Evening journal., 1907-01-14

2
room, one almost as hungry as WREN she entered.
Later on it developed that Mr.. Seymour Lofts.
though lacking Mr.. Mclnyre's excuse Of running
night, and he did not appear through the Ionr
hours which followed while his worthy wife wearik
brought forth albums of European views IN a vain
endcavor to amuse her guest till bedtime.
win the baby sleep with its to-nighfF~ the
maid asked when she came to bear the child away
after dinner, but poor Mrs Mcintyre greeted the sug
gestion with such evident panied surprise that he
hostess had YEARLY shaken her head; but whei
this maid later on, had attended the lady from james
vile 70 her room and had left her unaccustomed and
embarrassed to the solitary possession of the satin.
eanopied bed the poor woman felt that perhaps, ate
all the childs presence might not have been so in
tolerabe this great silence which she left u
suffer, in state, alone
She longed for the morning; only to dread il mors
ieariuly when she remembered the ordeal Of break
fast 70 come-the butler again with his terrifying ad
minstraon of different plates, the baby In fresh fnery
and the hosies, in another bewildering display Of
The dawn found her firm in mighty resolve Sh.
dressed hurriedy and the dainty little escroire which
stood IN the light OF the lace-dra1ed bay-windows
yielded pencil and paper to her feversh investigation
She wrote this note and pinned It to the cushion OF
the dressing-table;
DEAR ETmNpi I am leaving on the FIRST train for
home. / coodent take this child nohow. Bill and ma
are just plane people which ashame to say and
the baby is prnsess we ooodent do nothin for her
live most TO our utchin, and amt got fine things
we cant ask 50 grand babby TO cat and sleep with
all i ~ = " $500 ''' 80
With guilty caution the woman. carrying her lttis
grip then slipped through the halls No one wa,
stirring. She wondered wildly how she might manage
to unbar strange door in that heavy silence with
out alarming the sleeping household; but her IN
whiting host had conferred unconscousy upon his guest
a most appreciated and unooked-for favor. His own
night run had put him in a state of most careless
indifference to locks and bolts and entering his homs
in the early morning hours, he had left the entrance
door ajarl
Mrs Mcintyre breathed a feryent thanks to heaven
81. ICED ruait If al he
fverish body and stimulated her in the long walk 1,
the station. which she finally reached, exhausted bu
relieved through the kind direction of the early milk
men whom she met upon their routes
In the meantime the maid, in making her round OF
morning calls at the bedrooms received no answes
from the guests room 10 her persistent knock AMI
entering she found the room empty and the note o {
explanation the cushion
Che read the scrawl and shifted, then sh 4.
,ooL IL 20 her friend, the parlor-maid and they both
sniff.d In unison. They decided that their mistress
@ h, All probability would keep the child herself
and thev both agreed TO give prompt notice II ahe did
Having thus settled this weighy consideration IN the
new turn OF affairs the girl then carried the note to
her mistress whom she found dressing laziy IN her
Mrs. seymour-Lofts read the contents twice. then
looked up suddenly and caught the sheer on her
ave the roomr she said sharply and the maid
oheved wonderngly conscious that the voice of he
selfcontained mistress was ehoked with some emotion
other than a sudden wrath
The butler very shortly brought her an order below
a;rs TO give the child its breakfast and dress II with
ovt delay the clothes which II had worn
NE asylum The mistress wished these details exact
carried out 10 the underclothes and the braidin
OF tire hair. Also he vouohsated some added nforms-
lion 10 the entire force Of servants that. curiousl
enough By this time had account Of the whole story OF
NE night guest and her flight He said their mistres
was now at hasty breakfast and the carriage had bee
ordered hut for what destination he knew not II
seemed TO him she might take things peaccabl
and not be in SUCH foolish hurry to pack the chill
back where il from, at once.
When the maid appeared with the forlornly dresse
baby before Mrs Seymour-Lottis, she carried tn
"Beg pardon, ma am, but the morning IS cold" sh;
said apologetcaly. The child came without wral
and her old straw hats been thrown away and can
be found. Would 'nese 'nnss 10 i0f nsF 10 wea'
Her mistress smiled curiously
"put them on her. are going at once / sha
not need YOU with me" all she said.
A carefully consulted timetable had revealed ths
fact that she had full hour before that first trai
Left for GAINESVILLE. Arriving at the station, she lei
the child into the large and almost empty waiting
and She easily sighted Mrs. Mcintyre at That
unsuspectng lady, her back turned to the door, wa.
seated on high stool beside the refreshment counte
busly fortiying her shattered nerves with stimu-
lating cup OF coffee
Mrs Mcintyre finished her repast She paid he
check and turned to 60 then she saw the two Direct
TO dread and the child brave in its hnery Of silke
coat and noddng pumes
For one wild moment she considered second hgh
but something perhaps guilty consciousness that sh
had after all but poorly repaid and acknowledged tn.
dsintcrestcd kindness OF the lady who stood bcfor
her prompted her TO wait and sammer in apology:
Il ,odent do no different Look at me, ma'am an
look at her. Why, OF course it Good never be
For answer Mrs. Seymour-Lofis reached down anc
united the childs gay bonnet strings she oosened tn,
fastenines Of the pretty wrap, and all in a tn
child stood stripped OF her hnery. like modern Gin
derea.
and then a sudden light of understanding shone IL
her eyes.
The other woman spoke with feeling
Mrs. Mcintyre" She said, Il am very foolish
woman, and l see l have made a great mistake
When / bought the child those silly things / only
thought to please you and make her more attractive
IN your eyes / know had right 10 do for
her and spoil your pleasure and your plans But I've
brought her to you again this mornngthe real baby
as she really is Here's the money that you sent me
and you can quite fresh; all she has in this
world she will only to you. am sorry have
been so clumsy, bu, believe me, I did not know.
Then Mrs Bill Mcintyre, Of GAINESVILLE, reached over
and patted Mrs. Seymour-Loftis soothingy upon the
shoulder as that lady wiped her eyes. There
familiarity in the action, only sweet and full under
standing
There now, neghbor, don't you cry" she said
simply; we, both Of US, have made mistakes"