The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-28
By MRS. C. N. WILLIAMSON.

can Rights Reserved


remembered about me- I was allowed to
stand by and hear all that went on. The
doctor said she had died OF heart dis
ease, and that she must have had it for |
a long time, and have been exceedingly
brave to keep up as she had. 1 knew
nothing about death. and even when |
had listened to all this could not under
stand that she, would never take me in |
her arms or speak to me again. I went /
to her and called her name. Then some
body explained the truth to me-not very
alphabetically, though they meant we'll
enough, no doubt. I think I must have
tainted. for I don't remember anything
more, except seeming to wake up after
a sleep that hadn't really been sleep,
and asking for my mother. A servant of
the hotel was with me-a cross, over-@
worked woman. She told me that my
mother had been put in a. coffin and buried
down under the ground; that I should
never see her again. And I was angry
for l thought she was lying, and had
stolen me from my mother. I was
strong, healthy little chap Of years old,
and attacked the woman fierceIy The
noise she made brought people to the
room among others the wife of the hotel
proprietor-a Swiss woman. She had
never liked me. and SELLING me by the
shoulders with her sharp fingers she told
me that I was a little pauper, and If I
did not behave myself / should be sent
to prison instead of to a nice asylum,
where kind sisters of charity looked after
children who didn't belong to any one
l was a wicked little boy and my mother
had died owing her great deal Of money
II had any pride I would want to be good
and learn how to work and pay her back
by and by. ~ :: -
In the midst of this an old lady whom
had passed sometimes on the stairs and
! In the corridors when my mother and I
had been out together, came to the door
and listened She asked a great many
questions and-to cut a long story short
it ended in her adopting me. When real
lied that ! shauld really never see my
mother again nothing mattered much to
me, and was willing to go with the old
! lady, who, as have told you before, was
an Englishwoman named Page. She was
unmarried, and did not want me ito take
her name. L remember very we'll how she
told me that l was to be called Knight
because that was a good name for: boy
to live up to. If I were always good and
honorable and brave l could earn right
to that name, SO that it would really in
| time be my very own, .as no other name
could ever be. ',,.E. ! ..
Miss Page wasn't rich, and she was
eccentric, but very kind / think she took
me away from that second-rate hotel in
Naples and saved me from becoming
a wretched founding more because she
was sorry for me than because she really
|
never really affectionate. She Sent me to
school in England. When Twas old enough
l went to Elton, and afterwards to Oxford
While was there still she died. My ed
ucation, which had been of the best, was
her only legacy to me. I believe she had
even stinted herself that might have it.
AS a boy scarcely realized the full ex-
tent Of my obligation to her. But now
understand how immense it is. The rest
Of my story you know, Sir Peter, and
much of this you have known before in
outline, but never as have told 1t to you
Tonight - 1st},s
Who was the man who took her from
me?" Sir Peter asked, speaking more to
himself than to Knight. Was it the man
who kept her picture in his watch throug h
all these years?'
Dick did not answer, for his Thoughts
had gone back again to the day so long
ago when he had asked his mother the
question that had made her sad. In his
mind he was finishing the sentence which
a little while ago he had broken short in
telling his story to Sir Peter Markham
always remember that you have a father
his mother had said. Remember that,
and the motto of his family. which IS
yours. too My honor is my life!' Ter
rible things happen when those who should
remember 1t forget" j.
She had made him repeat the words so
that he knew them by heart; but they had
never spoken againof the absent father,
nor OF the motto which he had been bid
den to remember From that day, one
land-tWenty years ago, until the day when
he had found it engraved on the seal ring
IN the deserted stateroom of the derelict
Aenia, he had never seen the motto Or
heard it quoted therefore, when he had
, read the words on the ring they had mere
/ ly struck him hauntingly familiar
: without bringing back a definite recollec-
+ ton. It was only when he recalled the
scene between his. mother and himselt
, that the connection was suddenly and
startlingly re-established.
$50 you are her son-Eve Desmond s
son?' Sir Peter was saying, his eyes ex-
! aiming Dick Knights features with a
! new interest, made up of curiosity, and
a strange, half-bitter, half-sweet emo
, ton, which was partly jealousy and part
, ly something else which Eve Desmond
old lover coul dnot himself analyze =
= YES" Dick said, as he had said be-
: fore, IF this photograph is a portrait
, of Eve Desmond, I am her son. -,
' "You are twenty six years old, think
= you've told me- Sir Peter went on
thoughtfully. -. ....
e "Twenty-six a couple Of months ago
E I know that because while my mother
= lived my birthday was always kept witt
s a little feast and presents of toys an6
the sweets I liked best, even whenI sus
: pect-there was little money to spend or
luxuries.'' -. r-..-,.,- .-.... g.. e.
"She was poor-and alone, except fo