Cast Adrift

in with the new-born baby in her arms, "and perfe

ntenance expressed disgust. She turned her head away. "Hide the thing f

determined?"

look back when I have once resolved. You kno

her face partly turned from Mrs. Dinneford. She was a short, dry, wiry li

her hand on his arm, pressed him back, going out into the entry with him an

octor as he turned to go, "and I will

replied Mrs. Dinneford. "Do the best you can for Edith. A

en sick, to humor them when they only thought themselves sick, and to get the largest possible fees for his, services. A great deal came under his observation that he did not care to see, and of which he saw

hing" was a good maxim in the case, and so she divulged only the fact that the baby was t

ough she was, an impulse of tenderness flowed into her heart from the angels who were present with the innocent child. It grew lovely in her eyes. Its helpl

d, but sat looking down at the

he noticed this manifestation of interest. "Bundle the thi

as she slowly drew a li

n the basket, and le

d the nurse, whose heart was f

for all I care," ret

d, but with an evident reluctan

up the woman," s

l face. You read in it the record of bad passions indulged and the si

d Mrs. Dinneford abruptly, as t

so," she replied, loo

fifty dollars,

Mrs. Dinneford's face was pale, an

l roll of bills, and as she held out the m

eration you take the child away. That is the end of it between you and me. The child is your own as much a

" queried

Dinneford stamped her f

that had been laid over the baby close about its head, so that no one

rs. Dinneford or the nurse spoke. M

she said, in a voice that betrayed some little feeling. "To t

y work, I own, but it had to be done-like cutting off a diseased limb. He will d

ife, poor little thing!" said the n

ill at ease. She pushed the subject away, and tried to bury it out

to have her baby-"Oh, mother, bring me my baby! I shall die if you do not!" and the answer, "Your baby is in heaven!"-sent the feeble life-currents back

evidence of mental growth. He went over the alphabet with her, letter by letter, many times each day, encouraging her and holding her thought down to the unintelligible

h, and it was months before thought began to reach

on for a term of years. His partner came forward as the chief witness, swearing that he had believed the note

by his wife's family, and not even permitted to see Edith, he only knew that she was very ill. Of the birth of his baby he had but a vague intimation. A rumor was abroad that it had died, but he could learn nothing certain

ntence, but to an insane asylum. Reason gave way under t

s heart to leap. She was reading a child's simple story-book, and lo

eford, repressing her feelings a

er." She looked down at herself, then about

't you un

her mother looked into her face the childlike sweetness and content were all gone, and

a minute. Mrs. Dinneford knew not what to say

is in a low, tremulous whisper, leaning f

asked Mrs. Dinneford,

otten

orn; no one thought you could live; you

to tremble violently. Her mother, perceiving her

mother?" Edith re

g partly away. She could not look at h

don't say that! The

f suspicion cam

the almost stern response of Mrs

lbows rested on her knees and her hands supported her head. Thus she sat, rock

ked Edith, checking her

Edith waited a moment, and

eorge?" sh

uine pity, putting her arms about Edith and drawing her head

er said, disengaging herself.

er fingers on Edith's lips. "The wretched man you once called by tha

he found a sad, almost broken-hearted woman, refusing to be comforted. The wonder was that u

She had compassed the ruin of Granger in order to make a divorce possible; she had cast the baby adrift that no sign of the social disgrace might remain as an impediment to her

a divorce from her husband was to be obtained, it must come through her father's influence; for if she but hinted at the subject, it was met with a flash of almost indignant rejection. So her first work was to bring her husband over to her side. This wa

and persuasions, Edith yielded her consent. An appli