Year: 1878

folded hands for her visitor to state his
business.


am sorry that am not able to eX-
plain fully the reasons for my coming to
you on such an errand," the gentleman
began quietly, admiring the entire and
immediate transition which his hostess
manner had undergone from that of
charming entertainer to the business
woman; "and still more annoyed that
in so trifling a matter ] am obliged to
express myself with n somewhat melo-
dramatic degree of mystery and reserve.
/ have to ask you to trust to me that /
would gladly avoid so absurd degree Of
diplomacy If / could"


The gentleman smiled slightly mock
ing but very pleasant smile, and the
lady bowed without smiling.


You remember the nurse, Mrs Pau
lier, who died here at your house two or
three years ago, and her little girl in the
poorhouse ?" he went on.


Mrs. Burkhardt bowed again, and
without opening her lips, which were
pressed closely together, and somewhat
pale.


I" He knows how she died !" was the
thought that flashed through her
mind.


You have also heard, doubtless that
the child died week or two ago of the
fever ?"


This time there was no sign of re-
sponse, but the lady's brows were slight
ly drawn in frowning shadow. Why
didn't the man go on and tell his bust
ness ? He was trying to torment her,
she thought.


" have heard from some one, possibly
from YOURSELF" the doctor continued,
" that the mother left some little souv-
enters which you are keeping till the
child shall be old enough and in sta
ton to be intrusted with them. OF
course, you would naturally suppose
now that there is no one to claim these
articles; but have come across per-
son who has as much right to them as
the child would have If she were living.
/ am not at liberty to explain but you
will believe that 1 must be satisfied in
my own mind as to the rights of the
person to whom l refer. If the matter
is satisfactory to you, perhaps you'd
like to send these little souveniers to
their owner by me.


Doctor Thayer, though perfectly aware
that his errand was, as he said, sur
rounded by an absurd degree of mystery
for so small a matter, was nevertheless
astonished at the emotion which Mrs.
Burkhardt showed. She became per-
fectly white while he spoke, and when
she answered, entirely forgot her usual
ease and courtesy.


"This is very singular ~ she exclaim-
ed, fixing her flashing eyes on him. 81
do not understand why the affair should
be concealed from me, or why should
be required to give up these articles
without knowing to whom they are 10
CO."


Doctor Thayer looked at her in as
tonishment, and haughtily rose to his
feet.


was not aware that was making
an insulting request" he said, coldly.-
" do not know what the articles refer
red to are, or whether they are of any
value save to the owner. My impress
sion was that you would wish to give
them to any person having right to
receive them, and that their chief, per-
haps only, value lay in the fact that
they would be souveniers of the dead to
near friend who is living. L have no
| personal interest in the matter, of
course, and beg your pardon for men,
tioning the subject. The owner will at
some time call on you, but L shall not
urge the matter any further. wish
you very good d-morningl"


Having finished his speech, the gem
tleman bowed lowly, and turned away
with very high head


Stop, DOCTOR" the lady exclaimed,
rising. "Of course have no right to
keep these trifles, and no wish to. am
merely annoyed that when / took care
of the woman in her last moments, and
have felt an interest in the child ever
since, there should be so little confidence
shown me in the matter. / prefer that
you should take the articles if you are
satisfied as to the claim of the person
who demands them. Indeed, they be-
long as much to you as to me, and 1 am
| glad to get them off nv hands.n -