Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-02-24

ssh, has never once disappointed me.
Lyen her Intentions seem to be mine"
There was c0mmotion downstairs.
then The sound of footsteps Oil the pol
ished stairs and Il vigorous knock OH
the intel The portiere was whisked
aside. and an excited maid came into
the room-so excited that she gave no
heed 10 the bishops frown of mild re-
proof AT her unseemly entrance.
"Plazc. sor." she gaspcd. Miss Edith
No be- wantIn yer downstairs at vance.
sor. Thcy'S been II baby lift on the
,loorstip.
The bishop almost sprang from his
chair ~ WHAT" he said
~ baby. sor. lift on the doorstip.
sor"
"'rherc seems something almost omi-
nous In this coincidence. Arthur" he
said nervously. Pardon me n moment.
I'll he back directly"
After the bishop had left the room
Van Ruyven tiptoed cautiously into the
hall and peered over the Anisters. 1t
was indeed II strange group that stood
IN the hall below Mrs. Briggs. the
housekccper. with the much swathed
founding In her arms Edith. tall and
stately. standing near by. her arms and
neck showing like ivory against the
dark tapestry on the wall: the bishop
pcerlng into the depths of the old shawl
that wrapped the child: two maids
craning over his shoulder and the statu-
csquc Higgins explaining to such as
cared TO listen how he had come To find
the bundle when hc had answered the
bell
And what'll we do with it?" asked
Mrs. Briggs when Higgins tale Of woe
hGd come to an end
"Do:" said Edith. why. well take
II 80 the home. Of course"
MY dear" the bishop demonstrated
mildly. why not keep It here with us
To take II to the home seems TO me to
be very much like casting Il into outer
darkness. OF course we can't look after
all th" waits. but suppose we take this
one who has been left AT our very door.
and give II chance IN the world"
Edith laughed unsympathetically
why. father. dear. what a silly idea"
she began. 'Of course we can't keep
H."
"'1nasmuch rs We have done II unto
one of The least OF these" quoted the
bishop
- Gnnffntnnf' gnII fh.a
girl. but most impractical You
haven't the least idea what instincts
this child may have You would prob
ably give II every advantage In the
world only to have IL disappoint you at
every turn. II would probably grow up
n most ungrateful little wretch They
always do"
Van Ruyven tlptocd back into the
study and sat down before the fire He
heard the group below 60 into the re-
ception room. and their voices came up
to him inartlculately For II time he
sat there. smoking In II prcoccupled
manner Then he heard Edith's voice
In the hall below giving orders To the
servants.
Higgins. telephone for the carriage,
ana Mrs Briggs get on your things.
please. and be ready when IL comes.
Wen take the child 10 the home I'll
go with you. can't conceive why
father had such absurd notions about
keeping II here
\ little later the front door slammed.
there was II rumble of carriage wheels
without. and then Van Ruyven heard
the bishops steps slowly ascending the
stairs. He came into the study and
stood for awhile looking silently into
the fire
Did you hear III" he asked ut
length. turning abruptly To Van Ruy-
ven The younger man nodded. The
bishop sank rather heavily into his
chair
shes not mine. was mistaken"
he burst out she Is no daughter OF
mine. after ALL
go now" he said simply. Please don't
tell Edith that | have been here nor
why | came"
The bishop looked at him narrowly
1T will be- hard for her." he said. but
think you are Justified"
Suddenly the bishops head dropped.
There was II stitled sound very like II
sob
she said il would grow up an UNI
grateful little wretch and she was
right, Arthur: she was right"
salt.