CHAPTER XXXI. A RETROSPECTIVB GLANCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 320, 28 November 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XXXI. A RETROSPECTIVB GLANCE.

It was mdoed Dr. Turner, although twenty years or more had changed him greatly. They had given portliness to his form turned his dark brown air to a silvery whitoness, and teamed his face with many a line of thought and care. Ho now wore, too, a full beard, which was also vovy grey, although not as white us his hair, while the gold-bowed spectacles, which had become a constant necessity, added to the strangcne&s of his appearance. He had given up hio practice somo ten years previous, and was now the Hole propi iotor of the handsome (truer frt-oie on Washington-sticot already mentioned. But although Dr. Turner had spoken with tho utmost conlidenco in addressing (he lady befoie him, charging her with lior identity, he was, nevertheless, somewhat staggered, when she looked him calmly' in the eye and replied, without a tremor, in her lull, rich tones : ' You are mistaken, Dr. Turner — if that is your name — mine' is not ' Mrs Maraton,' and never was ' 'I know that .your true name is nol Mis Maiteton, and never was ;' the physician replied, after a moment's quiet study of bis companion ; ' but yon are, nevertheless, tha woman whom I attended at the Mouse on the date I have mentioned. You ore very little changed, and I could not fail to recognise you anywhert.' The woman's face grew crimson, then startlingly white again ; her e^es drooped beneath his steady gaze, her lips trembled from inward excitement). ' You have a remarkable, memory ' she murmured, and stood confuted befoie him. INo better than your own. madam, it I had changed as little as yourself. Time has dealt less kindly with me. Not a Mil end of ynur hair has silvered, your colour is as fresh, jour tace a, u fair a-> on the day ot our last meeting. Pardon me,' continued the doctor, with a depiecating gesture, ' for reminding you so abruptly of the p.ist, but I have never cea&ed to feel a deor> inteioVu in the mysterious case to which 1 have referred, and I could not retrain from lenewmg the acquaintance' 'With what object?' queried madam, with cold dignity. ' I cannot say that 1 have any definite object in mind,' responded tho physician, suavely; 'possibly 1 imagined 1 mighr, be on the brink of a discoieiy. However, that ih neither heie not theio :if you are desirous of finding tho gentleman who adopted your child it may be that 1 can jissist you, if, after you conudo in mo your reasons for .seeking him, 1 shall deem it advisable. ' Mis Marston started slightly ah this. 'Do you know August Damon ?' she asked. Dr. Turner smiled. 'Madam, he said, 'did you imagine that the gentleman who took > our babe would be any less cautious than yourselt in such a transaction ? You were known as Mis Marston, but irankly confessed that the name was an assumed one. Your object was to find the child a good home and then chop ou& of sight altogether, so that those mho took it should never be able to identify you afterward. Did you -uppose it was to be a one-bided affair — that yo>i were to have all the power and advantage in your own hands? — that if you withheld your true name they would i^ive you theirs ?' Mrs Marston, as we must still call her, flushed hotly. ' Then Dainon was not the true surname of those people,' she said, in a eie-jf -fallen tone. ' No, madam.' ' What was it ?' Dr. Turner did nol reply for a moment Finally he said : 'Mrs Marston, pray do not let me keep you standing ; come into my private oih'ce and b3 seated ; we can conveise much more comfortably there and be free from infcrufcion, if customers .should come in." Mi* Maiston shivered slightly, although the day wa-> an unusually warm one. She did'not wish to talk over the long buried past, and thih lecognition had been a bitter blow to hei ; but her curiosity legaiding her child's fate was so great that f-he oould not resist the physician's invitation, and.she followed him to a small room beautifully fitted up as a consulting office, at the i ear of the htoie. Dr. Turner politely handed her a luxurious chaii, and then seated himself opposite her. ' It is. doubtless a great surprise to you to find me situated a& I am," the physician lemarked, by way of opening the com cum - tion ; ' but some ago my health ga\o out under the stiain of a large and constantly increasing practice, and I was forced to lelinquish it, although I still icceive some office patients." Mrs» Maioton mciely bowed in reply to this information, her manner indicating that she cared very little about Dr. Turner's personal history. She glance'l at Autru&t Damons card, which she had recoveved when Dr. Turner relinquished it. ' You were going to tell me the real name ot tho por.son whom thib caid ie presents. I believe,' she said. The druggist smiled, yet bit his lit) with vexation at himself for having intiudod las own afJah-6 upon her, even tor the purpose of making her feel moro at her c.i-c. lie might have soared himself that trouble. 'That will depend entirely upon your motive in seeking them,' he replied. Mis Marston flushed again. Bhe was an exceedingly high - spirited woman, one could perceive at a glance, and it galled her beyond expression to baveanyone make conditions for her like this. ' How can it matter to you what my motives are?' she demanded imperiously. ' A physician has no right to betray the confidence of his patients,' calmly responded the doctor, 'and unless you have iome urgent reason for your request, I shall not feel at liberty to give you the information you desire.' ' Are you fchei,r physician ?' ' I was for a time. I was first called to the child not three days after it had been given to them.' 'How could you tell it was the same child ? Babies oi that age look much alike.' ' Do you suppose that a man in my pro fession could be so lacking in observation as not to recognise a babe at whose birth he had officiated, and in which so much ot unusual intei'est seemed to centre '!' queried Dr. Turner, with a slight curl of hi& lips. * I knew her the moment 1 saw her, but they do not know, to this day, tha' I had even a suspicion that she was not their own flesh and blood.' i You never told them ? ; said Mrs MarsLon, quickly. ' Madam,' returned tho t gentleman, .with dignity, ' need I remind you ar/ctin, that an honourable physician never bettays the, confidence of his patients? , You confided in nic to a certain extent, and I knew that yo

wished to drop entirely out, of existence, as far aa'yo'ur rpldtion with the^cliild andjits adopted parents weie "concdWe'd. I* kriew also thai you wished its adoption to remain a secret — consequently' my lips were eealed. ' The lady's eyos dropped and all the haughtiness vanished at these words. 'Thank you, JDr. Turner, for your consideration for mo, and lam glad, too, that one so conscientious has beon intrusted with the earo ot the child,' she said, earnostly. ' Is — she still living-?' ■ ; 'Yes, and as beaubiful a young lady as anyone would wish to seo.' Mrs lMarston's face clouded and a sigh escaped her red lips. Her companion' thought lbone of regret and yearning. ' Jias she- been well cearsd \ ITn.s die hud advantages V ' 'I ho very best that money, could proem c or fondest affection could suggest. JVIr August-, -ah— Damon — ' the doctor' caught himself just In season, for the gentleman's i rue name had almost escaped him, ' has become a rich man, and no paionts could have donomoru lor the welfaie oi then own child than they have done for your**. 1 ' Arc thoro other children ?' '.No; that is, they haye 1 none oi tnoir own, though I boliovc they luiro been giving a poor boy of great pvomioO a homo and an education during the last eight or ten yeai - ' 4 Doom &he — the davy liter —know that &ho is an adopted child?' Mrt* Mars ton inquired. ' i cannot ->ay positively as to that,' Dr. Turner icpliod. *'SK6* Wd not know it a feu weeks, ago, and 1 imagine she has never boon i.oUl.'\l hope not, at all events ; it would b<; ■'>>/■/(/ ;t>r lv) >i< rer to Anon> if,' he concluded, with M'4.iirieaitt emphasis. ' Yd*,' lei/urned hi ; companion, ' l^uppose it would. Huh \ou ha\« not yet told mo i he name. ' ' And you ha\e not told ni( you; moth c in wishing ho learn il' 'L do not know that f haveatn special niouvo, othei than a. curionty and a natuial desire to know liow my child is living, and llow life hi-, dealt with lici," tin* lady answeted mu^inulv. ' i was travelling fchssummer and thought I would t ike Boston in on my route, n&'orlain, if 1 uoul.l. the residence ot ihe p.ople to whom my habe Had been given, -md p'eilmps obtnin a glimpse of her.' ' Tint is \ourouly motive, your oily lea^on !' the doctor asked, bending a seaichiiiv; glance i.oon her luindbuin? face •Irk' 'Then pai don me, madam, it 1 tt 11 you that 1 do nor- consider it ot sulhrient importance i.o •riatity your de-it c' Dr. Tin nei leturncd, gravely. 'I cm unde'i•'tand and sympathise with yon — it i- b t natural that a mother should yearn tor her child, e\en after a separation ot more than twenty years; but J kno.v well enough that Mr /Jidiiod would not have withheld his true name tioin you unlo?* ho desired to cut you horn all future knowledge of (he child horn you had ghen him. You also wished to drop entirely out of then oibit., to I?avo no trace by which rhev could ever lind you, to learn the secret you weie so careful to preserve, and they ha\e only aided you by concuilinu their own identity. If you should put yourself in (heir way and tiyto'-pe their daughter, they < i ould not rail io i MO'juist y.u. aj> 1 ha \c done, and it would gieiil^ disturb their peace : while if anything should nr«-jur to arouse the young )a<iy s su-pu'i'ins i ir.t she does not roallv belong to the par- nix whom she «o iondly lo\es, I ar/i stne iL would cause her a threat deal of unhappi'»oss, while it might result in inquiries and discoveries that would be embairfissmg to yourself.' Mrs Murston sat proudly erect' at tin- 5 , her o\ o- Wishing warningly. ' Such iiKjuiues mitrht be embavras.sing, ih is true, but tliey could result in nothing that would bring discredit upon either the child or me,' .-^ho said, with conscious dignity. ' I do not qno-tion that, madam, yet it would seem to be the wiser course to let everything re*t just as it is,' said the physician, thoughtfully. ' Perhaps you are right,' responded' his companion, with a sigh, ' but I would like to her.' 'Allow me to ask, Mrs Marston,' l^w Turnei resumed after a minuta of silence, ' is youi 1 lin&b'ind still living '!' The woman flushed, \ ptaitl^d painful crimson, to her brow : then she sliaightened hersoli haughtily. ' Ye- 1 , my husband is Ining,' sho icil> icpliwl. " ' ' And. lAi'UhC nif, but having i)«cn \oin medical attendant, f feel something ot an interest in the case — how was he aliected by the the los^ of hi« child V l>t*. Turner knew that lie was trespassing on dangerous ground, bnt uudci the cir-cum-»tfiuccs he felt that he might be pardoned for asking the question. 'I do not feel that/ you have ai'n//n to invei - rotate me fchuh,' Mis Marston lesponded, with some excitement ; ' nevei thele^.s, I am somewhat in your powci, and — ' ' Madam,' inten upled the phy-ician « ith an ail o! [)iidc, 'you need not go on ; it a little bib of.voui life is in my keeping, 1 assure you it is in the keeping of a conscientious man. Whnhvar I may possess regarding (tin/ pitientr, I could ne\er use it in a dishonourable way.' 'I b u your pardon.' his companion said, instantly disaimed and secretly ashamed of her sudden anger. 'lamveiy quick, and you touched n sensitive t\ervc. Dr. Turner, my hupband never knew of the birth of that child, and he can ucrcr know of it !' ' You 1001-c afc me with honoi,' &he piocerded hastily, as shu met his astonished ga/,e. • .is it you im;igmo that I must have been guilty ot some great crime ; but i ha\c not, unless giving away" my babo v\ as one. I was a lawful wife, a* 1 convinced a on at the time, and the;child had honourable biith ; but there '\>Vi<i rtasons wliiuli made ib absolutely necessary that 1 should conceal my maternit.y from, everyone who •knew me. I did, fiom all but my sifter, who has since died.' 'Ah ; then the lady who was with you at the time wee your sister. I could not believe her to bo simply a maid,' the doctor interposed. Mrs Marston bit her lips with vexation at having ihus thoughtlessly committed hoi self oven in &o «mall a point. ' Yes,' she ?ai f, after considering a moment, she alone knew my seciet, and I believed it safe trom all the world until I stumbled upon you to-day.' ' It is .sa.fe ©yen jnqw/ the physician hastened to assure her. ' F'elieve me, I shall never betray it — you may set your heart wholly «t icst upon that point.' 'Thank you — I am very ' jx^L^eful for your past silence, Doctor Turner, and your assistance of future secrecy. I am not a heartless woman, nor devoid, of material affection,' sho went on, her lips quivoring painfully. ' I could h'av'c'lovGd my baby as fondly as any mother ever loVed Her chilrl, if I had been allowed to open my heat t to 'her-; but I could not — 1 had to <>tcef> it af/ainil her 1 never daied eyen to allow myself to ki&s her — until the'moment £hey took her away — for fear that' "l should begin to love hey and rofuse to part with her. I cannot tell you why— -I can never explain ijb to any Hying being. lam hedged — I have { alwam Been; Hedged about by circumstances .that naye made Jt impossible', and aa long as Tlivo I riiiisfc carry thosccret'loclced within my own holirK' "' ( A^ 1 ' '■''*••-'•-■ ■■?

Slh'e stopped] for a'f mOinenfr, joverdpme by] the sad memories and emotions which this retrospective glance -^aroused, while the good docfcor felt more .genuine sympathy, than he had evel 1 experienced' for her over that mysterious occurrence so many years > ago. f - ■■■!", , , j ' I will try co be content with .what yon have told me 10-diy,' she resumed presently, ' although it was my intention^ when I came here, to see for myself how my child had been reared. I am , glad to know that she has been tenderly shielded by parental love — that life has beon made bright' and beautiful for her ; may it. over be so, and perhaps, sometime, in the great future, where there can be no secrets, I may be allowed to recognise and love the daughter which hievn ialc decreed I could not have in this liLe.' 'fears actually arose to the physician's c ye a at this little glimpse of the innermost i-ancl vary of the beautiful woman's heart ; t but he marvelled more iha'i ever at the terrible secret which must have* well-nigh blighted her early life. Sbs looked up, caught hi.s sympathetic glance, and was instantly the proud, sclt-po^e-^e-d woman of ohe world again. ' ■ And now, Doctor Turner,' she snid, rising and drawing lier elogaut lace mantle s i\bont hei shapely shoulders, ' i trust we. may never meet again. If chance Jioiifd i tliiow xi& together in tlie presence of ocheiv, X boy, <as a per»onal iavour, that you will not recognise mo without a formal' intro d action.' 'I will not., nuidam ; and, lor the <-ake o£ your pe;icu ot mind, I, too, hope that our [>ti(ha may nu\er' again erosV he replied. He accompanied hor to the dooi, wheie they bowevl pohfeiy nn~J formally to eaun ofchci, nii.l then the huudnome woman swept oul upon the street, as composed and •sjlt-posi-'jfc.sed u-j it she had meiely been piTreha&ing ho:ii(* trifling article for the toilet, in-tead ot rolling away the stone from a ticpulchoi where, for move than twenty yt 3 ar.-, a corroding .secret had lain concealed. Doei or Turner wont back to his private ofiice. wlie.ro he Mil a long time musing over the womieitul mystery, which had -tnod the test of nearly a quaiter of a cenUiiy. 'md woniietiiif,' if he should e\ er learn the -.olution to it. ' It wih tho most, pei plexing yet romantic incident connected vufch my whole lite as a phy^Jcimi,' he m.irtnured. 'It 1 could but got at (he inside hi-tory of it I could write «. book worth ividinj;. ' it almost too bad,' he added, some minutes, later, ' not to toll her ahout Hunbrem — it is possible no harm would have resulted from the knowledge ; but if there ii nl I fehouH h;t\e blamed mj'^elf. Jt was ! hotter not.' He watched the passers in the street for several days, hoping to get another glimpse at hii- \ i«itor. But ]\i did not — he novel' her au'ain.