The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-21
The crime Of le Century
CHAPTER XVI.
MRS. coopER's NARRATIVE.

broad stairway, and he readily guessed
that she sought the solitude of her own /
chamber. A few moments later Mrs.
Van Cortlandt joined him in the recep-
ton room. He was now quite anxious
to get away, and therefore he made his
call very brief, pretending merely to
have dropped in to ascertain whether
he might bring his wife in the evening
with the expectation of finding the
family at home. Thus he arranged a 4
plan by which he could meet Perdita
again that night without exciting sus-
picion as to his motive.
1t was after noon when Mr.. Mitchell
left the house. and he realized that to
accomplish his full purpose he would
need to be very active during the next
"a hours.
He had arranged for Mrs. Cooper to
meet him on the following day. but
that had been merely ruse to find a
chance to question her. and now he
could not wait. Consequently he re-
4 turned to the old woman's house at
once.
Mrs. Cooper was surprised to see him
/
! her.
II found that it would not do to wait
until tomorrow to see you again, Mrs.
/ Cooper" said he, las there is another
affair of great Importance in which
you may be of assistance to me. In
! the first place, however, let me give
you the amount due you on your pen
/ sion claim. and you may sign re-
ceipt."
/ Mr.. Mitchell handed her roll of bills
and wrote out a receipt, which the old
woman readily signed. This he did in
order to establish himself thoroughly
in her confidence. Then he continued:
II want to have serious conversa
ton with you now about your adopted
daughter Lily. She is your adopted
child. believer"
"Well, you might call her So" said
Mrs Cooper, ''though l never took out
no regular papers. You see, she came
to me in queer sort of way. But why
= should l tell you her story?"
II shall explain. nave heard it in
part already. But the time has come
when l must have the full details in
order to save the girl herself"
ITO save the girl herself, to save my
Lily! Why, what's happened"
did you know that Lily had a
child?'
Lilly have a child-of her own. you
mean? Why, man, you're dreamin!
Lily amt more'n child herself
Nevertheless she has baby. Listen!
There is no time to be lost AS 1 have
said, she has baby, and this baby
, was recently abandoned in grave
! yard
20 Lord, O Lord! You never mean
to tell me that-her own story all over
again! Oh, dear! Oh, dear! That ever
should live to see this day! But what
, could you expect? What's bred in the
2 bone will come out in the fesh,' az
the sayin goes"
Exactly, and a saying with much
wisdom in it. But you say this is
;, Lily's own story over again. Do yor
$ mean she was foundlingE
: Eyes. wee little tot of a thing OF
my own doorstep, wrapped in shawl
That's how found her one bitter colo
t mornin. But that amt the strangest
. part. l guess I'd better tell you the
i whole story from beginnin to end
that is, if you're sure you mean my
r girl no HARM"
). "On the contrary, I hope that some
thing that you may tell me may ait
d me to rescue her from a danger which
threatens. Rely upon me and keel
nothing back
well, it's IL years ago, com
1t Thanksgiyin, when l wakes up won
% derin what had to offer up thank
H. for, 'cept that was alive, and littl
u thanks for that, with my old man bun
l. led only three weeks. Anyway, as
az was born in the church and bred up t
st Christian ways l drops to my knee
.e as | slipped out of bed. and l thank
Of the good Lord for all his mercies, an
le l remember that l added somethi
he about bcm content, though he'd too
w away my old man without never giyi
e. me baby to comfort me in my lone
bit liness for | always had a mothe
~ heart. as there's many another as neN
= er gets no babies. | declare this worl
Nv do seem crooked sometimes. But that
aside from my story, and s'pose you
ruther I'd stick to that
Yes, yes! Time is precious. BIZ
so tell your story in your own way, an
Id we shall set through all the MOI
ry quickly. Go on"
I'D You're a gentleman with a deal
ed brains, now. Ii l was made to site
is. straight to the story, l don't doubt bl
H. what I'd leave out half you'd wish
&C. know. Anyway I'll do my best.
~ after my thanksgiyin / rose up al
nd went to the window to let in son
oil. light. / raised up the sash to pus
elf open the blinds, and what do / see bl
IT. most suspicious lookin bundle on n
M steps. l say suspicious, cause. thong
ste never had no babies myself, "
= tended many's the one, and l guesst
right Off that some wretch had put
baby by my door. The Lord be prai
ed | says out loud, though the
DIX, weren't no one by to hear. Mayl
he's heard my prayers, after ALL