The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-03-13

map0ed me 70 meet uitu VI WIZ
Elysces near his house at ten in the evening
I went there at the appointed hour, anc
Don Jose said, placing basket in my hands
Here is little girl born this morning
whom her mother thinks dead. As die
no. wish to kill the little innocent creature
you will deposit her ut tho Founding Hos
pital, this evening. To reoompenso you iol
your service, / will appoint you my intend
ant. But If ever word escapes your lips
you will die by accident, like Don Sebas'
tian.'
1 took coach and not being able to 70
sist the desire of seeing the little one, / took
her home. She was wrapped in white lin
en-, with out mark; and not wishing 70
leave her without sign by which she might
some day be recognized, l broke with ham,
mer medal of Ferdinand VII, placed one
half about the child's neck, preciously pre-
served the other, and executed the order the
Marquis had given me.
Since that time have kept the secret in
my heart but feeling my end approaching
believed it my duty to indite this note DO.
fore dying. The half Of the medal may aid
you in discovering the poor child abandoned
by me to the grace Of Heaven,
After reading this, Madame d Alva felt
that she had duty to fulfil, reparation
to consummate. She then knew how. Don
Sebastian, who had taken advantage Of her
weakness, had really fallen, and that the
child she thought still.born was alive. Up
to that time she was ignorant Of the double
vengeance of the Marquis; she believed in
the sincerity of the pardon he pretended to
accord to her, and looked upon her isolation
as legitimate expiration.
Twenty ycars-and the child was still liv-
ing! In what state should she find her?
What had been her education? Had she
not succumbed to the thousand dangers that
surround poor and unprotected girl? Was
she a prey vice? Would her mother not
perhaps be too late to save her? These re-
flections, these fears anxiously troubled Mad
ame Alva during her journey, but the hope
of seeing her child, sustained her courage
and buoyed up her hopes.
1t was only after her arrival ut Paris that
Madame Alva recognized the difficulties OF
the search she proposed. She could not
make use of the writing of Pedro Gomez
without dlshonoring tho name she bore, and
the half Of medal did not alone seem suiR-
cient proof wherewith to reclaim her. Not
knowing any one to confde in, she sought
the almoner Of the Founding Hospital, and
avowod to him the entire truth under the
seal of the confessional. The priest did not
for moment doubt the sincerity Of this
confidence, and promised to trace out the
young girl. The n,It day he came to bring
her the news he had gained.
"Calm yourself, Mad',me," said the holy
man on entering, ~ have nothing terrible
to tell you"
"She lives :" cried Mime. d'Alva. "My
child is living! can love her-l can take
her with me to SPAIN Thank Heaven =
Thank Heaven"
"Ycs, madame, tho child, who in 1891
was placed in the hospital with ono half o
medal about her neck is living. She was
registered under the name of Marie Fernan
de. When FIVE years old, she was adoptct
by an architect named Dumont, who bro
her up with the greatest care, and she think
him her father. Some years latter he mar
ried widow, and they legitimatired Fer
nande."
"But that is not possible. That recogni
tion is q falsehood; can prove it by tina
medal, by this writing
"Without doubt, madame, but It was al
done for the child's good. NJ. and Mime
Dumont enjoy competence, and nothin,
could have been better for the poor abandon.
ell girl than this justifable falsehood."
$50 at the moment when Heaven seemed
to smile on me, and restore my child, I mus
renounce her ~
"And what could you do for her? Wha
would be the result OF your efforts? 70
would break the bop ds affection has formec
which charitable fraud has since tendere
legitimate, and in exchange you would Civ
this poor chil'. an equivocal position. In
stead Of pass ing as the legitimate daughte
Of simple and honest people, you woul
make it Known at the expense of your honor
that she d, the fruit ofthe guilty love Of
great lady. Do you think, madame, ths
tho crro'r in which she lived docs not ava
her better than the sad truth which 20
wish ~ reveal TO her?"
IN evcrtheless, I am a mother, and wi
assert my rights. will claim my chill
from her pretended parents. will tax
her away from them"
"will you take her away from her hui
band' Will you take her away from he
child ?"
"My daughter married! Ny daughter
mother !"
"yS madame her adopted parents mar
riel her a year ago to n young sculptor
Famed Jules Leonard, whom she desrl.
loves; and she has given birth to o son.
Happiness reigus supreme IN that little fam
lily. And would you mar that happinss
by the revelation Of that terrible socrct whic
yourself learned 40 short time ago. Heaven
I believe, has made II your duty to DO silent
taking under its protection the child yo'
thought dead"
Lis,eningt to these words, Mime. d'Alv
felt the most expressing sentiments. Al
the projects she had formed vanished like
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