The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-10-09
TRarOld NaoGrathl

The old maid felt her heart STOP
beating for q moment. Who could 1t
be, at this time Of night? Then the
thought came swiftly that perhaps the
parent of some one of her charges was
Ill and this was the summons. Still
ing her fears, she went resolutely to
the door and opened it.
who is IT." she called.
No one answered. She cupped her
hand to her ear. She could hear the
clatter of horses dimly.
Welt" she exclaimed; rather an
grily, too.
She was in the act of closing the
door when the light from the hall dis
covered to her the bundle on the
steps. She stopped and touched 1t.
Good heavens, it's a child"
She picked the bundle up. A within,
per came from it, a tired little whim-
per Of protest She a back to the
reception room. A founding! And
on her doorstep! 1t was incredible.
What in the world should she do? 1t
would create a scandal and hurt the
prestige of the school. Some n had
mistaken her select private school
for a farmhouse. 1t was frightful.
Then she unwrapped the child. 1t
was about a year old, dimpled and
golden haired. A thumb was in its
rosebud mouth and its blue eyes
looked up trustfully into her own.
why, 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 child's.
cloak. She put the baby into a chair
and broke open the envelope.
Name this child Florence Gray. l
will send annually a liberal sum for
her support and reclaim her on her
eighteenth birthday. The other half
Of the Enclosed bracelet will identify
me. Treat the girl well, for l shall
watch over her in secret"
Into the fixed routine Of her hum
drum life had come a mystery, a tan
TALKING, fascinating mystery. She had
read Of foundlings left on doorsteps
from paper covered novels confs-
Gated from her pupils-but that one
should be placed upon her own re
spectacle doorstep! Suddenly she
smiled down at the child and the
child smiled back. And there was
nothing more to be done except t.
bow before the DEGREES of fate, Lik.
ali prim old maids, her heart was full
of u~nrequited romance, and here wa.
something she might spend its food
upon without let or hindrance. Al
ready she was hoping that the man o
woman who had left 1t might neve
come back.
The child grew. Regularly eac
year, upon a certain date, Miss Farlo'
received a registered letter wit
money. These letters came from a
parts of the world; always the sam
sum, always the same hne-"I al
watching"
Thus seventeen years passed; an
to Susan Farlow each year SCENE
shorter than the one before. For 81
loved the child with all her heart. 81
had not trained young girls all the'
wears without becoming adept in Il
art of reading the true signs Of bree
II ing. There was no ordinary blood
Florence; the fact was emphasize
by her exquisite face, her small han'
y and feet, her spirit and gentlenes
- And now, at any day, some n with
broken bracelet might come for be
AS the days went IN the heart OF 5
he san Farlow grew heavy.
III Never mind, aunty," said Florenc
lis 81 shall always come back to see yoV
I'd. She meant It, poor child; but nc
ad was she to know the terrors which !
beyond the horizon?
nd
.se The house OF Stanley Hargrea'
in Riverdale, was the house Of no
err. binary rich man. Outside it was al
It's pie enough, but within you learn
ed what kind OF q man Hargreaye VI
es. There we're rare Ispahans and saru
he on the floors and tapestries on I
walls, and here and there a fine pal
)L ing. The library itself represented
nd fortune. Money had been laid (
Dor lavishly but never wastefully. 1t v
emit the home Of a scholar, q dreamer
He wide traveller.
cps In the library stood the master OF
-ge, house, idly lingering some pap
which lay on the study table.
shrugged at some unpleasant thoug
ybe settled his overcoat about his she
ders, took up his hat, and walked fr
his the room, frowning slightly. The
Ter. VINO also acted in the capacity
ike valet. always within call when
" master was about, stepped swiftly
,wn the hall door and opened It.
He II may be out late, JONES'" {
ped H~argreaye.
ore Eyes, sir"
his Hargreave stared into his face k
fu- ly, as II trying to pierce the 81
get face to learn what vas going on
for hind II.
How long have you been with n
Hiss Fourteen years, sir"
the Some day / shall need you"
tour "My life has always been at