The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-08-22

sister," she added.
Il see. Where is your husbands"
He is at home, or, rather, at his
mothers home, We are living there
now"
Il thought you said you were a gov
erness?'
THAT doesn't prevent me from hav-
ing a home, does itY' she explained
easily. "T'm not a nurse, you know"
"This isn't your child. them he
asked impatiently.
Il don't know whose child it is"
There was a new softness in her voice
that made him look hard at her while
she passed a hand tenderly over the
sleeping babe. "She comes from a
foundllngs' home, sir"
You cannot adopt a child unless sup
ported by some authority" he said
How does she happen to be In your
possession, and what papers have you
from the foundllngs' home to show that
the authorities are willing that you
should have her? There is a lot Of red
tape about such matters, madam"
Il thought perhaps you could manage
it for me, Mr.. Bansemer," she said
plaintively. They say you never fail
at anything you undertake" He was
not sure there was a compliment in her
remark, so he treated it with indiffer-
ence.
I'm afraid l can't help you" The
tone was final.
Cant you tell me how I'll have to
proceed? l must adopt the child, sir.
one way or another" Her manner was
more subdued, and there was a touch
of duplication in her voice.
ION, you go into the proper court and
make application, that's ALL" he yolun-
teered carelessly. "The Judge viii do
the rest. Does your husband approve
of the plansy"
"He doesn't know anything about it."
whats that?"
Il can't tell him. 1t would spoil ev-
%erything."
my dear madam, l don't believe |
understand you quite clearly, You
want to adopt the child and keep the
matter dark so far as your husband is
concerned? May l inquire the reason?'
Bansemer naturally was interested by
this time.
IF you have time to listen, I'd like
to tell you how it all comes about. 1t
won't take long. | want some one to
tell me just what to do, and I'll pay
for the advice, if it isn't too expensive.
I'm very poor, Mr.. Bansemer. Per
haps you won't care to help me after
you know that l can't afford to pay
very much"
"We'l see about that later be said
b%rusquely. Go ahead with the story"
The young woman hesitated, glanced
%nergously at her sister as If for sup
port and finally faced the expectant
lawyer with a flash of determination in
her dark eyes, AS she proceeded Banse-
mer silently and somewhat disdalnfully
made a study of the speaker. He con
Guided that she was scarcely Of COM
mon origin and was the possessor Of a
superficial education that had been en-
lalged by conceitedness. Furthermore,
she was a person of selfish instincts,
but without the usual cruel impulses.
There was little, If any, sign of true re-
fnement in the features, and yet there
was a strange strength Of purpose that
puzzled him. AS her story progressed
he solved the puzzle. She had the
strength to carry out a purpose that
might further her own personal inter
ests, but not the will to endure sacri-
fee for the sake of another. Her sis
ter was larger and possessed a reserve
that might have been mistaken for
deepness. He felt that she was hardly
in sympathy with the motives Of the
younger, more volatile woman.
My husband is a railroad engineer
and is ten years older than l." the mar
rator said in the beginning. 81 wasn't
quite nineteen when We were married,
two years ago. For some time we got
along all right; then we began to quar-
rel. He commenced to-
"Mr, Bansemer is in a hurry, Fan"
broke In the older sister sharply, and
then, repeating the lawyers words,
BE as brief as possible"
There vas a world of reproach in the
look which greeted the speaker. Evil
IDENTITY 1t was a grievous disappolnt-
ment not to be allowed to linger over
the details.
Well" she continued half pettlshly,
1t all ended by his leaving home, job
and everything. l had told him that I
was going to apply for a divorce. For
three months I never heard from him"
did you apply for a divorceG" asked
the lawyer, sitting a yawn.
mo, sir, | did not, although he did
nothing toward my support" The
woman could not resist a slightly CO.
quettish attempt to enlist BansemeTs
sympathy. Il obtained work at st.
Luke's Hospital For Foundlings and
after that as a %governess. But once a
week | went back to the asylum to
see the little ones. One day they
brought II a beautifully dressed baby
a girl. She was found on a doorstep.
and in the basket was a note asking
that she lbe well cared for. With 1t
x.o. - h..,l..a a-fl-- I'm un- $500