The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-12-22

accident must have happened ut sea-"
"You had better examine her cloth
ing,' said the doctor, " perhaps you
may find some clue to her relations"
Mrs. Turner lifted the gossamer
white dress, and turned it over and
over. The square and compass plac-
ed by Mr.. Durant flashed upon the
eyes of all at once. The doctor and
Mr.. Turner looked at each other,
but neither spoke, and Mrs. Turner
did not notice the tear that glistened
in her husbands eyes.
The doctors fears that Eva would
not recover rapidly proved to be well
iounded days and weeks of fever
succeeded in awakening her to life,
during which she talked incoherently
of papa" and poor dead mamma, +"
and OF the burning ship" and of
''hunger." She finally awoke to con
seriousness, and asked many questions
rs to where she was aud how she
came in the dark room, and who were
those who attended her, but DIR Hunt
forbade her being questioned until
she was stronger.
How interested were all in the little
conyalescent, whom the elements had
cast Into the little seaboard town -
The ladies declared that never before
did the child possess such lovely eyes
or such beautiful curls, while the gen
tlemen seemed not less Interested,
and brought her gifts of everything
that might please her childish fancy.
"Aiy dear little GIRL" said DIR.
Hunt, when Eva WAS at length able To
ride out, Twill you tell me your
name?h
Eva" said the child, II thought
you knew it,
Yes, know your name is Eva.
but want To know the rest of your
name-your father name"
Eva Durant. Mr.. Durant is my
papa"
Yes, now | want you to tell me all
you can remember about your father
and mother"
Eva's eyes filed with tears. "Oh,
, sir, my mamma died and went to live
! with the angels And | don't know
where papa is He said ii | never
saw him again | must know he had
gone to mamma"
, Where were you when he told
you this"
Son the ship; and oh, the fire burn
ed me so; and papa held me in his
arms until n strange man took me
and tied something under my arms
and threw me into the water, and
have not seen papa since. ., sir, car
you tell me where he is:'
NO, dear child; but perhaps We
may yet find him."
Aud this was all that Eya's friend
could discover. 1t was plain she had
7 come from the ship which had been
!. burned a few weeks before; that sh,
= had been cast upon the sea, and iloat
ed to the shore but where was her
e father? Had he been saved, and wa,
he searching for his child? Ever,
4 possible effort was now made TO fine
him. The circumstances of the case
n with the statement of the child, we-,
| published fully in the newspapers o
the neighboring cities, but the grief
G stricken father, believing his child u
y be lost, had sailed week before fo
l. Europe, and it soon became settled
), in the minds of Eya's protectors, tba
i; he had perished. But the little on
II still prattled about her papa" AM
r said he would come by and by, am
= those who believed differently woul,
not pain her by contradiction.
u The square and compass that ha'
! been found upon her clothing was re
e garded as a powerful appeal from
+, Mason to his brethren TO care for hi
II child. So it came to pass that Ey
became as it were, the special charg
u of Hiram Lodge, No. 93. Mr.. Turne
- would gladly have taken the entir
, Ecare of the little wait, and the wealth
q Senator W--re4uested to be a
~ y lowed to adopt her as his daughter
III but the Brethren in Lodge assembled
declared by vo that Eva should b
:. reared, educated and protected by tn
J, Lodge, and that as Providence ha
'e placed her in Brother Turner's hous
y that should be her home. a
=, ~ And so the years went by, and Es
~ became healthy, joyous child, fiji
ting here and there, and everywher
y, meeting the warmest OF Welcomes
"a The Masonic Hall was but few roc
80 from Mr.. Turner's residence, and 4,
" often went with him as far as the doc
W and then returned alone, always BIZ
~ : ding the Tiler "take good care of j
~ Turner, and send him home early"
w CHAPTER III.
The six years that followed Il
In death Of his wife and the loss of h
rs child, passed wearily to James ID
rant. He visited nearly every cou
n try in the Old World, seeking amor
pe scenes of natural beauty and gran
eur as well as OF historic interest, f
lal the mental rest which could never
mt found. Once more he turned his ste
no toward America, and sought his M
TIC sonic friend, Wadsworth. FindiI
"a: that gentleman about setting out on
?, Journey to the Atlantic coast with h
Ke family, Mr.. Durant accepted the in,
tation to accompany them to Sarat
ew ga and Niagara, then to New Yor
gh where leaving the ladies, Mr.. Wac
no worth and Mr.. Durant wandered fro
" town to town along the coast, enjo
ing the beauty of the scenery and t
no quiet hospitality that greeted the
more than the crowded hotels and t
fashionable style OF the popular wat,
ust ing places. Fancy, and the XII
is hand of Providence, at length
,ot them to the little town of b
an and the second evening after their