Cast Adrift

had been thrust in a shrinking and frightened girl; she came o

confiding. With the former she would sit for hours without speaking unless addressed; with the latter she was pleased and social, and grew to be interested in what interested him. As mentioned, Mr. Dinneford was a man of wealth and leisure, and active in many public charities. He had come to

touching it with her hand. But it was not so with Edith; she listened to her father, and became deeply interested in the poor, suffering, neglected little ones whose sad condition he could

th said to

made me sick. It has haunted me

t?" asked M

kness and purple with cold. The woman sat at the street corner begging, and the people went by, no one seeming to care for th

eford. "So long as she did not disturb the pe

then

bod

" exclaimed E

aby was her capital in trade," replied Mr. Dinneford. "That policeman had no more

a poor baby like that. Is the

n if they did, the executors of law would be found indifferent. They are much more careful to protect those whose business it is to make d

le children in his arms and blessed them, and said, Suffer them to co

kingdom," answered Mr. Dinneford, grav

ad remained silent and thoughtful,

id you see

uestion, surprised and disturbed. He did n

, with a hesitation of man

s, Edith dropped her eyes to the floor, and there wa

her eyes to her father's face. Her own was mu

ev

asked

a little while,

you answer

ever brou

fat

and a nurse was pr

g lips. "If they had laid it in my bosom as soon as it was born, I wo

her lips tightly. Her face remained very pale an

ther, with an abruptness that sent the col

iew," was replied, a

e cemetery alone and searched in the family lot for the little mound that covered her baby-searched,

th! Are y

ing wrong, mother. What was done with my baby? I must know." And she caught her mother's wri

at your wretched mesalliance I rejected even the dead body of your miserable husband's child, and would not even suffer it to lie in our family ground. You know how bitterly I

asked Edith, with a calm resolution

d not care at the ti

an tel

n't k

my baby

is that she is dead. When the child died, I sen

did she

recisely. Somew

commended her?" said Edith, p

replied Mrs. Dinneford, main

ecollection of her-a dark little woman with black ey

s. Dinneford, without

does sh

with a Cuban lady

ow the lad

asteline,

still sitting together, both deeply absorbed in thought,

ishes to

e give you

ma

nd up h

ma'

and ask h

the room. On re

e is Mrs

ssion that she knew her visitor, and that her call was felt to be an unwelcome one. She went from

ou wish to see me send me word, and I will call

anythin

es

ha

as been out to Fairview looking for its

d you te

was Mrs. Bodine, and th

nk she woul

veil. There! close. She said, a little while ago, that she had a faint recollect

ay gathered her veil

Mrs. Dinneford asked th

es

n't be! Ar

it day befor

did!

in the arms of

s. Dinneford spoke with a

hing! half starved and half f

could not know that

y, in a voice that left no do

he same to whom

d of it in less

d she do

ad spent all the money she received fr

for five

morning and the other in the afternoon, and get drunk on the

rd gave a li

baby when they are no

ollar a week to take

where this

es

ou ever

es

d of a pl

han a do

repressed excitement. "Why have you so kept on the trac

e doesn't know what may come of an affair like

through. A faint rustle of garments in the hall cause

, to her visitor; "I will cal

ing, as she did so, "I shall

said, "I shall expect you," that did

the parlor door. Mrs. Bray had to pass her

ked, confronting her mother

ction to answer," said Mrs. Dinneford, with a dignified and sligh

, the serv

Mrs.

d her to say

ome asperity of manner. "She calls herself Gray, but you ca

did sh

see

h an expression on her face that Mrs

she got married, and then her troubles began. Now she is a widow with a house full of little children, and not half bread enough to

stairs. Mrs. Dinneford was surprised, not long afterward, to meet h

?" she asked, not co

le errand out,

other. She asked other questions,

something; her veil was closely drawn. Only a few blocks from where sh

tor, not concealing the surprise he fe

," she

ary pause; then Ed

at became o

not without betraying some confusion. The

d?" She spoke in a firm voice, l

ed, after a sl

know that it di

r's word for it,"

with my baby af

iven out

your c

her own views in the case. It was so

saw it after it

ev

know whether it b

here is no doubt of that," said the do

y evidence o

t is all wrong. Why go back over this unhappy ground? why torture

orn, and for the nurse to whom it was given afterward, and am told that they are dead or out of the country. I ask for my baby's grave, but it cannot be found. I have searched for it where my mother

that Edith was losing her mind,

n the arms of a drunken beggar," she added. "And,

saw what was in her mind. "You mu

ome to you. I want certainty, Dr. Radcliffe. Som

your baby's birth, and have never see

hear he

N

me at all?" said Edith,

oor child," ans

le and haggard, like one exhausted by pain, and her steps uneven, like the steps of an

steps, "can't you bring out of this frightful mystery something for my heart t

replied. "Your only hope lies in your m

, drawing her veil as she did so about her face, and walked away more like one