The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28

to Mrs. Seabrook her eyes fierce with pas
sion and love.
But then the baby smiled, and Flavia
forgot everything. She sank down on the
nearest chair and for the next hour talked
only TO the baby. soothing It, kissing It.
pressing it to Ter heart. fondling it with
wealth sof mother-love. Perhaps ii was
that very same love that the baby needed.
for 1t had never thrived at Mrs. Seabrook's.
Mrs. Seabrook has wanted the child as she
would want any other toy; but this child
was not to her taste. She was tired of it.
She looked on ianguidly.
Deborah" she said after a pause "per-
haps you will order a cab and collect baby's
clothes, and the little purse of gold l told
you about. And perhaps this young wom-
an will take her child away. am rather
| tired of this scene. In the meantime. young
woman. take possession of my little box.
| Will you open it. Deborah, and see IL the
| jewels are all right?''
Deborah opened it. and there lay the dia-
| monds and tho turquoses and the pearls
Beauties said Mrs. Seabrook. "They
| will make UP exquisitely. Well take them
to Benson's in Bond street this morning"
Meanwhile F1avia rose.
Il have confession to make she said
''You can do with me what you like, but
| 1 am so happy that nothing matters. No
| one, no one can take this past hour away
| from me. Even in prison L shall remem-
Der 1T. You start, but / am the sort they
put into prison. Yes am. Perhaps they'll
let me have baby in prison. 1 don't know.
| l hope so. Ii was / who stole that box
Your maid left it in the railway carriage.
| took it. / hid it under my cloak.
| have stolen many things, but no one has
| ever discovered it. / am one of the clerks
| at James Heriots office. and it was
| who wrote out the advertisement which ap-
pears to-day in all the dailies. Nobody
/ has ever suspected me. Last night when
| I went home I meant to take the box to
James Heriots Office and claim the ESQ
| reward; but last night L heard for the
| first time that my child who thought was
dead was alive. All, baby. hush! hush! my
little darling. Sleep, baby. Sleep, my
sweet
She paused in her narrative to sway
backwards and forwards, holding the baby
to her breast.
| Last night 1 heard that the child was
alive, but my husband would not tell me
| to whom he had sold it. He said he would
| if 1 gave him two hundred pounds and
| made up my mind that 1 would sell the
jewels and get the money. / was going
out to sell them when your letter came.
| Now perhaps you would like to send me to
| prison.
Mrs. Seabrook looked at Deborah. DE
borah, you are witness to what this young
woman has just said''
| Deborah nodded 1.-The young woman has
been greatly tempted, madam" she said
| after pause. at was very cruel to sell
| her child"
Eyes, yes. of course, perhaps so. This
passion for infants as infants is more than
l can understand. Young woman, really
wish you would go before the child cries
again Its cries have got terribly on my
nerves. Yes. certainly you may go. I
don't mean to interfere, 1 don't intend to
prosecute you. 1 will write a line to James
| Heriot to say the box is found, and that he
need do nothing further in the matter.
| You lose your place? No, certainly not.
as far as l am concerned. / have no wish
| to be the means of your redemption.
Doubtless that child you are so frantic
about will do that. It's remarkably
| troublesome infant, can assure you. But,
| by the way, in bringing the box back,
although you Gid not intend to, you have
earned fifty pounds. Deborah see that
fifty additional pounds are put into the bag
| for Mrs. Lascelles. And now goodbye
Mrs. Lascelles. I wish you luck of the
baby
Copyright 1903