The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-24
Icopyright, 1901. by Fayr Madoc.l

you stranded with my young hopeful bu;
as / have overrun the constable and am
obliged to cross TO the continent tonight,
1 was compelled TO look around for some
one to take the poor little devil. and when
/ saw you l saw you were a soft-hearted
sort of fool, and 1 acted accordingly. I've
got no vile, and i know no one of the
name of Vincent, and I'd never seen any
one bit like you before. But I'm what
they call physiognomist, and l saw you
weren't one to let a child starve. So 1 did
the trick, and l apologize, as l said above.
Yours, awfully pressed for time.
r. STEVENS.
''P. S.-My wife was we'll connected, and
the little beggar's grandfather is Lord
Weybourne. If he won't do anything for
the kid. and you aren't so soft as you look,
he must go to the Founding"
IL.
Late that afternoon Johnnie presented
himself at the town residence of the Earl OF
Weybourne, and he requested to see his
lordship on important business. He was a
very different man from the Johnnie who
had walked through Queens Gate barely
twentyfour hours before, looking down
the areas and breaking the Tenth Com
mandment. Then he had been light-hearted
and happy; now a weight of dreadful re-
sponsibility had settled upon him. Then he
had been well. if hungry; now he had
caught fearful cold in that night spent
fasting in an armchair, and he felt ridicu-
lousy i'll.
He had concealed his feelings as much as
he could from his mother who was always
mother Is apt to be whose husband had
died of consumption at less than thirty.
and one of whose two children is already
in a decIine-but he had felt scarcely able
to crawl To Lord Weybourne's house across
the park. and when he reached the door he
was ready to faint. He pulled himself to-
gether. however-considering that it was
puerile to be Knocked up by one night out
of bed-and spoke sternly to the footman.
IL is not always easy to gain access to a
great man, but Johnnie, by his mothers
advice had written to announce his coming.
and something in his manly, simple address
had touched the earl, and he had given
orders that Mr.. Wright should be admit
ted. So Johnnie was shown into a comfort
able little room, where fire cracked and
to which the east wind did not penetrate,
and he threw himself down upon couch
and gave himself up, for the first time in
MS life, to entirely comfortable surround
ipss. He was warm; he lay soft: no smells
or sounds assailed him; he slept for an in
slant and thought he was in heaven. But
he was only in a rich mans simplest apart
ment
While he awaited the interview he
thought of little Percy, who was a pretty
child. with winning ways. and he wondered
whether Lord Weybourne would let him
come sometimes to see his grandson. He
never thought of the possibility of the child
being repudiated. His mother, poor as she
was had gathered the little one to her
heart. and Bessie. coughing more than
usual because of the agitation and anxiety
of that night of watching for the absent
brother, had never reproached him for
bringing home another mouth 10 feed. They
had made a joke of it; they had bantered
Johnnie on his credulity; he. a Londoner,
and so easily taken in, The laughter had
helped Johnnie TO conceal his illness, and
he had gone off to his office, only owning
to being tired" He was more than tired
now. He was so much fatigued that his
WEAKNESS amounted to pain. But he threw
1t from him; he was angry. Tchl that one
night of discomfort should upset him thus.
1t was not TO be borne.
When the footman came for him he fol-
lowed the servant slowly. for his feet were
heavy and his head ached; but when he
reached Lord Weybourne's presence ne
suddenly became alert and forgot that he
was weary. In a large and beautiful room,
furnished as Johnnie had never conceived
possible, stood young man, scarcely older
than himself, with his back TO the fire, a
bright light in his eyes and pleasant tune
upon his lips. He came forward, and, as
he drew near Johnnie. stood STILL
There is some mistake" he said. blank
" "You cannot be anyone's grandfather "
NO" said the other. laughing gaily.
Didn't you want to see me? You wrote"
Il wanted to see Lord Weybourne." said
Johnnie.
well. / am Lord WeybourHe."
And there is no other?"
NO
But" said Johnnie, grasping at straw
''you have only been Lord Weybourne FOL
short timer"
For fifteen years-since 1 was eleven
But sit down. Mr.. Wright. You look i'll
and tired. What did you want of Lord
WeyDourne.
Then Johnnie handed him Stevens's let
ter.
IT never had an aunt" said Lord Wey-
bourne. This is an entire fabrication
How did you come to be so taken IMP
Then Johnnie told him and the ear
laughed long and loud He was strong and
wealthy. and the story tickled him. Bu
Johnnie rose impatiently.
II need not detain your lordship any
longer" he said. Il was indiscreet and
must suffer for it. but IL is hardly jest.
You were .awfully indiscreet." said Lore
Weybourne. frankly. But since you've gol
the child-my grandchild, and he laughed
again, what are you going to do witt
him?'
Bring him up as best can." said John
ME- grimly.
Wont you think OF the Founding. al
the fellow suggests?"
30" said Johnnie, he is too sweet"
Then ne turned his head away. for mar
must not be seen by another man to weep
Look herer' said Lord Weybourne. IL
It a matter or Importance to you, May
help you? He Il my grandson. you know
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