"I asked no more but gave them a bed, and I suppose they both slept well. I was able to give them a small room to themselves.
"In the morning when I entered I found only the boy. The young woman had gone, but pinned to the child's clothing was this note:
"'I am obliged to leave the boy with you for the present. I hope you will take care of him. His name is Jed Gilman. Some time he will probably be called for. Don't try to find me for it will be useless.'
"That was all. Mr. Avery and myself were dumfounded, but we had taken a fancy to the boy and resolved to keep him. There was some difficulty about it, for he was not legally entitled to be brought up at the town's cost. However, Mr. Avery and I agreed to pay part of the expense for the first year, and after that he was looked upon as one of the regular inmates and cared for as such."
"And the young woman never called again?"
"Never."
"Nor sent you any message, oral or written?"
"Never."
"Was there any article of dress, or any ornament, left with the child that might help to identify it?"