We
supposed it was all right. Last Saturday she went, sir. She was
going to walk to the station, and the last seen of her she was
trudging along the road, carrying the baby. It hasn't been
thought of since. But, sir, d'ye suppose she set that innocent
child adrift in that old leaky dory to send him to his death? I
knew Maggie was no better than she should be, but I can't believe
she was as bad as that."
"You must come over with me and see if you can identify the
child," I said. "If he is Harry Martin I shall keep him. My
wife has been very lonely since our baby died, and she has taken
a fancy to this little chap."
When we reached my home old Abel recognized the child as Harry
Martin.
He is with us still. His baby hands led my dear wife back to
health and happiness. Other children have come to us, she loves
them all dearly; but the boy who bears her dead son's name is to
her--aye, and to me--as dear as if she had given him birth. He
came from the sea, and at his coming the ghostly dream-child
fled, nevermore to lure my wife away from me with its exciting
cry. Therefore I look upon him and love him as my first-born.
VI. THE BROTHER WHO FAILED
The Monroe family were holding a Christmas reunion at the old
Prince Edward Island homestead at White Sands. It was the first
time they had all been together under one roof since the death of
their mother, thirty years before.
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