Middletown transcript., 1904-04-30


/ knew nothing about my fathers claim
10 Erndale till saw the lawyers whose
advertisement you have there. They
have had, 1t seems. all my fathers papers
for years and what they want you for
ii to certify to my certificate of birth and
to tile fact Of my beihg my fathers son.
I witnessed q register of birth fifteen
years ago, said Callagan, looking up at
TOMS face, and it mas the register OF
Thomas Seaton's sons birth. But yon
are older than that, and you're no more
like bis son than chalk is like cheese.
No, laughed Tom. 1t seems am more
like the Erndale family.
The last time seed ye, said Callagan-
and his voice took a curious note OF
trouble and doubt t-ye wur in Cape
Town. Thomas Seaton wur mp country
lie went under the name of Archerthen-
and he tells me ye'd died O. fever; and
I'd mind to see and judge for meself,
and SO made pretence to go further up
country, but made for Cape Town instead,
and sure enough ! see ye with yer mother,
and knew it wur the babe who died and
not you. Is yer mother alive still he
burst out passionately. She wur poor
thing, and not likely to make old bones.
But, II could see her once more, it might
straighten things out a bit, for she wasn't
like Thomas. She'd feelin' heart.
The man was terribly in earnest. He
clutched the arms of his chair convul-
siyely, and sudden CLEAN came into his
eyes which seemed born of some inward
light which had just dawned on his
intelligence. Tom felt and looked sur
prised.
| My mother is here with me, he said in
his frank straightforward way; but she
has been i'll since her arrival, and is still
very weak. However, think she would
be pleased to see you, as indeed I am
myself.
Callagan glanced at Tom, and NUT
tered something to himself.
It's lateish now, he said presently.
Would she see me, dye think, or shall
/ come again to-morrer mornin'?
!. 1t is too late to disturb my mother to-
| night, said Tom decidedly and, as for
coming again in the morning, of course
| you'll stay here, and Til prepare her to
see you early tomorrow.
BY yer leave, Mr.. Seaton, the man said,
with kind Of rough gratitude that be.
came him well, III get bed in the vii.
lage. You're on higher rung Of the
ladder than David Callagan, and don't
want to bring no disgrace on yer fathers
son..
Then, as Tom, relieved in spite of him.
self, put his hand into his pocket with
kindly forethought, his strange visitor
said quickly
I've enough and to spare for bed and
breakfast, thankee all the same. Arter
to-morrer, maybe you won't feel so in.
clined to help me. However, I'll come
up, no fear, and p'r'aps the turn I'm
a-goin' to do ye may be better one than
you think. Yours is the fust kind voice
I've heard for many long year. Heaven
bless ye for it, and good night /!
CHAPTER VI
Late though it was, Tom rode down to
the Manor House that same night, for
Sir Jasper kept late hours when he was
free from gout, and the young man knew
he was always welcome. As the ring OF
his horses hoofs was heard without, the
Baronet looked up from the game II CHESS
he was playing with Betty, and said joy
fully
believe that's Seaton coming to wake
us up a bit Halo, my dear boy las
Fom under Jennifer's wing entered some
what hastily. What good wind has
blown you over to cheer us mp tonight 2
Tom held Betty's little fingers for just
a moment longer than politeness de-
manded, and then Sir Jasper shook him
heartily by the hand and bade him take
a seat.
You don't look as bright as usual, my
boy, he said. as Tom took the chair he
offered. Has anything happened to up
set your Man is born to trouble, you
know.
The man we advertised for called upon
me tonight, was Toms slow reply, and
he wants to see my mother. He's trou-
bled about something, but can't make
out what it is, and he's coming up in the
morning to see her. II would be great
aonnfort Sir Jaspor IL Mias Hilaru and