The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-02-05
CHAPTER XIII

ssWho knows, Aunt Emma? Cher-
ry said then, hoarsely.
Nobody knows. Lottie died Of
pneumonia when you were seven.
No one else knows" She paused.
"In few weeks, if you like, you
can tell the Judge this. For ] think
he knows something" Emma said.
''It is only my idea; there may be
no foundation for it.
Cherry sat opposite the judge in
his home library some weeks later,
and poured forth the story.
''When will you be twenty one,
.Cherry?"
Next Wednesday,
s'You would have known it then,
"You see, Cherry" Judge Marsh
banks continued, "Lottie was actu-
ally in this house, and she had come
downstairs that night TON her de-
spair and weakness and anger-to
reproach Fred. She had been so i'll
she had so bitterly resented his
freedom to enjoy his position, the
welcome that was awaiting the 9TH
er child, that / suppose she hardly
knew what she was doing: He didn't
know she was staying here, but a
few days after that scene, when
Amelia and the baby had been taken
to the hospital, he was at home in
d-afternoon trying to get some
rest, when he heard a baby fretting.
He went out into the hall and lis
tened and then went on upstairs.
''Lottie was lying in bed asleep;
Emma was out. Fred told me after
ward that the floor seemed to rock
beneath his feet when he saw Lot
tie, that he had realized in that
second what must be the case. He
crossed the hall and opened another
door, and there in basket was the
tiny child that was his own. Blue,
and gasping for air; he thought it
was dying then.
Erred was older than I, but usu-
ally when he got into trouble it was
to me that he came. But he didn't
dare tell anyone this. When at last
he knew you would live, Emma
came to us, and we made arrange
ments for your support, but it wasn't
until Fred was dying after motor
smash that he sent for me, and
told me. He had had Judge Com
stock in by the time reached him.
Fred said that he had made state
ment, and gave me long envelope
that he said Amy was to open when
she was twenty-one.
HE said that both you girls would
be twenty-one at the same time,
and that then Amy was to have
: his property, and she must be told
the truth, and find you, If you were
living, and make complete restitu-
ton. Lottie Rawlings was dead
then, and you were at Saint Doro-
thea's. He said-poor Fred!-that
both were his daughters, and that as
the years had gone by he had come
to feel that Amy was Amelia's
daughter too, but he hoped that you
girls could come to an understand
Ing out of court"
s'Then it is true!" Cherry whis-
pered. "But Emma said that there
was no proof"
sThere was no proof that Emma
knew of. And I'm not sure we have
proof now" Judson Marshbanks
said.
He opened q lower desk draw
err, and took from it first small
shining revolver.
Don't be frightened" he re-
assured the girl, who was staring
at it with widened eyes, I'D for
gotten that it was here; il belongs
upstairs. Now this" he added, TAX
ing long envelope from the draw
err, and laying it on the desk be-
tween them, sis Fred's--your fa-
theirs will. In this he has also
enclosed, ] believe, statement
from your mother--or rather from
Lottie Rawlings-and his own affi-
davit that the children, you and
Amy, were exchanged ID the first
hours Of their lives. It is marked
to be opened on November thir-
teenth of this year, which viii be
Any's twenty-first birthday,
4 brought Ibis home few days