Gilpin observer., 1906-11-08
The Eternal Bond.
BY GEO. r, EATON.

TOOK little two-year,old baby girl
into their home there was a buzz of
| excitement in the neighborhood. The
blIlmans We're childless. But even
SO, the neighbors felt that the affair
was unusual at least, and that some
| explanation should be Forthcoming.
The busy inquiries ELECTED the in.
formation that the baby had been
found by Mr.. Billman himself. and
brought home to Mrs Billman. with
request that she take it and rear it,
Then there were quiet shekings of
the head and whispered doubts as to
the relationship of the lawyer with
the child. Some of the more inter.
ested ones even expressed sympathy
for Mrs. Billman, and rather criti-
! cised her as being weak and a dupe.
Little Ethel. as she was called,
grew and flourished under the good
| care of Mrs. Billman until she be-
came a beautiful child of six-at once
| the pride and despair of the neigh
| borhood. Other pretty little ones
there were, but none to hold a can
die to the dainty Ethel At the Bill
man home she was simply worshiped.
particularly fond of children, unbent
under the sunlight of Ethels nature,
and became passiopately fond of her;
and as for Mrs. Billman. she was never
| happy while away from the little one.
Lawyer Billman was very busy
with mass of papers when a rus
| tie arrested his attention and he
glanced up to behold a tall stylishly
dressed woman with a regal carriage.
standing before him.
Mrs. Van Dorst." he exclaimed.
after a moment of stupefied staring.
Pardon me, but | did not get your
card"
No, l did not send it in," she re-
piled, calmly. "Ia walked past the
door-boy. | wanted to be sure to see
you, and did not propose to be put
off by servant. Mr. Billman, | want
my baby. l have recovered my
health, and am going to establish
home for myself and the little one"
But, my dear madam, you forget
that the child was placed where she
is by direction of Mr.. Van Dorst, in
whose possession she was"
But she is mine. and / will have
her." cried the woman, with a men,
| ace in every tone and gesture. Il
have been deprived of her for four
years, and supposed Ernest took her
to Europe with him until a few days
ago / learned that he had employed
you to put her in the hands of
strangers. Where is she? Tell me,
or l will tear the Information from
you with my finger nails"
You forget, madam" replied the
I lawyer, with dignity. that in this
matter l am acting as the attorney
for your husband. and it would be
the most fagrant breach of trust to
give you any information whatever"
This is especially true" he added,
more gently, and with a touch of
pity in his voice, "inasmuch as l have
! on my desk letter instructing me
to bring suit for divorce and to Sc.
cure for him the custody of the
child"
He can never do it." she replied,
with deadly calmness although her
eyes blazed like diamonds. No, not
even with your help. He can have his
divorce, and welcome. But not the
little girl. l don't know anything
about courts of law. or anything of
that sort, but | will find a way to
prevent it if it ends in a tragedy"
Then, melting into tears. she
threw out her arms and said: ''Is she
alive? Is she well? Tell me. oh, if
you have a drop of human blood in
you, tell me-"
The lawyers eyes were suspiciously
moist as he replied in tones as
steady as he could command:
She Is well, Mrs. Van Dorst, and in
the best of hands, where everything
is being done for her-and l think
may say she is happy"
Il thank you for so much of COM
fort" she replied. as she swept from
the Office. Then, turning at the door,
she added: II warn you and your
client that l will defeat you in this
villainous plot. My husbands suspi-
cions are unjust and untrue and cruel,
and while / win not fight his di-
vorce, II 1t does not involve the loss
of my child. I will fight him and you
and the law and everything in the
universe with every weapon in des.
perate womans power before | will
submit to the loss of my baby"
A few weeks late.' a sturdy, tanned,
well-groomed young man invaded
Lawyer Billmans Office carrying with
him the smell OF the ocean and the
atmosphere of a domineering spirit.
He was n handsome fellow. with all
the marks of birth and reeding-and
the suggestion of wllfulness born of
indulgent parents and admiring
friends. His strong, handsome fea.
lures were marred only by the jux.
| tanosition Of the ewes which Suggest.