Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-16

to Sutherlandtown. All. but she has
her burden to bear, too-an awful Sc
cret burden, like my own only she will
have the child, for, Philemon, she has
taken it in lieu of her own, which died
last night in my sight. And Mr.. Suth-
erland does not know what she has
done and never will If you keep the Sc
cret as I shall for the sake Of the life
the little innocent has thus won.
What do mean and how was 1t all?
Philemon. it was Gods work, all but
the deception, and that Is for the good
Of all and to save four broken hearts.
Listen. Yesterday, only yesterday-it
seems a month ago-Mrs. Sutherland
came again to see me with her baby In
her arms. The baby was looking we'll.
and she was the happiest Of women,
for the one wish Of his heart and hers
had been fulfilled, and she was soon
going to have the bliss Of showing the
child to his father. My own babe was
on the bed asleep, and l, who am feel
ing wonderfully strong. was sitting up
In little chair as far away from him
as possible, not out Of hatred or indif-
ference, oh, no. but because he seemed
to rest better when left entirely by
himself and not under the hungry look
Of my eyes. Mrs. Sutherland went
over to look ut him. "Oh, he Is fair,
like my baby" she said. land almost
as sturdy, though mine Is month old
err" And she stopped down and kissed
him. Philemon, he smiled for her,
though he never had for me. saw 1t
with greedy longing that almost
made me cry out. Then turned to
her, and we talked. OF what? l can
not remember now. At home we had
never been intimate friends. She Is
from Sutherlandtown. and | am from
Porchester, and the distance Of nine
miles Is enough to estrange people.
But here, each with her husband ab-
sent and a darling infant sleeping un-
der her eyes. interests we have never
thought Identical drew us to each 9TH
er, and we chatted with ever increas'
ing pleasure. Suddenly Mrs. Suther-
land jumped up in terrible fright Tie
infant she had been rocking on her
breast was blue; the next minute 1t
shuddered; the next 1t lay In her arms
dead.
hear the shrek yet with which she
fell with 1t in her arms to the floor
Fortunately no other ears were open
to her cry alone saw her misery. |
alone heard her tale. The child had
been poisoned. Philemon. poisoned by
her She had mistaken a cup Of medi-
cine for cup of water and had given
the child a few drops in spoon just
before setting out from her hotel. She
had not known at the time what she
had done, but now she remembered
that the fatal cup was just like the
other and that the two stood very near
| together. Oh. her innocent child, and
oh, her husband! 1t seemed as II the
latter thought would drive her wild.
"He has so wished for child" she
moaned. 1--WE have been married ten
years and this baby seemed to have
been sent from heaven. He will curse
me; he will hate me: he will never be
able after this to bear me in his sight"
This was not true Of Mr.. Sutherland.
but II was useless to argue with her.
Instead of attempting 1t took another
way to stop her rawlings. Lifting the
child out of her hands. first listened
at it's heart and then finding 1t was
really dead-I have seen too many life
less children not to know-I began
slowly to undress 1t. "What are you
doing?" she cried. MRS. Webb, Mrs.
Webb! What are you doing" For re-
ply pointed to the bed where two lit
tie arms could be seen feebly futtering.
"You shall have my child" I whisper
ed. 81 have carried too many babies
to the tomb to dare risk bringing L
another" And catching her poor wal
dering spirit with my eye, held b.
while told her my story. Philemon.
saved that woman. Before | had fl
lshed speaking I saw the reason IL
turn to her eye and the dawning Of a
pitlful hope In her passion drawn face.
She looked al the child in my arm
and then she looked at the one In Il
bed. and the long drawn sigh wi
which she finally bent down and wei
over our darling told me that my caus
won. The rest was easy. When the
clothes Of the two children had been
exchanged. she took our baby In her
arms and prepared to leave. Then /
stopped her. Swear" | cried. hold
Ing her by the arm and lifting my
other hand to heaven, "swear you will
be a mother to this child! Swear
you will love It as your own and rear
1t In the path of truth and righteous
ness"
The convulsive clasp with which she
drew the baby to her breast told me
palmer than her shuddering II swear!'
that her heart had already opened to
It. dropped her arm and covered my
face with my hands. l could not see
my darling 80. 1t was worse than
death. "Oh, God, save him" groan-
ed. "God make him an honor But
here she caught me by the arm. Her
clutch was frenzied. and her teeth were
chattering. Swear III your turn she
gasped; swear that If | do a mothers
duty by this boy you will keep my
secret and never, never reveal to my
husband, to the boy or to the world
that you have any claims upon him"
| 1t was like tearing the heart from my
breast with my own hand, but swore,
Philemon, and she in her turn stood
back. But suddenly she faced me
again. terror and doubt In all her looks
"Your husbandr' she whispered. Can
you keep such a secret from him? You