The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-18
rHE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS tai.


One evening when was in my study at
home stately woman accompanied by
a boy who was as shy as a fawn, was
shown in. She handed me a letter from
an Episcopal minister IN an eastern city
think the woman's manner would have
enlisted my sympathy. but bearing a let
ter from one whom I knew 10 be great
and good in his profession. I gave her my
Immediate consideration. At her own re-
quest the boy was sent to another room
while she told me her story
She was on her way 70 Australia, where
her husband was an officer in the En-
glish army. She might be absent a year
She wished 10 leave her boy where he
would have the advantages which. she
had been assured by the good minister,
could give. Briefly she outlined the boys
character Having made all arrange
ments about his tuition. etc, she placed
IN my hands a sum OF money for the
same and for the boys general welfare
he was then called IN His mother told
him all. de at once become one OF my
household Tne parting between them
was 50 tender that 1 was quite as deeply
affected, for the moment at least, as was
the mother She left the following morn
ing overland for San Francisco. That
was before the days Of railroads in this
part Of the country. I had three letters
from her between here and San Fran
cisco. The last was written on the eve
OF her sailing FOR Australia.
The boy quickly won the affections OF
my family He was quick student ard
always exemplary without the usual ef-
forts TO bring about such a condition in
a boy. Once 4 week, after his mother
sailed, he wrote 70 her in his childish
way. These letters he always read 10
me. Nightly on his retiring he knslt be-
fore his mothers portrait and said the
prayer she had taught him.
She had been gone two months before
he heard from her. The first letter con-
talned an account Of her voyage, and
such endearments as only a mother can
give to an idohZed child. This letter and
all that followed showed the writer to be
cultivated woman.
The term was finished and the new
charge was still In our care. The vaca-
tion passed and he entered upon his sec
ond term. The winter passed and the
spring came on as it always does in this
section, early. when the leaves and fow-
ers and birds seem to come all together.
1 was summoned one evening quickly
to the room Of my charge. The fever had
come like a thief in the night and the
boy recognized me for a few moments on
~ Then the tendrill seemed TO shrivel
as tendrils do when touched by frost, and
before day the spirit had gone 10 its
Creator. We found that he had taken
his mothers portrait with him when he
retired. We found it under his pillow
The day Of his funeral there was no
school The bearers were the boys OF his
class. Every pupil in nay school followed
on foot to the beautiful cemetery which
overlooks this city Of the living. When
the earth was rounded up over the casket
1t was covered with roses. But for the
white shafts and tombstones all about 1t
you wouldn't have suspected that it was
a grave.
The next day came a letter from his
mother. She had just reached San Fran
cisco on her return, and would reach here
as quickly as the quickest transported ton
fould fetch her. had no means of inter
cepting her, and I do not think I should
have done 50 IL I could. There was moth
ing to do but wait. The day before the
time I had figured for her arrival I
crossed the river am awaited the stage
in which sch was passenger When I
saw her she was in a garb which tells
its own story. With the quick intuition
of women when they are in trouble she
seemed to read my secret. This was a re-
lief to me, for I had tried IN vain for the
gentlest way TO tell her. And still her
grief did not find relief in tears
The next day she went to the grave.
Ny scholars, who had been told that she
Woulu pAOpapiy De mere az the time men
toned, had heaped fresh flowers upon
the mound
A few days later the mother. proceeded
East and then sailed for England.
Ny friend, the Episcopal minister, had
been misinformed. The childs mother
died IN childbirth. He was adopted by
the woman who had been fitted by the
English officer who had promised to mar
~ the child's mother and didn't The
woman who left the boy in my care
tracked the English officer TO Australia
and had her revenge. His death was q
mystery for several years. The woman
who caused it meanwhile died in an
English madhouse.-F. II. B., in Chicago
Tribune