A Family Affair

CHAPTER V. MU. MOKDI.K MAKKS X KAS l'BOMISE. The next morning the Talberts did an UDUsual thing; thej hroke one of the r rules by opening their letters be fore breakfast They had a time and a placo for everything, and their time lor reading their correspondence was with their second enps of tea. But so anxious wore they to see if their letters contained anything explanatory of last night's occurren %e that the seals wero bro : en at once. They found a couple of invitations to dinner, receipts for paytuents made two posts ago, the usual aniount of circulars, tradesmen's lista and appeals for charity; but not a word about thechild. Presently Miss Clauson made her appearam e with the child on her arm. Mm' had wiislu'.l liim and dressed him, coiubed his hair into a wavy mass of burnished gold, and so brought him to the brcakfast table f rush and sweet as a rost; in .luim. She placed him on a cha'r bcside her, by the aid of sundry ushions ra;sing him up to a proper level. Having adjusted him to her satisfaction she ordered bread and milk to be prepared. eing anxious to see him by daylight the Talberts screwed their eeglassesin place, and once moro ininutely inspected the r sturdy littlo visitor. Even Uncle Horace nodded approval of his bonny looks and fcarless bearing, whilu Herbert jo'ned eatrice in pettinsr him. Beatrice hav.ng ascertained that no nows had arrived. sald nothing thatbore upon her startling suggestion of last 11 ght Kerhaps she saw that the bright süiiry child interested and amused her úneles; so, with the diplomatic gifts peculiar to her sex, judgod it better to ied the matter rest for a while. As soon as break ast was over, she led the child away, and spent the remainder of the day playing with and petting him to her heart's content. It really seemed as if Miss Clauson had found a no interest in life. This morning she threw books, music. 1 ainting, ever thing aside, and played with her new toy. It was Saturday. The "Tabbies," who invariably went shopping together, were bound to Blacktown to buy groceries Before starting, Herbert found his way to tfeatrice and :iski;d her if she had any commissions to be executed in the citj He discovered her with flushed face and rumpled hair, romping with the child. "He watched thern with amusement; then, going upstairs, found after a search in oue of the attics some antiquated, battered toys, which five and thirty years ago had been dear to Horace and himsclf. He carried them down-stairs, and eatrice thanked him for the kindly thought and act. When, in afewhours' time, the brothers drove back with a wagonette full of tea, coflèe, sugar, yellow soap, house tiannel, bath slonc, emery paper, or whatever else was needful to make the wheels of household management run smoothly. they found Beatrice still engrossed by her charge. They did not say much to her. t-aturday was too busy a day to think of anything save the affairs of the house, and as man y precious minutes had been wasted making inquiries at Blacktown station, the brothers were hardly pressed for time - so hardly pressed that when, about f uur o'clock, the curato called. they sent their apologies by Whittaker, and left their visitor to be entertained by Miss Clauson. This afternoon Mr. Mordle feit the Talberts' excuses no sligbt to himself. He begged the brothers might not be disturbed. He was quite content that Miss Clauson should entertain him tete-:v-tete as long as possible He in}uired if any news had arrived about the m ssing luotlmr; then, turning his nttention to the child, went through a variety of those little actions which grown-up people, rightly or wrongly, suppose ingratiate children. Noticing how the pretty boy clung to Beatrice he compl mented her on her rapid conquest of his aftections, a compliment in which Miss Clauson might have found a deeper raeaning lurking had she cared to look for it. He would have called much ear.ier to learn what bad transpired, but had been oompelled to attend a funeral several miles off. He alluded to the melancholy reason for his delay with as much cheerfulnoss as many people mention a wedding. 'And where are your úneles?" he asked. "In the housokoeper's room," answered Beatrice demurely. 'Busy, of course- Saturday. Bad day to cali. What are they about nowf" As he jerked out his short sentences, Beatrice glanced at him nd saw his eyeg twinkling. She could not help smiling. , -Well- what is tr" The sirl gave a little gurgle of laughter. The cúrate once more repeated nis question. "Oh, Mr. Mordle," said Beatrice, ' they aro doing tho clothes!" '-Quito right; some one must do them. Now 1 wonder," he conünuedin a more roflective way than usual, "I wonder if thoy look thom out for the wash on Moudavs." "Oh.' no; not so bad as that. But did you ver Lnow anything so funny?" "Tof.k yon by surprise, of course," sa'i! thoiiirato briskly. 'Yes. I liad heard something about it bul the roalily ovorwhelmcd mo Únele Horace doinjr wool-work was my flrit experience. The next morningl founil Únele Herbert doing out stores to the cook. And to see them manage the house better than any wouian." "Delightful! I could tell you some very amusing things. Miss Clauson." "Please don't. i hey are so kind and amiable 1 can't bearto'laugh at them." "They are k'nd. I love them dearly. What my poor people would do without them I can't think. If thev leave vou enough to do, you're certain to be happy here." "But 1 have not enough to do," she said, her hand the while caressing the boy's golden head. "Mr. Mordle, I wi.sh you would help me in something." "Anything -ev-erytbing- command me," said the cúrate in his quickest, most dec:s way. "1 have taken such a íaney to this dear Hule man, that, snppösing his people do not reveal themselves, 1 want to persuade my úneles to let me keep him. I could bo so happy with him here.'' She ki-sod and fondled tho boy. Now that he saw whither his rash promiso was to lead him, Mr. Mordle paused and hesitated. "I am sure Únele Herbert wouldn't niind," added Bcatrice. 'Mr. Talbert would ne ver consent," said Mr. Mordle. "What harm would it do?" asked Beatrice The Rev. Sylvanus was silent. He did not like to'tell the girl that the retention at Hazlewood House of this my leriously sent child might oréate scandal. 'You will help me, will you not?" pleaded Beatrice. The look in her eyes turned Sylvauus's heart into war. So with the weakness of malehumanity wlwn thus assailed, he promised to do what lie could to insun; her wish being carried out. By and by he took his leave of her in that happy frame of mimi peculiar to the man who has laid a lovely woman under au obligation. CHAPTEU VI. BEATRICK TlUrMl'HANT. Miss Clauson carried her po'nt Her suoeess was due to a curious combina tion of events, as wcll as to her own persistence and eloquunt plcading. She managed to get Uncle Herbert alone - a dimcult matter, as the "rabbies" were almost always and, af ter sundry argumenta and eutreaties, if unable to win bis con ent to her proposed arrangement, exacted a promise from him that he would not object if Horace approved of her keeping the boy. To be sure he had not the faintest idea that Horace would consent. Mr. Mordle theadviser of thefamily, and Herbert Talbort thus brought on her side or rendcred neutral, Horace remained the arbiter of the boy's fate, and Miss Clauson directed her energies toward making him yield. They taatly left his fate in abeyanee for more than a week; then Beatrioe, who perhaps trembled lest some child ish act of misebief might defeat her ends, and who thought that the boy had done well his part in the affair by making htmself so easily tolerated, attacked her úneles once more. True to his promise, Herbert s:iid h:8 brother must decide the matter. - "üo you want the child to stay?" asked Horace, turning to the speaker. "I told Beatrice you should decide." This answer assured Horace that Herbert knew all that was to be known. "My dear Beatrice," he said, "the thing is quite impracticable." Her mouth quivered. It was clear she had set her hcart on keeping her newjpeU "Why is it impracticable? What difference can a child roake in a house like this? He will be my sole care." Un"le Horace looked uneasy. "My dear. you forget it may give rise to scandal." "Scandal! what scandal?' Horace grew red. One can't talk plainly to young innocent girls without feeling how bad mankind in general is. "Hum- ha," he said. "You must remember, Beatrice, we are two single men; not elderly men. As Foon as i t is known that we have kept the child sent here so strangely, we give a handle to suspicion and scandal. Do you agree with me, Herbert?" "I am afraid it will be so, Beatrice," said Herbert, regretfully. Miss Clauson drew herself up proud ly. It was an action the Talberts always liked to see in the girl, and which had great effect on them. "Surelv," she said, "you of all people are above suspicion and scandal." As this great truth carne home to him Horace seemed to purr with pleasure. But he had no intention of yielding. He was for one thing nmch annoyed with Herbert Herbert evidently wanted the boy to stay. If so. he should say so outright, not let Beatrice fight his battles. bo the most Beatrioe could eet him to promise was that the boy nrght remain a few days longer. In those few days something happen - ed. First of all, a pieceof gossip went round the neighborhood and eventually reached the ears of those who were gossiped about- the Talberts. They heara that thev were harboring Lord Hadwynn's eld"est son, whose mysterious disappearance had been reported in the papers. Lord Hadwynn was an utter repróbate, and it was well known that his injured wife had smuggled the chüd out of his way. Lady Hadwynn was an acqua ntanceof the Talberis; so that even Horace was for a moment staggered when he heard the theory propounded by his neighbors. Then some kind oreature wrote to the bereft husband, and his lordship rushed down to Oakbury fierce as a consumin; flame - a flame which resolved itself into smok e when hc wasshown the boy, and found him nothinglike his missing son After this, gossip should have died a natural death, but it did not. People who are determinod to swallow a monstrous tale will lick it into the shape they can deal with best. In spite of the Talberts' strenuous denials and plain statement as tohow the child was thrown upon their hands, everybody would have it that if not Lord Hadwynn's son he was some one "else's- ineaning some one, a nobloman's probably, whose wife had, for private reasons of her own, intrusted him to the Talberts. Even the reputation of being a harbor of refuge for a duchess or countoss in her dis'tress is a nattering thing; and the Talberts, especially Horace. feit pleased while laughing at the absurd idea. Perhaps it was for this reason that] Horace" at last yielded to his niece's solicitations and astonished her one day hy saying- "Beatrice, if you really mean to keep that cbild for a while, we will engage a nurse for it." She said nothing, but gave Uncle Horace a most grateful kiss. She must have grown wondrously fond of the baby, as her eyes were full of glad tears. That afternoon she drove into Blacktown and rigged the child out from head to foot iu new and dainty raiment; nothing was too good for hira. Horace and Herbert. who knew the price of lace, lawns and cambrics to a penny a yard, wondered how far her wliiin was going t carry her. Perhips they feit ratber aggricved that the'r aid had not been askod. They dearly loved a little shopping, and could have chosen a trousseau or a layette with any woman under the sun. But the affair of the nurse ma:d was peculiarlv their own. If the Talberts had one gift of housewifery above another, it was their skill in engaging suitable servants. At last, alter a number of interviews with candidates, they found a nurse-girl who came up to tlie standard of the'.r requirements. ' ('nc wt.o had no followers, and one uho ii ade no object on to wearing a cap- moreover, the cap of the pattern the had themselres designed. A member of the church of Kngland, of course, who promÍ9ed to communicate every two months, and to be conten ted wit li Dorset butter during the winter. So themysterious child was as good as adopted at Hazelwood House. A serious question aroge as to whether the infant had ever been christt-ned. Miss Clauson feit sure it had been. The cbild carne to them too well dressed to suppose such an important rite bad been omitted. The Kev. Sylvanus. who was_ known to be disgracefully lax about such matters, did not urge that assurancc should be made doubly uure, so no baptismal ceremony took place. After some con sultation it was decided that the boy should be known as Henry. "Henry," said Uncle Horace, "is a safe name; thoroughly adaptable to any station in life." So Henry it was. The súmame they lef t in abeyance, trastwg that time or chance might some dav reveal i'. Every article of clothing worn by the child on its arrival was folded up an f, together with the direction card, plawd in the big safe. They might hereafter be needed for the purpose of identifica tion. So Ecatrice Clauson was confirmod in the possussion of her toy- hertoy! In a month's time little Harry was every one's toy. The Talberts themselvës were ashamcd to 8ay how glad they were that Bea triee's whim liad been carried out, but it was currently reported and sbortly afterward, when the boy was suffering from some transient ch ldish ailrnent, the two tall brothers wero seen intently poring over that interesting work. Dr. Bull's "Hints to Mothers!" But this, I belicve was scandal [TO BE CONTINUED.l