Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-03-23

There was n cOmmOtion downstairs,
then the sound OF footsteps Oh the pol
ished stairs and n vigorous knock on
the Intel. The portiere was whisked
aside, aud an excited maid came into
the room-sO excited that she gave no
heed to the bishops frown Of mild re-
proof at her unseenly entrance.
"Plazc, sOr.' she gasped. Miss Edith
do be wantin' yer downstairs ut vance,
sor. They's been a baby lift on the
doorstip."
The bishop almost sprang from his
chair. "a whot2' he said.
"a baby, sor, LIT on the doorstip,
sor."
There seems something almost omi-
nous In this coincidence, Arthur" he
said %nervously. Pardon me a moment.
I'll be back directly"
After the bishop had left the room
Van Ruyven tlptoed cautiously into the
hall and peerod owe the banisters. 1t
was indeed a strange group that stood
in the hall below-Mrs. Briggs, the
housekeeper, 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
poering into the depths Of the old shawl
that wrapped the child; two maids
~craning over his shoulder and the statu-
esque Higgins explaining to such as
cared to listen how he had come to find
the bundle when he had answered the
bell.
"And what'll we do with it," asked
Mrs. Briggs when Higgins tale OF woe
had come to an end.
"DoY" said Edith. "Why, wen take
it to the home, Of course"
'Niy dear" the bishop demonstrated
mildly, "why not keep It here with us?
To take 1t to the home seems to me to
be very much like casting It into outer
darkness. OF course we can't look after
all the waits, but suppose we take this
one. who has been left at our very door,
and give It n chance in the world"
Edith laughed unsympathetically.
"Why, father, dear. what a silly idea"
she began. "Of curse we can't keep
It,"
AAd'AluNn Us It naNt hDllt II untO
one of the least Of these,'" quoted the
bishop.
"a very pretty sentiment" said the
girl, but most impractical. You
haven't the least idea what instincts
this child may have. You would prob
ably give it every advantage in the
world only to have 1t disappoipt you at
every turn. 1t would probably grow up
n most ungrateful little wretch. They
always do"
Van Ruyven tiptoed back into the
study and sat down before the fire. He
heard the group below go into the re
ception room, and their voices came uI
to him ~inarticulately. For a time he
sat there, smoking in a preoccupiet
manner. Then he heard Edith's voice
in the hall below giving orders to tho
servants.
"Higgins, telephone for the carriage
and Mrs. Briggs get on your things
; please, and be ready when 1t comes
Wen take the child to the home. II
go with you. 1 can't conceive VIII!
father had such absurd notions abou
keeping 1t here"
, A little later the front door slammed
there was n rumble Of carriage wheels
without, and then Van Ruyven henr(
the bishops steps slowly ascending til,
stairs. He came into the study nn(
stood for awhile looking silently int,
the fire.
Did you hear it," he asked a
length, turning abruptly to Van Ruy
ven. The younger man nodded. Tn
bishop sank rather heavily into hi
chair.
"She's nUt mine! 1 was mistaken!
I he burst out. "She is no daughter o
, mine, AFTER all!'
, Van Ruyven rose. 81 think I'd hes
5 go now" he said simply. "Please don
Q tell Edith that l have been here no
why / came"
1 The bishop looked at him narrowly
1T will be hard for her." he said, "bu
g 1 think you are justified"
Suddenly the bishops head dropped
+ There was n stihed sound very like
5 sob.
"She said 1t would grow up m I'm
grateful little wretch. and she wa
=. right, Arthur; she was right"