not all this lessen her responsibilities"
mo, sir; not in the eyes of the law
: OF course know what you are driv
, ing at. You have been reading some
, of the newfangled notions of the Grim
inologists of today, men who woult
like us to open the prisons and release
all the criminals, to prey upon tn.
, world. But l am astonished that {
J man of your intelligence should adop
/, such fanatical and revolutionary
, IDEAS" sskssss -s,sss9s
1--WE will not discuss views at pres
2 ent, colonel. Let us keep to the cas-,
/, in hand. You think, then, that in spit,
Of the girls heredity and regardless.
= of her environment she should be helt
} responsible and that If guilty sh,
: should be punished?"
81 do. Such people must be mad,
! an example to others if we would less
2 en- that class Of crime"
!. "And what Of her father? He is liv
Z ing yet, man OF good heritage ant
: exceptional environment. Yet he com
United the same crime What of him
colonel?"
"Why, of course he ought to be pun
ished likewise, though evidently tbi,
occurred so long ago that 1 doubt i
anything could be done at this late
day..
Il thank you for your candid opin
!, ION Now we will go back, if yot
, please, to my first visit here. You may
: recall the fact that the matron sug
, gested that you should adopt the
chffd?"
"Tle si1ly sneech 81 a Silly woman y