A Family Affair

CHAPTERXVI íCon'tixued). Wlth inintls 111 at easo they sought dis tractlon in their housekeeping. Although as a rule the '-Tabbles1' were just, lf eheesparing in thelr management - not nnreasonable, if exacting in their requirements, to-day they drove the cook and poor Wlilttaker almost frantlc, and set ooth wondering 'wha'.ever the masters were fioing to get to?" In the meantimc Beatriee had carrled her white face to her own room. She locked the door, threw herself upon a oouch, where for a long time she sat with her hands presst'd agalnst her brows. She dld not weep, nor was her look that of one resigning herself to fate and setting ready to yield to the inevitable, She rose, rang the bell, and gave orders for the boy to be brought to her. He soon ran lnto the with the cry of delight with whlch he always greet d her. Miss Clauson took th little fellow on her lap, tlasped him to her heart, stroked and curled his pretty, nitfed, bright liair, called him a thousand endearing namos and strange diminutives, kissed him on hls Ups, hls oves, hls neck, hls dimpled arms an 1 fa! legs, and generally went through the well known ceretnony of child worship. It was clear that no legal menace, however dlre, would make her acjuiesce in the tame surrender of her pet, contemplated by her úneles. Not une of lier many and rather wild ejaculatlons o much as hinted at posslbillty of kn impendlng separatlon. In no sense were her caresses, some of whlch were tearful ones. intended as a farewell. By and by, with a face even paler than before, Beatricj took the rhlld by the hand and went down stairs. She paused for a second before the closed door of the room in whtch she had left her úneles. "I can seo no other way. lt must be done,'' she muttered. Then like one full of a soleinn purpose she entered the room. Whatever she may have been about to do, the empty r. om seeined to give her a welcome respite. She gave a breath of relief. Nevertheless lt -eemed that the respite was to b bat short, for, after waltlng a few minutes and finding neither Horace Dor Heriwrt appear, she turned a? if to go Ín search of tliem. But at that moment her mood changed once more, or an alternatlve course at last presen ted itself. A tinge of color leaped back to her cheek. Wlth quick iteps she ied the boy away. and having oonsigned him to Mrs. Miller's care, again Bought her own room, and again sat for a long time Ín deep tho.ight "lt is but a dender chance," she whispered, "but lt üan be tried. To-dav is Thursday. and no steps are to be taken imtil Saturday. " After this she wrote a note to Sylvanus Mordle askng h'm if he couldcome to the lious and see her either that afternoon or early the next morn'ng. She sent the note down to the village and then went In search of lier úneles. "You will not answer the solicitor's letter, I hope," she sald. "No: it needs no answer. The delivery of the boy will be answer cnough. " In the afternoon Sylvanus trotted up on his tr'cycle. Hls face was radiant from the combined effects of the sharp, fresh air, the exerclse, and tho delight at liavíngreceived such a summons from Mlss Clausnn. "You want me, " sald Sylvanus. "Behold me. Here 1 ara." "I want you to do me a favor, so I ventured to write to you." Beatrlce's words were convent! 'nal, but tliere was sometblng in her manner which made the quick witted young clergyman wonder. ".ommand me- In anythlng - everythlug- all. " He spoke even more qulckly and emphatlcally thari was liis wont In hls heart the good fellow fancled his ald was needed for something concernlng C;rruthers whom he perslsted In bellevlng Beatrle loved. Nevertheless he would willingly have done all he could to help to happiness the man wlio had taken every vestige of hope frora him. But the favor resolved Hself lnto thls. Would Mr. Mordle accompany Mlss ClauBon to-morrow morningtoBlacktown? She had a prívate errand which took her to a part of tho city of which she knew llttle or noiliiiiii. s ivamis feit and expressed lilinself greatly lionored. At what time should he cali for her? Would she walk or drive? Beatrice looked at him and spoke very slowly and as if with au effort. "I wlsh no one- not even my úneles, to know of this excursión," she said. "Would you meet me at the cross-roads at ten o'clock to-morrow nvirning? If I trespass on your timo please say sa" "Trespass! By no means. Ten o'clock. I shall bo waitlng for you." "Krrand of charlty, of course?" he sald, making the questionlng assertion not for curiasity but as a salve to his consclence. "H is an errand of noevil," said Beatrice aravely. lier words satisñed Sylvauns as the w.rds of a fair woman always satisfy the con3clence of a man. The amount of conviction carrled by beauty is truly wonderful. CHAPTKU XVIL A CASE KOU KIXO SOI.OMON. At a few minutos past ten o'clock In the mornlng Sylvantis Mordle, who for sorae (juarter of an hour had been walting at the cross-roads a3 patlently as the finger-post itself, saw Ht-atrtce coming toward hlm. He hastene.l to mi et her, and hls sharp eyes at once noticed that she looked worn and wcary. Had he known that she had ■pent a sleeplcss night, this would have caused him no surprise. The two walked on until they reached the outsklrts of the city. Here, by Beatrice's command, the cúrate hal ed a cab. "Where slia'l we drive to?" Ie aked. "There, if you please, " said Beatriee, hamlhif? hlm a paper. Mordle started, and could earcely repress a cry of surprise. The paper bore the words, "The Cat and Compass, Market l.ane. " He wondered what in the world Miss Clauson could want at a fiftb-rate Iilacktown Inn. However, he gave the order, and in due time the cab drcw up at lts euphonical dustinatlon. What could brini? Miss Clauson to such a place? Simply this; the widowed landlady of the house was an old friend of Mr. and Mrs. Kawllnes. These respectable people were staylng wlth her, and Heatrlce had learoed the address glven to her ondes. Her business was to s e Mrs. Rawllnz." 'Miss Clauson," said Mordle, "can 1 aot do your errand for you'.' This seema scarcely the place for you to enter. " "No," said Beatriee, "I alone can do it Please do not follow me; but I should be glad If you will wait for me. " Mrs. Rawllngs' good-natured, round, communplace face wore an expression of wouderinent. She saw that her vlsltor was of a class different from that wlilch usually honoreit her wlth a mornlng cali. Asa tribute to Miss ClMMOn's uiidcniilly ladylike appearance, tho good woman s greetlng. wlilch bogan witli a iuul. ended In something like a courlesy. "Please be seated. M'ss, ' she sald. "I hear you want to speak to me. " "Yes," sald Beatrlce. "I wlsh to speak to you about the little child wh'cii you claim as yotir.'. I wish (o hear what you have to say. " The woman's face grew grave. "Ah,'sh sald, "I must send for my husbaud. lic manages the btisin ss." lieatrlce made an impe;ious gesturc of dissent "What I have to say must bo said to yo '. Klndly see that we speak without interruption." Mrs. ltawlings settled back In her chair rather suilenly, and eyed her ve led visltor wltli Increasod curiosity. Suddenly Beatrlce again spoke. "Teil me," she said, in tones of strong roproach, and perhaps unwiseiy, ;corn - "teil me why you daro to claim as your ovvn a chlld whom you saw for the lirst time a few days ago." "We lost a llttle boy," she faltered out, "a dear llttle boy of that age. My man is certain thls is onr-. " "But you - you arenot certain. A man may make a mistake as to his own ehi'd, but not a woman. The mother d es not forget her chlld, nor belltve tho c'jüd of a stranger to be her own."' "My man is bo certain, " repeatet Mr. Rawllngs, "he must be rlght Poor fellow, ever slnce our boy was lost he has been seeking hlm, high and low. It has driven hlm all but mad at times. Now he has found the child and means to have him. " "He wlll neverhave him," sald Beatrlce slowly. 'Listen lo me. There Is no chance of your obtainlng the boy. His mother knows in whose hands he is. Jf your claim is pressed, proof as to whose the child really is will be forthcoming. The production will cause pain and grief, but that will be borne, if needful. See here'' - she drew from her pocket the label whlch had been cut off the child's cape - "the person who has a right to :hat chlld must produce the half of the card wiiich fits thls. When wanteditcan beprohued." "I know nothlng about cards and proofs, '' fald the woman; "all I know is that niy husband swears it is our boy, and I belleve him, poor man. i-ore enough he has grieved for two years - never been the same man since."' "You do notbelieve hlm," said Beattice in the same delibérate way, "but for the sake of setting hls mini at rest, you humor hls delusion, and are willing to rob anoth er woman. You seein to be a kind woman, yet you are ready to work an Irretrievable harm to anot' er. " "I mean no harm to anyone miss. If t sliouldn't be my ehild tlie mother can't be of much account who could desert a juetty little dear like that. But there, rvelistened too long and perhaps said more tli n I ought If you like to see my husband 111 send for hlm." Mrs. Rawlings rose as if to termínate the audience. Heatriee also rose and faced her. She threw up her veil, and for the first time during the interview showed her face to her companlon. "Mo," she8aid, withstrangevehemenee; "I have more, much more to say to you. Look me in the face, and feel sure that I am spcaking the truth. What if I teil you that I know the mother of this chlld - know why It was ;ent to Ha.dewood House - know that If forced to do so the mother wlll claim it publicly- will face whatever the shame. rather than yield it to another. Will these thlngs have no welght with you, and make jou persuade your husband to let the matter rest?" "It's no use," she said, shaking her head. "Xot a bit of use. He ha set his heart on the boy. He'll say it's only a trick. " 'Then I have yet more to s-ay. Look at me again and listen, Put yourself In my place and realie what you compel me to da Itell you the ch ld ís mine- it Is mine. Do you understandV" Mrs. Kawllns shok her head feeb'y. "It is mine, " repeated Beatrlce. "1 am lts mother. Do I speak clearly enough? That boy is my son. I bore him in trou'le and In secrecy. Now wlll you or your husband dare to lay claim to hlm - dare to swear it belongs to you? Answer me " "Oh. dear! Oh, dear, dear!" ejaculated Mrs. Kawlings. "Save myself and one other no one knows Of lts blrth." con'lnued Beatrice. "1 loveJ it und longed to have it ever wlth me. But for years I scarcely dare l to see it. Then carne a chance. I schemed so that it mlght come to me a-id be al ways with me, and yet no one need know it was my very own. I iniured no one by so dolng. I had my child and could Iove It and care for It I was all but happy. And now, for what can tx1 of no benefit to you, you would forcé me totell my tale to the world or part with my chlld. Yet you are a woman and must have a woman 's heartl" She looked at Mrs. Kawlings and saw that tears were in her eyes. "1 believe you are kind, " she added ín a sof ter volee. "You have forced me to tell you all, but I lelieve you will keep my secret anl help me to keep It " "Oh, my poor young lady! My poor young lady! ' eried Mis. Hawlinijs. "xou 80 young, so proud-looklng, so beautlful! To be led astray! Oh dear! oh dear! What vllllans men are, both high and low!" Miss ClauBon tiushed to the roots of her halr. She seemtd about t speak. but checked herself. "You are satis ':ed now?" blie asked after a pause. "Oh, yes, miss. Oh, I am so sorry for you. You were rlght to trust me. Not a word shall pass niv llp. " "But your husband?" "Oh dear! oh dear! I must do the best 1 can. 1 must tell hiin it Is n t ours. He wül be so unhappy. He' a good man and a kind husband. but rather excitable. I assure you. mi s, he was fully convlnced that seet llttle boy was hls I own I wasn't, but I hum red htm, sceing the thought niade hlm so happy. Any way I would have love 1 the boy llke my own. Now I promise you there shall be no more trouble. But niv poor man, he wBl be dlsappolntcd. '' After th:s Miss ('lauson tliankeil lier hostess wlth grave dlgnity. Then she dropped her valí, and, attendcd by Mrs. Hawling!, went back ti the cab and Sylvanus. S'e liad galned her end, but at a prlre only knowu to hi-rself. 'And after all, '' she murmured wlth a bittor smile on her fa e. ' It is but staving off the crash whlcli must come sooner or later." Here she sighe.t lnvoluntarily. Mordle's qulck ear caught the sound "Nothing unpleasant happened, 1 hope'." he asked. "My business was not of the pleasant est nature, but I accomplished lt success fully," r.-plied Beatriee. Saturday came. All that niornlng, the busiest of the wee, Horace and Herber were iMgety and iineomfortabla l.onit before the hour tixed by Messrs. Ulackett and Wlggens for tW appearance of their client's canlage, the brotliers were Rlf-nciiiii down the drive. Three o'clook came- fo ir - five o'clock but no carr age no liawliugs uo IMackett; no Wlggins. Sunilay, and Tue - day passed without any sIrii or manifesta tlon of hostil ty. The Talberts were then bound to confess tliat their nlece ha judged aright "Bcatrlce appeara to be remarkably clear slghted,'' sald Ilorace. . "Kemarkably so, " answered Ilerbert. fto be continced]