Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-09-23
FOUND A WIFE.

nowhere stepped forth into the frosty winter
night amld crowd OF play goersa man OF
height, brOad-shOuldered dark haired and with
black eyes-a very handsome man, and dressed
in a style which, costly and elegant became him
wonderfully well. et handsome wealthy and
pleasure seeker, as he plainly was, there was
look upon his fsce which bespoke discomfort and
Wear1nesS-the look too, OF one who has plunged
into dissipation for the sake of driving away
thought And this. indeed was the case. Tilted
by one whom he had given his hearts best love,
Harry Bolton, Young millionaire, with nat
urally fine endowments of mind and heart. had
for some time pursued life which threatened
TO rob him Of health and OF fortune.
He gambled, drank, be acted the profigate In
thousand ways, and al without even the false
gayety that stimulates many men to such cour-
ses- In fact, from promising and excellent
young man he had become almost a profilgate
Still, much good remained in him, 50 much that
1t was pity to zee him turn his steps toward a
gambling den, where In all probability he would
not only squander HE money away, but drink
away his senses before daylight.
He was within some hundred feet of the door
of the saloon toward which he was fastening,
when there came q little wall upon his cara
CIV almost like that Of an infant-and, looking
down, Harry Bolten saw upon the pavement,
close beside him, little girl not more than five
years old. She wore what appeared to be a
handful OF rags, and her tiny feet and curly
head were bare. A more miserable object the
moon never looked upon, and the moan she
made touched the young mans heart. He knelt
dCw S, and i caught her as as she pasIed by
out this night? Where do you live? And where
l. your mother"
The child struggled TO escape, but when the
last question came, stood still, and answered.
with sob:
In heaven: 1 want 10 go there"
'IOu are on the right road, then. this winter
night; hall naked, and starving, too, fancy,p
said Harry to himself. lie began to question
her again.
Where do you live?''
g. don't know"
"WhO takes care OF your
Nobody"
1t looks like it. Have YOU had any superb
." don't want supper, want my mama,' and
the child began 10 cry.
Harry Bolton endeavOred to remember some
portion OF his childish education.
- You want TO go to heaven do you?" he
asked. 9 1t appears TO me remember being told
that children who cried never went to heaven,
and am very sure that children who do not
mind never 90; emember that"
The child understood, and the effect OF this
doubtful moral teaching, was. at least to silence
her. Then the moon witnessed a phenomenon.
Harry Bolton, the dandy, the dflshing gambler,
tie man OF betting hooks, shoulderiRg a ragged
child, and walking away with her in the most
self-ICssessed fashion.
I'VE mast have some supper" he said. We
must not be too fashionable under the eircum-
stances, however; and 10 saying he descended
into q cellar clearinghouse where at the late hour
the few guests were too much intoxicated TO
tee the singular pair, and only the proprietor
ard few Of Lis employees remained 10 be as
tUnished.
Marching down the room with perfect sang
froif, Harry Bolton Perched the child upon one
OF the chairs. and seating himself at table, or
drTcd beef-steak. and brandy and water for two,
and the order being filed. ordered his cOmpan-
ion to ego ale al, and watched to see the man
cate OLty1d in vain; the child stared AT the
NiiIi,is in establishment, but made no attempt to
Cat.
Harry remained in a puzzled condition for
some time; then reckoning 60 a s,rinning waiter,
made him his confident in this wise:
- You look like family man, waiter. Do
feedi@ '''" any ""' -'''A''s 'Ai'u ''A' ~ It's
Not such feed as that, SIR replied the
and i what 4 MI
bread and butter; or III meat chopped up into
bits like. Bless ye, lock at her tiny teeth, sir.
50 To be sure said Harry. Well cut the meat
Up. then bring her some bread and butter; but
milk and water-yOu'n make the poor thing
sick; Won't a y9ug IL would me-
said the waiter.
Harry nodded
Food being prepared to suit her appetite, the
child ate greeCiily, TO HarTy's satisfaction, and
after sutieing her to her hearts content, and
stripping himself of his overcoat, wrapped the
vail in il, and started for home.
lie had splendid set of bachelor apartments,
and there he found glowing FIRE awaiting him.
he child, when he opened the coat, was sound
asleep; so tueking her into bed In a grimy state,
which would have shocked any good housewives
heart, Harry composed himself in a great arm
chair, and lightning a cigar began To smoke.
Soon a sort OF dOZe stole over him. lie never
could believe he was quite asleep. For he saw
the blue wreaths, at first a dim outline, at last
perfectly distinct, appeared the figure OF a wO-
man. She was dressed in white, and a cloud of
golden hair fell over her face, and she stretched
her hands toward him.
Harry Bolton felt cold shiver run through
his veins.
.swho are you?" he asked.
The figure didn't speak, but pointed toward
what do you want of me?' queried Harry.
There tell upon his ear these words, in strange
sweet voice:
..Take my child to heaven."
And she was gone.
Harry started from his dream to find his fire
burning low and his cigar crumbled into ashes.
but strong Impression almost as great As
though he had actually seen a vision. All night
he sat smoking and thinking, and by dawn his
plans were formed. A consultation with the
landlady ended with the consignment OF the
child 10 the care of an elderly woman, warranted
conscientious and smiable. Harry Bolton found
himself the guardian OF an adopted child From
that moment a change came over the young
mans lie- He had an object to think OF and
care for He said To himself - / will bring up
daughter for my old age and set himself to
work TO become a fitting parent for the wonder
ful woman he proposed TO make of her. His
fortune must be hlsbanded for her; so he reln-
pushed gambling. He quit his habits of dissi-
patton, half his time was spent in visiting his
charge, who, well dressed and well cared for,
grew every day more lovely and engaging. He
taught her TO call him Uncle Harry. and IL was
strange to see the young man devOting himself,
as some old grandfather might. To "A | the whims
and the pleasures OF little child.
As she grew older he placed her in a boarding
school. and there, of course saw less OF her, yet
still much the rules of the establishment
would allow until the child was somewhat past
twelve years old, when violent illness pros
tTated her guardian upon what came near being
his death bed. and the doctor ordered him i'm
mediately on his recovery 10 go to Europe.
So they were separated, though a regular cor
reSpondence was maintained, delicate health de-
tanned Harry from his native land five years,
and during that time, as a matter OF course they
never met
At the end Of that time Harry Bolton returned
from Europe improved in health and anxious to
see his adopted daughte He knew he had
grown older, but 20 little do we reflect on the
changes that time must bring, that when in
Qnring for Miss Estelle Gray, tthis was the
rame the child had lisped when questioned) as
lie waited in the parior OF the Seminary, lovely
girl CT seventeen opened the door and entered
the room, he could scarcely believe his eyes
Yetit was she indeed-the child, he had left,
grown into womanhood. Estella was seventeen,
aid Harry Bolton-thirty-fve. He was young
vet IN look and thought There seemed after all,
but little difference between them Both felt
this, and their manner towards each other was
E1oTe reserved in consequence. But Harry was
charmed IS well a. surprised A loyeier crea-
ture never met his eyes, and thoughts and
dreams that he had thought dead for ever arose