Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-06-01

"She has never once disappointed me.
Even her intentions seem to be mine"
There was a commotion downstairs,
then the sound of footsteps on the pol
ished stairs and u vigorous knock on
the Intel. The portlere was whisked
aside, and an excited maid came into
the room-so excited that she gave 10
heed TO the bishops frown of mild re-
proof at her unseemly entrance.
"Plaze, sor," she gasped, Miss Edith
do be wantin' yer downstairs at vance,
sor. They's been baby lift on the
doorstlp.'
The bishop almost sprang from his
chair. "a what?" he said.
"a baby, sor, lift on the doorstip,
sor."
"There seems something almost omi-
nous in this coincidence, Arthur" he
said nervously. Pardon me moment.
Ill be back directly"
After the bishop had left the room
Van Ruyven tiptoed cautiously into the
hall and peered over the banisters. 1t
was indeed strange group that stood
in the hall Delow-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
peering 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 whatll we do with itT" asked
Mrs. Briggs when Higgins tale of woe
had come to an end
"Do?" said Edith. why, we'll take
it to the home, of course"
"My dear" the bishop demonstrated
mildly, ''why not keep 1t here with us?
10 take 1t TO the home seems to me to
be very much like casting 1t into outer
darkness. OF course we can't look after
all the WATTS but suppose we take this
one, who has been left at our very door,
and give 1t chance in the world"
Edith laughed unsympathetlcally
"Why, father, dear, what a silly idea,"
she began. "Of course we can't keep
It."
Inasmuch as ye have done 1t 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 1t every advantage in the
world only to have 1t disappoint you at
every turn. 1t would probably grow up
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 up
to him inarticulately. For time he
sat there, smoking in a preoccupied
manner. Then he heard Ediths voice
in the hall below giving orders to the
servants.
"Uiggins, telephone for the carriage
and Mrs. Briggs get on your things,
please, and be ready when 1t comes.
Well take the child to the home I'll
go with you. l can't conceive why
father had such absurd notions about
keeping it here
A little later the front door slammed,
there was 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 yeu hear it?" he asked at
length, turning abruptly to Van Ruy-
ven. The younger man nodded. The
bishop sank rather heavily into his
chair.
"She's not mine! 1 was Mistaken
he burst out. "She is no daughter Of
mine, after all!'
Van Ruyven rose. Il think I'd best
go now," he said simply. please don't
tell Edith that / have been here nor
why l came"
The bishop looked at him narrowly
at will be hard for her." he said, but
1 think you are justified"
Suddenly the bishops head dropped.
There was a stifled sound very like n
sob.
"She said it would grow up an I'M
grateful little wretch, and she was
right, Arthur; she was right"