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Cast Adrift, a fiction by T. S. Arthur |
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CHAPTER IV |
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_ CHAPTER IV. Sympathy between father and daughter--Interest in public charities--A dreadful sight--A sick babe in the arms of a half-drunken woman--"Is there no law to meet such cases?"---"The poor baby has no vote!"--Edith seeks for the grave of her child, but cannot find it--She questions her mother, who baffles her curiosity--Mrs. Bray's visit--Interview between Mrs. Dinneford and Mrs. Bray--"The baby isn't living?"--"Yes; I saw it day before yesterday in the arms of a beggar-woman"--Edith's suspicions aroused--Determined to discover the fate of her child--Visits the doctor--"Your baby is in heaven"--"Would to God it were so, for I saw a baby in hell not long ago!"
The river of her life, which had cut for itself a deeper channel, Mrs. Dinneford had no sympathy with her husband in this direction. A One day Edith said to her father, "I saw a sight this morning that made me sick. It has haunted me "What was it?" asked Mr. Dinneford. "A sick baby in the arms of a half-drunken woman. It made me shiver "That was not his business," replied Mr. Dinneford. "So long as she "Who, then, has?" "Nobody." "Why, father!" exclaimed Edith. "Nobody?" "The woman was engaged in business. She was a beggar, and the sick, "But somebody should see after a poor baby like that. Is there no "The poor baby has no vote," replied Mr. Dinneford, "and law-makers "But not of Him," said Edith, with eyes full of tears, "who took "Our law-makers are not, I fear, of his kingdom," answered Mr. A little while after, Edith, who had remained silent and thoughtful, "Father, did you see my baby?" Mr. Dinneford started at so unexpected a question, surprised and "No, my dear," he answered, with a hesitation of manner that was After looking into his face steadily for some moments, Edith dropped "You never saw it?" she queried, again lifting her eyes to her "Never." "Why?" asked Edith. She waited for a little while, and then said, "Why don't you answer me, father?" "It was never brought to me." "Oh, father!" "You were very ill, and a nurse was procured immediately." "I was not too sick to see my baby," said Edith, with white, She held back what she was about saying, shutting her lips tightly. A day or two afterward, Edith asked her mother, with an abruptness "In our lot at Fairview," was replied, after a moment's pause. Edith said no more, but on that very day, regardless of a heavy rain "Why, Edith! Are you sick?" "I have been looking for my baby's grave and cannot find it," she "Your baby is dead," returned Mrs. Dinneford, speaking slowly and "Where, then, was my baby buried?" asked Edith, with a calm "I do not know. I did not care at the time, and never asked." "Who can tell me?" "I don't know." "Who took my baby to nurse?" "I have forgotten the woman's name. All I know is that she is dead. "Where did she live?" "I never knew precisely. Somewhere down town." "Who brought her here? who recommended her?" said Edith, pushing her "I have forgotten that also," replied Mrs. Dinneford, maintaining "My nurse, I presume," said Edith. "I have a faint recollection of "Bodine," answered Mrs. Dinneford, without a moment's hesitation. "Where does she live?" "She went to Havana with a Cuban lady several months ago." "Do you know the lady's name?" "It was Casteline, I think." Edith questioned no further. The mother and daughter were still "A lady wishes to see you." "Didn't she give you her card?" "No ma'am." "Nor send up her name?" "No, ma'am." "Go down and ask her name." The servant left the room. On returning, she said, "Her name is Mrs. Bray." Mrs. Dinneford turned her face quickly, but not in time to prevent "I don't want you to come here, Mrs. Bray. If you wish to see me "Why? Is anything wrong?" "Yes." "What?" "Edith isn't satisfied about the baby, has been out to Fairview "What did you tell her?" "I said that your name was Mrs. Bodine, and that you had gone to "Do you think she would know me?" "Can't tell; wouldn't like to run the risk of her seeing you here. "Indeed!" and Mrs. Bray gathered her veil close about her face. "The baby isn't living?" Mrs. Dinneford asked the question in a "Yes." "Oh, it can't be! Are you sure?" "Yes; I saw it day before yesterday." "You did! Where?" "On the street, in the arms of a beggar-woman." "You are deceiving me!" Mrs. Dinneford spoke with a throb of anger "As I live, no! Poor little thing! half starved and half frozen. It "It's impossible! You could not know that it was Edith's baby." "I do know," replied Mrs. Bray, in a voice that left no doubt on "Was the woman the same to whom we gave the baby?" "No; she got rid of it in less than a month." "What did she do with it?" "Sold it for five dollars, after she had spent all the money she "Sold it for five dollars!" "Yes, to two beggar-women, who use it every day, one in the morning Mrs. Dinneford gave a little shiver. "What becomes of the baby when they are not using it?" she asked. "They pay a woman a dollar a week to take care of it at night." "Do you know where this woman lives?" "Yes." "Were you ever there?" "Yes." "What kind of a place is it?" "Worse than a dog-kennel." "What does all this mean?" demanded Mrs. Dinneford, with repressed "I had my own reasons," replied Mrs. Bray. "One doesn't know what Mrs. Dinneford bit her lips till the blood almost came through. A "Go now," she said, hurriedly, to her visitor; "I will call and see Mrs. Bray quietly arose, saying, as she did so, "I shall expect There was a menace in her tone as she said, "I shall expect you," Edith was in the hall, at some distance from the parlor door. Mrs. "Who is that woman?" she asked, confronting her mother, after the "If you ask the question in a proper manner, I shall have no "Mrs. Bray, the servant said." "No, Mrs. Gray." "I understood her to say Mrs. Bray." "I can't help what you understood." The mother spoke with some "What did she want?" "To see me." "I know." Edith was turning away with an expression on her face that "She is in trouble, and wants me to help her, if you must know. She Edith turned from her mother with an unsatisfied manner, and went up "Where are you going?" she asked, not concealing her surprise. "I have a little errand out," Edith replied. This was not satisfactory to her mother. She asked other questions, On leaving the house, Edith walked quickly, like one in earnest "Why, Edith, child!" exclaimed the doctor, not concealing the "No one," she answered. There was a momentary pause; then Edith said, abruptly, "Doctor, what became of my baby?" "It died," answered Doctor Radcliffe, but not without betraying some "Did you see it after it was dead?" She spoke in a firm voice, "No," he replied, after a slight hesitation. "Then how do you know that it died?" Edith asked. "I had your mother's word for it," said the doctor. "What was done with my baby after it was born?" "It was given out to nurse." "With your consent?" "I did not advise it. Your mother had her own views in the case. It "And you never saw it after it was taken away?" "Never." "And do not really know whether it be dead or living?" "Oh, it's dead, of course, my child. There is no doubt of that," "Have you any evidence of the fact?" "My dear, dear child," answered the doctor, with much feeling, "it "Would God I could believe it!" she exclaimed, in strong agitation. The doctor was scared. He feared that Edith was losing her mind, she "A puny, half-starved, half-frozen little thing, in the arms of a "Hush, hush!" said the doctor, who saw what was in her mind. "You "It is that I may not indulge them that I have come to you. I want "I never saw her before the night of your baby's birth, and have "Did you hear her name?" "No." "And so you cannot help me at all?" said Edith, in a disappointed "I cannot, my poor child," answered the doctor. All the flush and excitement died out of Edith's face. When she "Oh, doctor," said Edith, in a choking voice, as she lingered a "I am powerless to help you," the doctor replied. "Your only hope And he turned and left her standing at the door. Slowly she |