The Cook County herald., 1904-01-16
CHAPTER x-continued.

~I10F Se0 A. -~OUItUue0s
Some hidden excitement trembled In
the dying mans tones; his frame trem-
bled with suppressed feeling. g.s
"Avice, darling, come here" he con-
tinued. "Tell me, my child. have
made your life happy?"
80 happy, papa, that all it's sunshine
goes out with YOU"
"Ah, no, my darling. Laughter soon
returns to young lips, and the smile. to
young eyes. God in his merciful wis
dom has so ordained it: but now my
pet, my treasured child, leave us. Try
and sleep until your brother calls you"
One kiss she pressed on the forehead
already growing white and cold, then.
with swift steps, lest the choking sobs
should escape her, she obediently
crossed the room to seek her own
chamber, to fall on her knees and pray
to the good God to bid the Reaper pass
by this one ripe flower over which
hovered his dread sickle.
Travis, we are alone? have much
to say to you. 1t is OF Avice that
would speak Tell me, have you seen
Milton Has any one taken Avice's
place in his hearth"
mo one, father. He is the soul of
manly honor and on Avice's eighteenth
birthday will gladly receive the renewal
of her childish pledge"
He must not wait till then: they
must be married at once. Travis, that
betrothal was not without it's meaning.
1t was to insure future protection and
q noble name to my child"
"A noble name, father? Is not the
name of Meredith password" Travis
questioned proudly.
But even as he spoke a flush Of
shame rose to his cheeks as he remem-
bered how already he had tarnishcd
his heritage.
{ '':Yes, yes!' the sick man answered.
but. Travis, listen. Try and prepare
yourself for what must tell you. Fiji
teen years ago your mother and we're
in Paris, where our child was born, a
sittle girl, and we'll do remember the
feeling of pride and gratitude which
stirred my heart as sat down to write
you, at the school where we had placed
you, of the sister God had sent you,
who must ever be your little queen.
Your mother would not have her babe
. moment absent from her, but lay
with the head pillowed on her arm. he:
eyes always fastened on its face. On
the third day fever went to her brain,
and for time she was delirious; but
In no moment of her delirium was she
content unless the little one was near
her. Even in her sleep she would
grope out her hand that she might
touch it. When the child was four
days old it suddenly sickened and
died J."
"Father!"-the words burst in
gasp from the trembling lips of the
listener-"and Avice?"
1.-The physicians said, deprived of her
child, she must surely die-~that for a
time we must deceive her Oh. Travis,
I can hear now her pitiful voice call
ing upon her baby's name. There was
no time to lose. learned of an inst
tuition In Paris where friendless and
'forsaken children were cared for. All
Paris was then ringing with the story
of little waif who had been found
upon the steps of La Madeleine, and
taken in, only to die-a common story
enough, but made notorious by the
beauty of It's mother, and suspicion
which fell upon her, and which the
notoriety of her after life confirmed"
But that child-her child-died,
FL
young man, with now ashen lips.
"Died? Do not tell you they sus-
pected it's mother of being a MUIR
deress? 1t lived few hours, but The
sisters telling me the story told Of an
other child they had found sleeping by
its side. I was taken to the little ones
cradle. She wakened from her sleep,
and smiled up in my face. 1t was as
though little cherub had lain among
the pillows. Even then she was beau
tiful.
II could not take her unless formal
was at stake, and would have counted
no cost In few hours the child was
mine, and I had the exquisite happi-
ness of seeing your mother sink into
4 quiet sleep, holding her little daugh-
ter closely nestled in her bosom-the
sleep, the physicians said, that might
restore life and reason.
$50 it proved. The child was small
for her age, and when my darling was
restored to consciousness she saw no
difference, nor dreamed of the little
new-made grave in Pere la Chaise
graveyard.
"A few months she fingered with
US, when the little one entwined itself
about both our hearts; but day by day
l watched my wife fade, as lovely
flower droops, and all my love was
powerless to hold her back. At last,
Travis, on her deathbed, told her ALL
She smiled and blessed me.
"'My baby is waiting for me there.
Henry. shall not be alone in heaven;
but leave you Avice to comfort you
on earth. Promise me you will forget
she is not blood Of your blood. flesh of
your flesh. Accept her as my heri-