Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-01-10

means of livelihood that offered itself.
All , can | ever forget from what life
you rescued me, the humble ballet
girl? ~
But, remember, you said it was from
love, not gratitude, that you became my
wife For / am old enough to be your
father, Kate, and had you refused me
what | craved, would have adopted you
as my daughter"
"Old in years, but young in heart,
she answered" she answered. :" If my
first marriage was wretched mistake,
my second is indeed blest, and crowned
with such happiness as l never hoped to
enjoy
The carriage had reached the suburbs
of the city by this time, and now stopped
before Il large house, with an old-fash-
ioned, hospitable aspect very inviting.
" Home at last y said the gentleman,
jumping out as nimbly as if he had been
younger "Come, Kate"
She followed, and leaning on his arm
vert up the stairs and into the house.
No further allusion was made by either
to the subject of their conversation dur
ing the drive. BIT the thoughts of one
kept continually recurring to the child
| Sic llit't SttI III IIoub Vi Illc cOulSCJlOU-
er's, and when Kate Hilliard closed her
eyes in sleep that night, it was with the
firm resolve to see Norah's father early
the next day, and find out who he was
and whence he came. For Norahs
words, and Norah's looks, seemed like
an echo from the past, and had in them
something of the spirit she remem-
| bered.
Norah's thoughts were as full of her
as hers of Norah. "Such lovely
lady y mused the child, as she hurried
home. 81 don't think papa would have
minded my taking the money, if he
could have heard all she said, and seen
exactly how she looked 1t is New
Years Eve, and what if she were not
real lady at all, but just some fairy
going around doing good? l saw nice
old gentleman inside her carriage,
though, and a live coachman on top. L
guess she's flesh and blood like the rest,
only kinder and more thoughtful.
1t was toward a wretched quarter of
the city that Norah bent her steps, and
the tenement where she stopped was old
and dilapidated, and crowded with hu-
man beings She asccnded the stairs,
and found her way to room, dimly
lightly by tallow candle. The door
stood open, and she entered softly.
Then shading her eyes with her hand,
she looked around. There was bed
in one corner, and upon that lay man
asleep.
" Poor papa! p she thought, "he is
tired out, The doctor says he ought
not to work, but he will, and l can't
help it. / almost wish I'd taken the
money. 1t would have bought chicken,
and [ could have made him some broth
tomorrow. But he wouldn't have eaten
it if he knew how | got it. Oh, dear
oh, dear it's SO hard to be poor and
have a sick father"
She hustled about little, setting the
room to rights, and tried to look cheer
full, though she felt down-hearted. But
the tears came in spite of her when she
went to the cupboard, and looked in to
see what there was for breakfast Only
Il few dry crusts and small piece If
bacon. If it had been New Years
Eve, their poverty would not have
seemed so bitter. She had gone hungry
before, and never complained, but now,
looking at her pale, worn father, and
remembering the sad Christmas they
had spent, her heart rebelled, and she
almost doubted the goodness of God,
who let poor people suffer thus, Then
her mothers sweet face rose up before
her, as if in reproach, and she folded
her hands together, and breathed
prayer for help aud comfort. Poor
Norah child in years, but weighed
down with womans cares, old in trou-
bic and the wisdom born of it, it was
we'll that she had early learned where to
look for guidance when sore and dis
tressed and butfeted by the world
Her father did not awake, and she
finally took up the bit of candle, and re-
tired to an inner room, hardly larger
than closet. Its only furniture was
little cot-bed. Into that she crept after
undressing herself, and soon fell asleep.
She dreamed of an angel with the face
of her mother, and of the beautiful
lady who in some magical way had been
changed into n fairy, all gold spangles
and lace.
The sun was nearly an honr high
when she awoke the next morning,
though her room was still dark, for it
had but one little window high up that
opened on a brick wall But she rubbed
her eyes, and looked around as if be-
wildered, for surely some one bent over
her, and whispered, softly, "Little
sister Little sister! y She sat up in
bed, and then felt two arms clasp her
close, and warm kisses rain down on
brow and lips and cheeks. She was
not afraid, only wondered what it all
meant, and whether she was really in
her own little room, or in fairy land, or
in heaven.
DRESS quickly, DEAR" said the voice
she had heard first. "There is a gem
tleman waiting to see you"
The voice was that of the beautiful
lady, and SO was the form that she rec
ognized by the dim light. Half beiev-
ing it a dream still, Norah slipped ON
her clothes, and with her hand clasped
{ in that of her companion, opened the
door of the other room. There sat her
father and the white, haired old gentle
man she remembered so well, talking
easily together; and if she had been
puzzled and bewildered before, she was
even more SO now.
"Come here, daughter" said Mr..
Brady, or O'Connell, as he was called
thereafter. "The New Year has brought
you sister
"What do you mean, papa % Norah
stammered.
Tell her, Kate" whispered the
white headed old gentleman.