Middletown transcript., 1904-05-07

not long bad my own q 65 and 1,2 heart
soitened 10 the li7l| moi jI|7fIeas xaif
Bfine tim laeFes flsaid qdistIy and i'll do
the best can for hin,l And then my
tears fell fast and thick on the babe at
my side. What are you sniveling for +?
my husband said impatiently. There'll
be money with the youngster, never you
fear so stop crying, or I'll leave you aud
your child to shift for yourselves 1t
was all true that he had said. My father
believed in him, and was married when
he lay on his death-bed. We were hum
dreds of miles from any human being,
and was alone. And the same night he
had spoken to me of the child, you
pointing to David Callagan-you came
with a fair child, four or five years Of
age, with dark shining curls and large
brown eyes. 1t did not look like child
of his /; it was too fair and pretty. 1t put
out its little arms to me, and l loved and
cared for it as if it were my own. There
was no need for you, David Callagan, to
ask me to be kind to it; but l liked you
ever after, and thought kindly Of you.
And now you've come to break my heart
and take my darling from me!
If know anything OF him, he'll love
you betterl was Callagan's blunt reioinder.
Tom. looking down on the face of the
woman who had SO tenderly reared him,
simply held her more closely to his heart
and kissed the snowy hair that lay against
his breast.
My baby died, she went on after long
pause, and my husband sent us to Cape
Town whilst he bartered for sheep
farm up country. I never saw you there
never guessed you knew our secret.
And Tom was my very own, my darling
child l managed to get him what
schooling l could, and taught him all /
knew myself, for my husband did not
seem to care to have us with him, and it
was only when Tom was about sixteen
that he compelled him to take an active
share in his work. He-my boy-was
always in the saddle then, for we had
large cattle ranch, and l could see his
father was never easy or contented when
he was at home. There were terrible
scenes between them on my account, for
Thomas was harsh and cruel. And, when
at last the boy could stand it no longer,
he ran away to Kimberley, to make, as
he said, money enough to take me away
to where we could be at peace together.
My darling, she added, with convulsive
sob, Pm not your mother, but I've tried
to be mother to you l don't know
who your mother was.
Or his father either, perhaps, said CAL
lagan gruffly. Well, missis, you've
done your part like braye woman and
now I'll do mine. And, if there's JUS
tice of the peace anywhere hereabouts, |
expect 1 shall have to say before him
what I'm goin' to say
Sir Jasper Hilary is downstairs, was
Toms unexpected answer. He has been
good friend to me, and, if witness is
wanted, 1 will call him up. But that
must rest entirely with you. / cannot
advise, as I know nothing of the story
you have to tell.
Callagan stretched out his hand, which
was cut and scored with hard work, and
Tom shook it heartily.
Perhaps you won't care to touch my
hand, the man said huskily, when you've
heard what I've got to say SO take it
now, and believe Pm true to you at last
Call the justice up, and I'll make clean
breast of it; SO will
CHAPTER VII
Sir Jasper glanced at the white-haired
| fragile woman he now saw for the first
time, and took her hand kindly in his
| own.
Betty wanted to come up too, he said,
as he released the fragile fingers and took
a seat by her side but your boy said it
was a matter of business, so I left her
getting roses for your table, Now, he
added, turning to Tom, what is it you
want me for? I'm ready to do it, and
anything else you ask-by George l am
Something in the old Baronet's CHEEKY
mood found an echo in Callagan's heart
and encouraged him to speak plainly.
The tale I've got to tell isn't a pleasant
one, he said bluntly, but I'll make it as
clear as can. Some fifteen years ago
Thomas Hurst Seaton, who tried for the
Erndale title and failed some years be-
fore, comes to me, as wur then livin' from
hand to mouth and ripe for any job,
however dirty it might be.
Callagan, ses he, you're in a bad way,
and like enough to be in wus, What
dye say to job as'll put We on yer feet
and fifty pun in yer pocket?
Well, mate, ses I, if ye can do that.
I'm the man for ye! It's little I wouldn't
do for such a chance as that
Well, ses Mister Seaton-I called him
Mister in those days 1 did-keep a still
tongue in yer head and ye may get it
but, if yer don't keep still tongue in yer
head, it'll be the wus for you
Trust me, ses I-I'llnever spit on yer
and swears big oath, as coined easy
enough to such chap as 1.
Well, ses he, once lost a case yondel
meaning England-and / wants my
revenge. l wants ye to 60 to Lunnon
for me and bring away child as I'm
goin' to adopt. I've heard from them
who knows that the cnild's in Lunnor
now, and l wants ye to get at him By
hook or crook, and bring him right away
| Who's the kid, ses 1, and wot's his age
Then Thomas he puts his lips close tc
me ear and whispers the name and fol
moment feels l should like to cry of
the job, aud no mistake
I'd get fifteen years If wur caught
ses l.
But yer mustn't be caught ses he
Noihin' venture, nothin' have! Which
shall it be-the child and fifty pun, Of
d., in OF starvation ont here?