The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-20
asked impatiently.

asked impatiently.
 'I don't know whose child it Is. There was new softness in her voice that made him look hard at her while she passed hand tenderly over the sleeping babe. "She comes from foundlings' home, sir"
 You cannot adopt child unless sup. ported by some authority" he said "How does she happen to be in youl possession, and what papers have you from the foundlings' home to show that the authorities are willing that you should have her? There is lot of red tape about such matters, madam"
 'I thought perhaps you could manage it for me, MT. Bansemer," she said plaintively. 'They say you never fai at anything you undertake." He was not sure there was a compliment in hel remark, so he treated it with indiffer ence.
 "Tm afraid I can't help you." The tone was final.
 Can't you tell me how I'll have tc proceed? must adopt the child, sir one way or another" Her manner was more subdued, and there was a touch of supplication in her voice.
 "Oh, you go into the proper court ano make application, that's all,'' he volun. teered carelessly. '"The judge will dc the rest. Does your husband approve of the plansY'
 @He doesn't know anything about it" !"
 "What's thatT'
 sT can't tell him. It would spoil ev' erything."
 My dear madam, 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 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. It 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, MT. Bansemer. Per haps you won't care to help me after you know that I can't afford to pay very much"
 sWeIl see about that later," he said brusquely. "Go ahead with the story"
 The young woman hesitated. glanced ne.7ousfy at her sister as If for sup. port and finally faced the expectant lawyer with flash of determination in her dark eyes. As she. proceeded Banse. Doer silently and somewhat disdainfulls made a study of the speaker. He con.
 E cluded that she was scarcely of com mon origin and was the possessor Of . superficial education that had been en larged by conceitedness. Furthermore she was person of selfish instincts, but without the usual cruel impulses. There was little, if any, sign of true re- finement 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 purpose that might further her own personal inter ests, but, not the will to endure sacri- flee for the sake of another. Her sis- ter was larger and possessed 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. 'T 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-
 MT. Bansemer is in hurry, Fan,'' broke in the older sister sharply, and then, repeating the lawyers words. Be as brief as possible" %
 There was world of reproach, in the look which greeted the speaker. Evi- dently it was a grievous disappoint- ment not to be allowed to finger over the details.
 We'll" she continued half pettishly, '.it all ended by his leaving home, job and everything. I had told him that was going to apply for divorce. For three months never heard from him."
 Did you apply for divorce" asked the lawyer, stifling a yawn
 No. sir, did not although he did nothing toward my support" The woman could not resist a slightly CO., quettish attempt to enlist Bansemers sympathy, 'I obtained work at St Luke's Hospital For Foundlings and after that as governess. But once a week I went back to the asylum to see the little ones. One day they brought in a beautifully dressed baby. girl. She was found on a doorstep, and in the basket was note asking that she be we'll cared for. With it was hundred dollar bill. The moment I saw the little thing I fell in love with her. made application. and they gave me the child with the under standing that was to adopt it. You see, was lonely. I had been living alone for nine or ten months. The au- thorities knew nothing of my trouble with Mfr. Cable-that's my husband. David Cable. The child was about a month old when took her to his mother. whom [ hadn't seen in months
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