Middletown transcript., 1904-05-07
fess' wEstl


tias the man came up to tha Dover
I1oi]Ae. she was dressed and sitting on
her sofa; and, although Tom would iain
have waited for Sir Jasper and his daugh-
ter. she insisting on seeing Callagan at
once, and alone. And Tom would OBEY
only on the condition that lie remained
close at hand in case OF need.
I have brought David Callagan to see
YOU, mother, he said, introducing his
strange visitor. But you must not exert
yourself too much-and ring for me the
moment you feel fatigued.
Mrs. Seaton's pale cheeks flushed and
her ewes slone with feyerish restless
light as Callagan advanced awkwardly to
her couch.
It's q long time since we met, Mrs
Seaton, he said, with more feeling than
might have been expected, but it's not SO
long since seed We in Cape Town. I'll
take this chair, if l may, he added, sitting
down on one near, and I'll make things
as easy for We as 1 cantor his sake
nointing to Tom. He's been good to me,
and I'll be good 10 him--and to you, too,
if you'll let me!
Tom, who still fingered, troubled and
distrustful, watched his mother uneasily.
Leave us, she whispered; the time has
come when he must speak and l must
hear. 1 will call you soon. Let me feel
your kiss once more and hear you call
me mother.
Tom stopped tenderly over her couch
and kissed her fondly.
Ny own Gear mother he whispered.
I shall remain within call, never fear
And, closing the door softly, he went
away to await his mothers summons.
There was a long silence after he lett
the room, which was broken at last by
Callagan.
Do YOU remember when l signed the
register for your boys birth, Mrs. Sea-
ton he said. And dye think that wur
the last time I seed ye?
Mrs. Seaton raised herself on the couch
and her eyes had a wild terrified look in
them as she fixed them on Callagan.
Yer husband went up country four
wears later, and I wur up country too.
How's the missis, ses l, and the children
And wherever are they? The biggest is
dead, ses Thomas, aixin' me with his
eve, and the missis and the little un are
up in Cape Town. And yerself, Thomas,
ses I-for I'd heard enough, and didn't
want to say nothin' to show as how |
didn't believe a word he ses-and yer
self? Are ye doin' well? And dye
think I'd get job if I went further on
Yes, think you would, he answers, all
of hurry like. Up by Ledford there's
a power of hands wanted and, if I'd
been as strong as you, I'd have gone me-
self. But I've got together few sheep,
and think l may do better at farmin'
Well, mate, ses l, you're clever enough
for anything-and can't work with me
head, only me hands-so I'll take your
tip and 90 on to Ledford and you'l II hear
of me at the old address whenever We
write. So l starts off then and there
but, instead OF goin' up country, goes to
Cape Town, and there sees you, missis,
and the kid i!
A sigh that was almost sob burst fiom
Mrs. Seaton's lips, and she lay back faint
and trembling.
sees you and the kid, went on Gala
gan deliberately but it wurn't your own
kid you'd got with yer-it wur the kid as
I brought the night | signed the register
for yer own babe's birth!
Not word came from the sick woman's
parched and trembling lips. She only
watched with dumb despair, like one
waiting for her deatl-warrant, the face
of tie man before her.
Then, continued Callagan, Thomas
Seaton writes later on, and tells me, il
ever it SO happens that | am wanted to
help prove his son is heir to Erndale, to
60 to Lunnon and see some lawyers as he
tells me on and may as well tell ye,
missis, l didn't like the job. But, when
I sees their advertisement, wur starvin'
and I works my passage over here, and
wur a-goin' straight where he told me,
when I sees in the paper another adver.
tisement sayin' as how the son of Thomas
Seaton wanted the address OF David Cal.
lagarr; and I comes straight, ready fol
any wickedness that 'ud bring me money,
The man paused and wiped his heated
brow, scarcely glancing at Mrs. Seaton's
ghastly face.
When l coined last night, he said al
length, wur taken in, welcomed, spoke
kindly to as l hand't been for years and
I saw enough to know could repay thai
kindness as I'd never repaid anything in
the world afore. And with your helI
Pm goin' to do it
Mrs. Seaton's feeble hand pointed to {
restorative that stood near, and Callsgar
held it to her lips.
Who was the child you brought to Int
that night? she whispered, as a fsin
color stole back into her white cheeks
His child, he said it was, but I've doubt
ed-doubted-
Ye might well doubt anything Thoma
Seaton said, was the bitter answer.
doubts him and suspects him even nov
he's dead But I'll answer no question
till hear you tell the young man whc
calls you mother that he's no son o
yours Then I'll speak, and not before
Mercy broke from the sick woman
lips and her passionate cry brought il
Tom in hot haste.
What have you done to her? !? he said
striding across the room, his face darl
with anger.
But Mrs. Seaton herself answered.
He has done nothing she cried il
strong excitement. Hold me in you
arms, let me hide my face on your breas
and will speak the truth!
Tom held the frail form tightly 10 hi