The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-26

were so unnatural and cruel az to abandon
it, not II you dropped fifty handkerchief
With your name on them in the bundle
my handkerchief Let me see it,
See it? Yes; take it-no,' tainted
Mrs. Flewcome as she held the fimsy web
to the light so that the black lettering
stood forth distinct. ID you dare deny
your name, you wanton, your"
just then the elevator came up with a
rush. Outstepped Mr.. Flewcome, drawing
with him urgently by The arm a young
woman dressed in black, whose features
were concealed by a coquettish veil. There
was something strangely familiar in this
instinctively toward the ~housekeeper, the
eye reasoning quicker. than the brain.
Miss Ruthven's hand was pressed to her
heart. Her lips were slightly parted as
il from shock. Her face was ashen with
despair. But in her dark eye there glowed
a brave light.
aAha!- shouted Flewcome. Just the
bunch I hoped to corral. Five minutes
will do the business; and then this woman
will cause her to a k better care OF it.;
! told you, Sniffen. that wouldn't stand
for any such h~ankyPanky game about the
Tawdrey House. I told you l wouldn't
let a decent hardw9rking girl like Miss
and venomous tongues. l had my agents
out hustling all the time, and yesterday
they got the unnatural mother like a snap
shot. / had intended to see her privately
and point out the errors OF her ways.it
amt my nature to be hard on women, I'm
too blasted sorry for the best of Of them
but when Mrs. Flewcome began to sit up
and take notice this morning after quite
a quiet spell and to accuse me OF o
the only wrong thing / haven't done / made
up my mind that open confession was good
for this particular feminine soul. So /
served notice on her that II she didn't come
here willingly and own up TO the two or
three whose opinion J. cared a snap for
came, and l conquer
very pretty" sneered Mrs. ~Flewcome.
but this precious housekeeper OF yours
has just admitted her guilt
handkerchief in the bundle gives me no
alternative, / am Ceoile Ruthven-the
mother OF the child
w.
"Hell!' muttered Flewoome. Have l
stopped over again2" And l could see
from his puzzled look hat the appellate
court wa already at its rough and ready
work.
1T isn't true protested Mrs. Bilboes,
passing over and patting Miss Ruthven
af~ectionately. 1T isn't true-and don't
care il it is
-Of course it isn't true l agreed. Il
have Just closed up An important matter
for Miss Ruthven. an inheritance from
England which came to her in the form
of q draft payable to Helen Ruthven.'
She Endorsed this draft as Helen Ruthven.
as Helen Ruthven she has the proceeds on
deposit
MY uncle had two nieces, one OF whom
went wrong" explained Miss Ruthven in
even tones, singularly sweet. 'He drove
them both from him. When 1t was too late
he recognized that he had been unjust to
the other one. Helen, 30 he made a will in
her favor. / am C~ecile-the one who 9
wrong. I know now where Helen isl
shall make restitution to her. She will for
give me, for we love each other. oh, so
dearly. am Ceeile. | say--"
Once more ! looked instinctively toward
the woman whom Flewoome had brought.
Silent abe had stood during accusation and
vindioation. Silent still she was standing,
a graceful figure strangely familiar. Under
meath her veil ] could see the bow Of her
perfect mouth. 1t was tense-drawn by
the purpose that obstinately silent she
would remain.
-Oh, DEAR sobbed Mrs. Bilboes, "ff the
good God would only straighten II all out
Then the door Of the Bilboes suite hesi-
tatingly opened. A weird rack Of a man,
n eshless arms extended. 'Ceoile, Cecile,'
he breathed. Il nave heard that dear name
twice. Where, where Is Cecilefs