The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-02-01

what-er-whom did you investigate
there?" he gasped.
/ "Oh," said Cheney, smiling, 81 in
vestigated the birth of one Roy
Belcher."
"And you found out all about him?"
Yes, and that's why I'm here. You
know the story of Basket Charley
What is it?"
NO." gasped the preacher, 81 don't.
I've just heard of him, that's all"
The mans manner convinced
Cheney he was lying. He did know;
he must be made to tell.
Would your flock care to know
about your BIRTH"
NO" Numbered Belcher. mo, 1
don't want that, not now"
! Then tell me what you know of
Basket Charley" said Cheney. you
/ do know something, don't your
/ Yes, know, and if you'll promise
not to reveal my identity I'll tell.'
You have my sacred promise" re-
piled Cheney. "Candidly. Mr.. Belcher,
all want to do is to establish the
birth of Mr.. Farwell. 1t is simply an
act of justice, and you as a man of
God should not hesitate to do that.
You preach justice and mercy to your
congregation every Sunday. Exempli-
fy those teachings now by clearing
this mystery. Practice what you
preach"
All right, sir, will. / don't know
you, but you look like a man of your
word" Mr.. Belcher settled himself
back and closed his eyes as if think
| ing, and continued:
| i need not speak of my origin, you
know that. When was IA I went to
Exmoor and apprenticed with old man
Reyburn. The two girls were total
ly unlike. Jane was austere and al
most puritanical in her ideas. Mag
gle was the opposite and thought life
was naught but pleasure. Poor girl,
it was her undoing. She visited De-
troit once and while there met man
named James Eastman. He was of
the world and she of the country. He
wrote her frequently and she was very
much in love with him. Mr.. Reyburn
and Jane did not approve and said SO,
but Maggie was set in her ways,
couldn't have been moved in any man
ner. During one visit to Detroit a
marriage took place. Oh, it was a
legal marriage, all right"
Thank God for that!" murmured
Cheney under his breath
/ "Yes," continued Mr.. Belcher,
there's no doubt of the marriage.
| I've seen the certificate. But after
the marriage Eastman soon tired of
his country wife. It was the old, old
story of neglect and abuse, and final
ly desertion. After he left her
/ Maggie tried to get work but couldn't
work very hard. Things went all
wrong at the farm; Mr.. Reyburn
died; Jane couldn't run it, neither
could I, and it was sold. 1t didn't
bring much money because a mort
gage had to be paid off. The night
we were to leave Maggie came home
and brought with her baby scarce
ly three weeks old. Jane was in
censed, and stormed furiously, up
braiding Maggie for her acts. She
finally refused to have anything to
do with the child. Oh, it was awful,
that scene!" Mr.. Belcher shud-
dered at the memory and resumed.
Maggie was very ill and the ac-
tons of her sister made her worse.
She was desperate, indeed. | wasn't
much myself, but l was sorry for her.
She came out to the barn where l
was and made me promise before God
that / would try and place her child
with some good family. Then she
would get well and go to work some
/ place. Her spare earnings would go
| to the child and later she would
come and claim him. I promised and
then we cast our minds about for
| the proper persons with whom to
leave the baby" Cheney was in
tensely interested. Belcher's man
ner was very earnest and truth was
stamped on every word he uttered.
"Old man Farwell was one of those
dear fine men liked by everybody.
He was poor as church mouse but
always willing to share his crust
| with one more unfortunate. He
would look after the boy. Maggie
wrapped the baby up in some warm
| clothing, wrote note-my God,
you have it there!" interjected the
| minister noticing the old faded let
ter Cheney held towards him. yes.
that's it. She pinned it to the baby's
outer garment, inserted two dollars
and half, and that night l left the
baby on Mr.. FarwelTs doorstep. She
/ went without seeing her sister again;
left that night Two weeks later she
| died. That's all, sir, every word /
know
EYES," said Cheney, ''but the man,
where is he? Was he never heard
| of afterwards"
| Heard of? Damn him-damn
him!" said Belcher, justifiably forget
ting he was preacher. eyes, he was
heard from. Maggie hadn't been dead
week before he came to Detroit and
acted as if nothing had happened.