Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-02-23

eyes, that wandered from race 10 race ID
bewildered way, and then closed YEARLY
II fear she will not recover very rapid
ly," said the doctor. .She has delicat
constitution, and will require the best @
care"
poor child !'' said Mrs. Turner, II d.
not wonder she is nearly dead but VIII
can she be i? Some terrible accident mus
have occurred at sea-"
"You had better examine her clothing,
said the doctor perhaps you may fine
some clue to her relations"
Mrs. Turner lifted the gossamer white
dress, and turned it over and over The
square and compass placed there by Mr.
Durant flashed upon the eyes of all at once
The doctor and MIR. 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 re-
cover rapidly proved to be we'll founded J.
days and weeks of fever succeeded in awak
ening her to life, during which she talked
incoherenty of "papa' and ''poor mamma
and of the burning ship" and of .hpn-
ger" She finally awoke to CONSCIOUSNESS,
! and asked many questions as to where she
was and how she came in the dark room,
and who were those who attended her, but
Dr. Hunt forbade her being questioned
until she was stronger.
How interested were all in the little con.
valescent, whom the elements had cast into
the little seaboard town. The ladies declared
that never before did child possess such
lovely eyes Or such beautiful curls, while
the gentlemen seemed no less interested and
brought her gifts of everything that might
please her childish fancy
"My dear little GIRL" said Dr.. Hunt when
Eva was at length able to ride out, twill
you tell me your name 2"
''Eva," said the child, Il thought you
knew it."
eyes, l know your name is Eva, but l
want to know the rest Of your name-your
fathers name"
EVA Durant Mr. Durant is my papa :"
Eyes, [ 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 do not know where papa is
He said i'll never saw him again l must know
be had gone to mamma
"Where were you when he told you this?"
;'On the ship; and oh, the fire burned
me SO and p pa held me in his ann until
strange man took and tied something under
my arms and threw me into the water, and
l have not seen papa since. 0, sir, can
you tell me where he is p
''No, dear child but perhaps we may
yet find him"
And this was all that Eva's new friend
could discover. 1t was plain she had come
from the ship which had been burned few
weeks before that she had been cast upon
the sea, and foated to the shore but
where was her father Had he been saved.
aud he searching for his child Every
possible effort was now made to find him.
The circumstances OF the case, with the state
ment of the child, we're published fully in
the newspapers Of the neighboring cities,
but the grief stricken father, believing his
child to be lost, had sailed week before for
Europe, and it 5000 became settled in the
mind of Eva's protector, that he had per-
ished. But the little one still prattled about
her ''papa," and said he would come by and
by, those who believed differently would not
pain her by contradiction.
The square and compass that had been
found upon her clothing was regarded as q
powerful appeal from Mason to his breth-
rem to care for his child. So it came to
pass that Eva became. as it were, the special
charge Of Hiram Lodge, SO. Mr.. Turner
would gladly have taken the entire care Of
the little waif, and the wealthy Senator
W-requested to be allowed to adopt her
as his daughter, but the Brethref liz Lodge
assembled. declaring by vote that Eva
should be reared, educated and protected
by the Lodge, and that as Providence bad
placed her in Brother Turner's house, that
should be her home.
And so years went by, and Eva became
healthy, joyous child, fitting here and
there, and everywhere meeting the warm
est of welcomes. The Masonic Hall was
but few rods from Mr.. Turner's residence
and Eva often went with him as far as the
door, and then returned alone always bid.
ding the Tiler "take good care of Pa Tur
ner, and send him home earl J."