Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-06-07

Inc next morning Tregenna sailed
for England, but it SO hapnened that
l old not leave India for several
months. During that time / was con-
cerned to hear that my special friend.
Or. Collett, who had sent me the
cipher cable, had died suddenly. His
death had taken place on the very day
on which had received the message
We We're greatly attached TO each
other, and had been associated in
more than one investigation of inter-
est. Two days before left Calcutta
for England / received the following
from Tregenna.
Dear Halifax: l am given to un-
derstand that you will be back in the
metropolis some time in June. hope
as soon as ever you arrive you will
come straight down to Tregenna
Manor. want to show you the boy
he is as fine lad as the heart of a
father could desire. Dayrell is still
In the country, and sometimes visits
at the Manor, but with my heir to look
at, no longer mind him. In short. I
breathe freely.
Yours.
John Tregenna."
was altogether unprepared to re-
ceive letter written in this strain
in view of what l had heard from Col
lett. / had preserved the cablegram,
and now took it and read it over care
fully. There was no doubt whatever
of the meaning of the words. 1t stat
ed clearly that Lady Tregenna had
given birth to boy, who had died
after an hour of life / could only
wait for the mystery to unravel itself
resolved to accept the, invitation ex-
tended to me, and IN due course of
time I arrived at Cornwall
Sir John met me at the station. All
his taciturnity and gloom had left
him-he was now a laxative and
cheerful man.
"The boy is in splendid form, Hall
fax" he cried, as he wrung my hand,
"and Lady Tregenna is also in fine
health. You will see her for yourself
in few moments"
The baronet whipped up his horses,
and soon afterward we drew up in
front of the fine old mansion. Lady
| Tregenna was standing on the steps,
a nurse a little behind her holding a
| baby in her arms.
"Well, Kate" called out her hus-
band, ''here is our old friend, Halifax.
Bring the lad along. Now, Halifax,
what do you think of him, eh?''
"He is indeed fine boy" I re-
marked to Lady Tregenna. Curious
ly enough, CHANGED to be in the
same hotel at Madras with your hus-
band when he received the cable
gram announcing his BIRTH
/ surveyed the infant critically. He
was well-grown boy, with somewhat
large features, but could not detect
the slightest likeness to either parent.
The nurse, grave, middle-aged Wom-
an, with a dark face and thin, COM
pressed lips, took the boy in her arms
and vanished with him around cor
ner of the house.
"Look after Halifax, Kate" said
Tregenna Il must go to the stables,
UUL Will JUN SOO PAO0SAIAJ'
Lady Tregenra conducted me under
a thick arch Of roses on to small
lawn, where she seated herself by
little tea-table. She motioned me to
seat near her.
at is strange" she said, "that you
should have been with my husband
when he received the message that he
was the father of a boy"
s'There is something else stranger"
I said, impelled by an unaccountable
impulse to force my information upon
her. 81 also received cablegram
in cipher from my old friend, Doctor
Collett, on the same night. It gave
false information with regard to the
matter. Collett told me that your
baby died shortly after its birth.
Her cheeks flushed crimson, then
turned pale. What an odd mistake
to make" she said. THAT was abso-
lutely without foundation. But then,
Doctor Collett died on the day OF my
baby's birth. He may not have known
what he was cabling to you about"
81 have not mentioned the matter
to anyone" l began, but at that in
slant we heard Sir Johns voice IN the
distance, and Lady Tregenna mo-
toned me to be silent.
"Not a word to him." she said In an
eager whisper. Il would not let him
know for the world. He would think
it unlucky. You will promise?"
"As did not tell your husband at
the time, I should have no reason for
repeating the news now" said.
'His affection for the child is quite
touching"
That evening Tregenna took me
into his study, and we spent a short
time examining the valuable photo
graphs he had taken in India OF the
suns eclipse. Just before we parted
for the night he spoke again OF his
heir.
$50 you think the boy fine little
chap. Halifax" he said. "And Lady
Tregenna-she seems pleased to be
his mother, eh?-that strikes you, too,
I suppose?"
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