Year: 1878


Langton in most impolte tone, and with
most scandalously unprofessional emphasis
On the word "you."


'Langton increased the base of the isosceles
triangle his legs made with the hearth-rug,
and said, You have come for the purpose of
meeting your wife, and trying to induce her
to make OVER on you money which otherwise
will 20 to that child Is not that so p


thought Langton's manner simply bru-
tai.


Sir said Ryland, glancing from Langton
to me, we are not alone He did not
show the least sign of temper, but smiled as
gently as though were his sweetheart. and
he were asking me TO withdraw in order
that papa and he might talk over business
aspect OF his successful loye-suit


i rose to 60, but Langton turned sharply
upon me and said. Neither nor my client
desires secresy If it does not answer the
purpose Of this man that you should be pres
ent he can go. / desire, Baird, that you re.
main


AT this moment the door opened and
woman carrying Il baby in her arms came
in, Indeed, she was one of the pIainest wo.
meu ever saw. She wore a hideous cold
green plaid shawl and an old yellow straw
bonnet, trimmed with faded violet rib
bons


'Eh"


Cold green shawl, old yellow straw bon.
net with faded blue or violet ribbons. Why
did you stop mc?'


And she held the child to her bosom as
though it were part Of her own body that
felt the cold and needed all the heat of her
arms and her bosom Z?


All fond mothers hold their babies so.
Do you know her?'


She was in the carriage I came by to-day.
Go on


When the woman saw Ryland she shud-
dered and drew the child closer to her. |
was watching every movement and looked
most closely, Langton went to her, spoke
to her, taking her by the hand he led her to
a seat with as much gallantry and Difference
as though she was the finest woman and the
first lady in London. Ryland stood in the
middle of the room with ore hand on the
back of chair and the other still holding
his hat in front Of his waistcoat. He bowed
and smiled family as she crossed the room:
beyond that, he did not move. After the
first look she never glanced toward him
again during the whole interview.


After few words by Langton in a low
voice to the woman, to which she made nc
reply, he sat down at his writing table and
spoke out,


Mrs. Ryland, of the money you inherited
from your great uncle from Jamaica four
months after your marriage you have already
assigned away to this man half, or about 81.
500, on the condition that he was to keer
away from you forever. This money has
been left to your private use in such man.
ner that he could have no claim whatever on
a penny oft, although he is your-husband
you, against my advice, made over to him
the moiety Of that fortune. He has been
gambling again, and it is all gone


Operating on the Stock Exchange put
in Ryland in soft voice, as though more
desirous to keep statements accurate than to
shield or excuse himself


'One-half Of your fortune has been gam
bled away, and this-man now wishes tc
have the opportunity Of di.sipating-'


'Of operating with broke in Ray.
land.


OF disipatng more of il. Your decision
which has my full concurrence-is that you
retain the money for yourself and your chile
and that if he give any further trouble you
seek divorce on the ground of cruelty


But 1 shall get back all | have lost if
can command only another thousand Only
thousand There will still he some left TO
her and the boy, and shall win all back


'Not with my approval one penny sale
Langton hotly,


But | haye right am her hus
band


we won't discuss law with you. Mr..
RyIand decline, 10 give you tae money. Thu
law is open toall, Nou can appeal to it i
you please. That is your answer You car
leave now


Bat too wan, TO secure something fn
our son. said Eyiaud His face was nov
deadly pale and saw his fingers tighter
aud whiten on the hrim Of his hat until til,
brim was crushed fin! against the side. Tnt
L,r,.lgs al aud ,
deadly sinister lecr covered his handsome
features. Iii, blue eyes were CLASSY and colo
and his lips fell bacl, from his white tcetl
like towards at bay,


Out at once = cried Lqngton, sprnging tC
his feet angrily, and | do believe he would
have used violence had not Rylaud hastily
cIosiug.the door very SOFTLY af.
ter himself


There was long silence. After awhile
Langton went across the room aud stood over
her like a sentinel lion. Then he said in a
low, kind voice Did the little fellow feel
the cold %


Il tried not to let him, she answered, look
ing up for Il moment. 4 am always afraid
TO leave him behind, my baby son. am
afraid he,' looking iearfuIly at the door,
might come and steal him away from me.
My own my own


She bent and actually gloated over the
little pale sleeper, until queer kind OF
lead pain came into my heart.


There is no fear of him doing that said
Langton / is the child's money he wants,
and not the boy himself


'She rose to go, Langton conducted her
to the door as though he was the first gentle
man in England she the finest woman in
London, the first lady in the land. Good
lay said he. Good day, said she and she
was gone.


'Langton came back and stood looking
sloomily into the fire. What scoundrel =
he cried what an arraut scoundrel what
an unapproachable scoundrel = He drove
MS heel into the coal and repeated the