The Washington times., 1914-07-01

carriage. into which he stepped.
on with you
That's a good word. sir. May
be We can make your train"
DO you think you could find this
place again."
You couldn't get me on this pike
again. sir. for a thousand; not me-"
The door slammed and the un-
known sank back against the cush-
ions. He took out his handkerchief
and wiped the damp perspiration
from his forehead. The big burden
was off his mind. Whatever happen
ed in the future. they would never
be able TO get him through his
heart So much for the folly of his
youth.
1t was q quarter after 10 Miss
Susan Farlow had just returned to
the reception room from her
nightly tour of the upper halls TO
sec II all her charges were in bed,
where the rules of the school con-
fined them after 9:3c. IT was at
this moment that she heard the
thunderous knocking at the door.
The old maid felt her heart stop
beating for a moment. Who could
If be. at this time of night? Then
the thought came swiftly that per-
haps the parent Of some one Of her
charges was Ill and this was the
summons. Stilling her fears, she
went resolutely to the door and
opened it.
There was no one In sight.
Who is it," she called.
Nc one answered. she cupped
her hand to her ear. She could
hear the cTstter of horses dimly.
Well she exclaimed. rather
angrily, too.
She was in the act of closing the
door when the light from the hall
discovered to her the bundle on
the steps. She stopped and touched
II.
Good heavens; it's a child
She picked The bundle up.
whimper came from it, a tired lit
tie whimper of protest. She ran
back TO the reception room.
founding, And on her doorstep!
II vas incredible. What in the world
should she do? II would create
scandal and hurt the prestige Of the
school. Some one had mistaken her
select private school for a farm
house. II we3 frightful.
Then she unwrapped the child. II
was about a year old. dimpled and
In, fE
rosebud mouth and its blue eyes
looked up trustfully into her own.
VIII. YOU cherub," cried the old
maid. a strange turmoil in her
heart. She caught the child TO her
breast, and then for the first time
noticed the thick envelope pinned to
the childs cloak. She put the baby
into a chair and broke open the en-
velope.
Name this child Florence Gray. |
will send annually a liberal sum for
her support and reclaim her on her
eighteenth birthday. The other half
of the inclosed bracelet will identity
me Treat the girl well, for ! shall
watch over her in secret"
Into the fixed routine Of her hum
drum life had come mystery. a
tantal'zing. fascinating mystery. She
had read Of foJndlings left on door
steps-from paper covered novels
confiscated from her pupils-but
that one should be placed upon her
own respectable doorstep! Suddenly
she smiled down at the child and
the child smiled back. And there
was nothing more TO be done except
to bow before the DEGREES of fate.
Like all prim old maids, her heart
was full of unrequ!ted romance. and
here was something she might spend
its floods upon without let or hind
rance. Already she was hoping that
the man or woman who had left
II might never cone back.
The child grow. Regularly each
wear, upon a certain date, Miss Far
low received a registered letter with
money. These letters came from all
parts of the world; always the same
sum always the same line-''I am
watching"