The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-10-05

ing as rn"y came from the narrow tun
mel of the ferry-house. The four big
horses that drew 1t pranced In the
trodden snow, and the bells on their
necks glistened in the sunlight Mrs
.Cortlandt and Ann climbed In and
seated themselves on the long bench
that ran down the side of the coach.
Beside her, her mother sat trembling
visibly; 1t was evident to the most
casual beholder that Mrs. Hudson
Cortlandt was badly frightened.
AT length they started. with jim
Cling of bells and plunging of horses
that made the people on the street
turn to watch them glide past. Ann
| pressed her face to the window, now
and then impatiently wipine away the
cloud OF her breath on the glass
Everything she saw enchanted her !:
even the bare ailantus trees seemed
| better thing. In their novelty. than
the towering elms she had known.
Washington square was her moth
er's destination, for here, on the fringe
Of the town. the Cortlandts and a few
other leading families had recently
built themselves new houses The
place was Enclosed with a high iron
fence. which gave the little park an
air of gentility. Ann looked with
darkening eyes at the ample. dignifed
houses, rose pink against the snow.
docs my new father live here"
she demanded. A lonely feeling made
her voice break Suddenly she real
lied for the first time the threat of
strange relationship.
Her mother nodded. His brother
docs" she said. "Mr Hendricks Cort-
landt Your-my-Mr. Hudson Cort-
landt lives with him."
1t was the largest of the houses that
she timidly approached, and. cliLging
TREMENDOUSLY to Ann, summoned cour-
age to climb the wide steps, and pull
a silver bell handle mysteriously set
beside the glass door. A black man
came to admit them, and Ann looked
at him gapingly, unable. in her sur
prise, to return his cleaning smile.
He was the first negro she had Sc, n
Mrs. Cortlandt paused.
rs Mr.. Hendricks Cortlandt at
homer she asked and her voice
trembled
"Yas'm. He Is in de library" With
dexterous turn, the man shut the
front door behind them, and opened
one on the right-hand side of the wide
hall. Ann had a quick impression of
lofty room, all lined with books
she had never dreamed that there
could be so maryland of the late
afternoon sun coming through the win
dows in long yellow streaks SO that
a fire under a narrow marble mantel
glowed red. Then she saw a tall. old
ish man rise from his chair and come
forward. Immediately she liked him.
In spite of her breathless nervousness.
well, my DEAR" Ann heard him
say, back again" And then his eyes
fell on her. He looked at her in kind
ly perplexity. And who Is this young
lady?' he asked.
The little girl glanced expectantly
at her mother, but no sound came
from her white lips, so she said, as
cheerfully as she could: 81 am Ann"
and, catching. no CLEAN of intelligence
in his attentive eyes, she added, Ann
Byrne, you know"
Mr.. Cortlandt continued to look at
her blankly. Slowly realization of
who she might be dawned on him, and
he turned his steady gaze on his
sister-in-law. as she trembled before
him.
Your child?" he inquired coldly.
Mrs. Cortlandt sank into a chair;
she was manifestly struggling with
tears. YES" she admitted briefly.
"a child! But my brother said you
had no family. Does he know,
madam
AS her mother was now frankly
crying, Ann took up the burden of |
their sorry tale. "She didn't tell him."
she confided. Il am surprise, and
it is too bad l am not pretty"
The head Of the house of Cortlandt |
up scornfully. "Ah," he
said. Il see"
There was an uncomfortable silence |
in the library: it was broken by Ann.
who volunteered cheerfully, "She has
to tell my new father. now, all about
me-"
Mrs Cortlandt looked up to nod a
miserable assent to this announce
ment.
1T might have been-less embar.
~t~ENMW