CHAPTER V.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 292, 22 August 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER Y.

A CntAVE CONSULTATION. AimiviNTt at Mr Huntress's office in Doy street, Gladys alighted, bidding John detain the boy in the carriage until &ho could bung her father. She ran lightly up the stairs, and found that gentleman ju&fc on the point of leaving j to return home, but evidently very much pleased to have his daughter come for him. She related what had occurred on her | way to the c : ty, and he listened attentively to her story ; but his face grew giave as she proceeded, for he was so fond and careful of her that he could not enduic she thought of her running into any danger. ' I tear you have been unwise, my cUu ling, in taking this boy into the cai riaga w ith you,' he said, drawing her fondly towards him, and bending down to kiss the bright, eager face upturned to him. ' Ifc may have come from some fevor-infested locality ; you should have given him into the care of a policeman.' 'But, papa, there was no policeman near at the time, and the poor boy was so frightened and distressed I hadn't the heart to make him get out ot the carriage, at least until we could get beyond the reach of those rude boys. I supposed, of course, he would tell us where he lived, so that we could take him home, bub we could not understand a word that he said.' ' Perhaps he is some foreigner,' suggested Mr Huntress. ' No, I think not, for he seemed to know what, we said to him. He isn't like those other boys — he looks as it he must belong to very nice, respectable people. "His clothes are very plain, but as clean a% can be — even his hands and naiU are as white and clean as mine, which is not usual in a boy, you know. Come and see him, papa. 1 know you will pity him,' pleaded Gladys with a very sweet and sympathetic face. She slipped her hand within her father's arm and chew him with gentle force out of his officeand down the stairs to the carriage, where John >at looking a trifle anxious, and as if he feared a reproof for allowing a strange child in his master's elegant equipage with his idolised daughter. Mr Huntress was struck with the refined, even aristocratic appearance of the boy the moment his eyes tell upon him. He instantly recognised the wonderful beauty of his face, remarked the shape and colour of his eyes, which, had they been lighted by the iirc of intelligence, would \\vl\ c been his chief charm. His frame was slight, but he was finely formed, with shapely hands and feet. His head was rather massive for his body, and was of that squaie structure, with a broad, full brow and an unusual height above the ears, which geneially proclaims a large brain and rare intellectual capacity, and yet he was unmistakably an idiot ! one look into those blank, expressionless eyes but too plainly told that. Mr Huntress entered the carriage, after assisting Gladys to her seat, anil spoke kindly and cheerfully to the boy. He made no answer, but fixed his great eyes earnestly upon the gentleman's face while he shrank close to Gladys, as if lie instinctively realised that she was hi& staunch friend and would protect him against all evil. ' 1 do not wonder that you were interested in him, GladyV said Mr Huntress, leuarding the stranger gravely, 'he is peculiarly winning in appearance, though evidently very simple in mind.' 'Do you supposo he wat always so, papa ?' Gladys asked. 'It docs not seem possible, for, aside from that vacant look in hi& eyes, his face has a wonderfully intelligent expression, especially when it is in repose. Can't you make him &ay anything IJi ' No, sir ; he tries fco talk, but I cannot understand what he mean?.' ' A&k him a question, Gladys,' said her father. ' Boy, you have lost your hat — would you like a new one ? the young girl questioned. ' M'ha' ; m'ha' ;' he instantly answered, putting his hand to his head, thus showing as before that he had comprehended something ot what was said to him. Mr Huntress's face lighted. ' Try something else,' he commanded. ' Whero do you live, boy ?' Gladys inquired. This query, like a previous one, only elicited a perfect storm of unintelligible sounds. ' Do you wish to go home to your friends ?' Gladys continued, making another eflort. But the only response was a short, sharp ejaculation of pain, whilo the lad seized her hand and laid his cheek affectionately against it, looking appealmgly into her face, as if thus to signify that he did not wish to leave her. 1 1 cannot understand him at all, papa, only it seems as if he wishes to stay with me,' said Gladys, with a sigh. Mr Huntress thought a moment, then he turned to the coachman and said : ' Drive home, John. ' ' Oh, papa, are you going to take him with us ?' criocl Gladys eagerly. ' Yes, for to-night ; I find myself strangely interested in him, and I have nob the heart to turn him adrift upon the street. He evidently belongs to a good family, and has probably strayed from home and got lost. We will care for him until we can learn who Mb friends are and can i return him to them.' SoMrHuntressreplied, and they then proceeded directly home with their strange 2)2 )r otege, : where Mrs Huntress received them with considerable surpriso, although her sympathies were also soon enlisted in behalf of their charge, and she soon bestowed the kindost of care and attention upon the unfortunate waif so singularly thrown into her family. Mr Huntress caused an advertisement to be inserted in the papers the next morning, inquiring for the friends of the wanderer. But a week passed and he received not one word in reply, and thus his identity remained a profound mystery. Meantime, tho object of theso inquiries was so docile and tractable, so affectionate in his manner toward every member of the household ; he was so trustful, appearing to recognise instinctively that they were kind frionds ; he was so exceptionally nice about his person and habits, and so 1 gentle in his manner. ib*b they all became greatly attached to Turn, and they felt more and 'more convinced that he belonged to some family

of good blood and high position, in spite the very common clothing which he wore and his imbecile condition. There was nothing about him to give the least clue to his identity. Every article ho had on was thoroughly examined to try and find some name ; every pocket was searched with the same purpose, and at last Mr Huntress began to believe that he must have been brought from a distance to New York by some person or persons, and there wilfully deserted foi some secret reason, with the hope, perhaps, that the authorities would care for him and have him sent to some institution for weakminded people. This view of the affair made him very indignant toward the supposed perpetrators of the deed, and tenfold more tender toward tho victim of such an inhuman transaction, and one day, upon returning from his business in New York, he was accompanied by one of the most skilful physicians in the city. To him the pitiable but interesting innocent was submitted for examination. The noted M.D. at once became absorbed in and enthusiastic over the peculiar case. ' He would be a remarkable boy but for the torpidity of bis intellect,' he asserted. 'He was not born so. His present con dition was caused either by some acute disease of. the brain, or some injury to it, the lntber, most probably.' ' Possibly a great wrong has been pert petratod, and he has been deserted in thid my&'.ot ion-, way to conceal the deed,' suggested Mr Huntress, gravely. ' I should not be at all surprised,' returned tho physician. 'He may be the heir to some large property, and jealousy lias brought him to this pass. Everything about him, save his idiocy, betrays that be came of a refined parentage. His physical condition is sound, although he is not as fully developed as he should be. but that is owing undoubtedly to his mental incapacity. He is evidently about fifteen years of age.' .All this was the result of a superficial examination. A more critical one confirmed one of the doctor's theories — there proved to be a depression of -the skull, which must have been caused by some accident to or violent blow upon the head. ' It was clone a number of years ago,' the learned man affirmed, ' and that produced a paralvfcis of the brain and also of the ncrve.s that control his organs of speech. ' Is there any help for him — can he be restored ?' Mr Huntress inquired, eagerly. ' Pos-ibly, by an operation ; but it would be attended with considerable risk.' ' Would the risk be so great that were the boy your own son, you would hesitate to attempt it ?' ' No, I should have it done at once ; still, the trouble is of such long standing that I could not answer for the success of the operation in restoring the boy to his normal condition, even should he survive the shock to his system : and yet ' ' Well,' almost impatiently questioned Mr Huntress. He was becoming greatly excited over the matter. Somehow a conviction had taken possession of his heart that such an operation would result favourably, and he longed to have his hopes confirmed. ' It would be a great triumph of science if the trial could be made and he should have his reasoning powers restored,' returned the physician gravely. ' Would he be able to talk? Would his power of speech be regained ?' ' Yes, I believe so. I suspect that a portion of the skull, which was broken at the time of his injury, is pressing upon the brain, causing not only loss of memory, but also a partial paralysis of the hypoglossal nerve. If this pressure can be relieved, and the piece of skull lifted to its place, or removed altogether, and the aperture tiepanned, I see no reason why he should not recover the full use of all his faculties,' the doctor explained. 4 1 wish it might be done. Doctor, I wonder if it would be right for me to assume the responsibility of ordering this operation to be performed,' said Mr Hunttress, reflectively. 'It would be a great blessing to the boy.' ' Yes, provided all went well.' ' And an otherwise inexplicable mystery might thus be solved ; he would doubtless be able to tell who he is, and thus you could restore him to his friends.' ' Dr. Scherz, will you share the responsibility — simply that — of this matter with me?' Mr Huntress gravely asked, after thinking deeply for several moments. ' I feel rather delicate about giving you an affirmative answer to that question,' the physician replied, ' if I am expected to have charge of the case. I might be severely criticised and accused of a desire to experiment for the benefit of my profession, if there should be a fatal result.' ' Yes, perhaps ; but on the other hand, you would acquire fame if the boy was restored. ' 'Undoubtedly.' And the eminent physician's eye glowed with eagerness. 1 Well, the matter stands like this/ said Mr Huntress, after another thoughtful pause. ' I have done my best to find the lad's friends, but there is evidently no one, at least in Brooklyn or New York, who will claim him. lam unaccountably interested in him. I will not send him to an insane asylum. I cannot cast him. forth again upon the street to wander about at the mercy of a rabble. I have resolved to care for him as I would wi&h a son of mine cared for under similar circumstances, and yet his presence, in this imbecile state, is a constant pain to me. What shall I do?' _ ' If you intend to give him a father's care, I see no reason why you should not exercise a parent's judgment and authority in the matter of his possible restoration,' Dr Scherz responded thoughtfully. • Then will you take charge of the case and treat it as your judgment and skill dictate ? The expense and risk shall all be mine, yours the reward and fame if a I cure is effected.' Dr. Schorz did not reply to this request for several minutes. He appeared to be considering and reviewing the matter in all its points, and evidently regarded the undertaking as one of grave responsibility and importance. At length he looked up, and Mr Huntress was more encouraged by the expression on his pale thoughtful face, than he had yet been over anything that he had said about tho case. He felt sure that the man would act conscientiously and exert himself to the extent of his skill. * I think I will attempt it,' he said, slowly. ' But before I do, I would like to consult with a friend in the profession and get his opinion upon the undertaking. I will see you again in. a few days, meantime do your best to build up the boy's strength with a nourishing diet. ' With this, the two men separated.

(To be Continued.)

John Bright is reported to have become a convert to Donnellys cryptogram theory. . The ceromony of receiving Princess Christian into the Roman Catholic Church will be conducted privately. Advices from Tunis say that no rain has fallen ■ in that country for the last seven months.