The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-09-19

taken my I'LL OF this tlne picture Whet
1 heard the door opened by no un-
gentle hand behind me. 1 turned
hastily, and I saw a swift glance
of surprise and anger on the hand
some face of James Abercrombie' s
wife.
81 expected Mr.. Wedderburn, y
she said, sharply; why is he not
here?'
''He sends his respectful apologies,
madam, but being engaged all day at
the Parliament House, he cannot wait
upon you today"
"And pray who are you? ?"
Ny name is Lyall, madam, and I
have the honor to be Mr.. Wedder-
burns confidential clerk"
"His confidential clerk p she re-
peated, still covering me with her
flashing. imperious gaze. I may be
forgiven my passing thought that a
household ruled by that gaze would
dwell more in fear than in love.
perhaps, then, you are acquainted
with the contents of the letter 1 wrote
to him last night?"
eyes, madam, I am,' I replied,
and stopped there, fearing to commit
myself further.
"Tell me what he said, then," she
said imperiously. ''Did he send you
with any further message to me?"
"He said that if you would allow
me 1 was to explain your legal posi-
ton. If not, that he could see you
tomorrow morning at ten o'clock"
"What is the legal position, then ?"
she briefly asked.
l explained it to her as clearly as l
could, and the frown deepened Oh her
face as she listened.
eff that is your Scotch law" she
explained, in high scorn, it is all of
a piece with the rest of you. There
is neither justice nor courtesy nor
anything worth the having in this
country. 1 would to God l had never
seen it."
At that moment l saw a door open
at the far end of the long room and a
small figure in white peep in. Then
a joyous shout rang through the air,
and the child bounded to his mothers s
side. A strange, tremulous smile
curved Mrs. Abercrombie's lips, and
she flung her arms round the child
and drew him closely to her side.
The same though, 1 knew, was in
both Our minds, that here was the
refutation of her harsh verdict. I
foresaw that here also was the only
means of salvation for the unpappy
pair.
"The law that would seek to sep
arate a child from his mother is wick
ed and cruel and unjust; do you not
think so? she asked, curtly.
''The same law holds good in Eng
land, madam" I said, "and the
cruelty and injustice would entirely
depend on the circumstances"
"Oh, know. might have known
1T would be impossible for an unpro-
tected woman to obtain consideration
here" she said passionately. But
I will not be frightened into servile
submission to the Abercrombie clan,
neither will 1 suffer them to rob me
of my son. You may tell your mas
ter, if you like, that woman's wit
may yet be able to circumvent their
laws, even is she be but an English
woman"
I did not reply, for my attention
was arrested by the movements of the
child. He had wandered to a small
escritoire in one of the windows, and
taken therefrom a silver photograph
frame, at which he was looking with
alteration in his eyes.
"My dad," he said proudly, ad-
vancing to show it to me.
I saw that his mother was chagrin-
ed, but I took the photograph, and
looked at it with no small interest.
1t represented a tall, grave, fine
looking man, whose face recognized
at once had often seen him in the
streets. He did not look like one to
be trihed with. 1t was the old story
of one strong will pitted against an
other, and a total lack of that mutual
forbearance, which is the only sure
rock upon which to bear the matri-
monial fabric. When I handed back
the photograph to the child he kissed
it tenderly, and holding it to his lit
tie breast, talked sweet, loving, baby
words to it. l marvelled that the
sound did not melt the woman heart
to her husband. 1t is only the good
and the truly kind who win such
passionate love from a child. In
view of his sons attitude toward
him, it was my thought that James
Abercrombie might have been forgiv-
en- much. Yet did not believe that
he was greatly to blame?
"What is your message to Mr..
Wedderburn, madam ?" asked, feel
ing myself dismissed.
"Only this, that l will not accept
what he is pleased to call my legal
position. will make position for
myself. 1 will show them all that ]
can protect my own interests, Scotch
though they be-"
With these unpronising words
ringing in my ears, I returned the
way had come; but it was long be.
fore the picture of the little Cecil
hugging his fathers photograph fa-
ded from my mind.
Mrs. Abercrombie was as good as
her word. Next day cab drove uI
hastily to the door of Our premises
and white-faced, haggard man rush.
ed into Mr.. Wedderburn's room. ]
recognized him at once as James Alb
ercrombie, and surmised from his dis
traught look that some crisis haC
come. He stayed long time, ant
seemed calmer when my chief showed
him out.
Another client was waiting to set
him, and it was late in the afternoon