Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-05-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
FOUND A WIFE.


and became him wonderfully well.
There came little vail upon his eaf-a cry
almost like that of al infant-aud looking
down. Harry Bolton saw upon the pavement,
close hesde him, Il little girl not more than five
years Old. Size wore what appeared to be a
handful OF rags, and her tiny feet and curly
head were bare. more miserable object the
moon never looked upon, aud the moan Ahe
made touched The y0nng mans heart lie
knelt down and caught her as she pass ed by.
stop. littio one. he said 'what brings you
out tins night! Where do you live! And
where is mother p
The Guild struggled TO escape, but when the
last question came, stood still and answered
with sobs
"ln heaven | want TO 80 there"
You are on the right road, then, this winter
night half naked and starving, too, fancy"
said Harry to himself. fIe began to question
her again
"Where do you live?'
"I don't know"
"Who takes care OF YOU y
"Nobody."
:" IL looks like it. Have you any supper y.
~ don't want any supper. / want my mann
ma, and the child began to cry.
Harry Bolton endeavored to remember some
portion of his childish education.
You want to go TO heaven, do you p he
asked "It appears to me ! remember being
told that children WHO cry never went to heay-
en-, and AN sure that children who do not mind
never do remember that"
The child understood, and the effect OF this
doubtful moral teaching was, at least to silence
her Then tho moon Witnessed phenomenon.
Harry Bolton, the dandy, the dashing gambler
the man of betting books, shouldering ragged
child and walking away with her III the most self
possessed fashion.
ave must have some supper, he hastily said
1--WE must not be too fashionable under the
circumstances" And 30 saying he descended in
to cellar eating house, where. at the late hour,
the few guests were too much intoxicated to no.
tce tho singular pair, and only the proprietor
and few of his employees remained to be as
tonshed.
Marching down tho room with perfect sang
frOid, Harry Bolton perched the child upon one
of the chairs, and seating himself at the Ia
BILE ordered beefsteak and brandy and water for
two and the order being filled, ordered his COM
panion to " 20 ahead" and watched to see the
mandate obeyed in vain the child stared at the
viande in astonishment but made no attempt to
eat
Harry remained in a puzzled condition for
soms time, then beckoning to grinning waiter
made him his conidant in this wise -
"You look like family man, waiter, do you
know any way of making child take ta feed Y
Not such feed as that, sir, replied the wait
or.
Milk and water is what they like, and bread
and butter or if meat, chopped up INTO bits like.
Bless ye, look at her tiny teeth, sir"
''To be sure" said Harry. 'Well, cut the
meat up, then bring her some bread and butter
but milk aud water-youd make the poor thing
sick. won't you 1t would me-.
''You and her il constructed different sir,
said the waiter
Harry nodded
Food being prepared to suit her appetite, the
clid ate greedily, to Ilarrys satisfaction, and
after sulteing her to bis hearts content and
stripping himself of his oyercoat, wrapped the
waif III it and started for home.
lie had splendid set OF bachelor apartments,
aud there he found glowing fire awaiting him.
The chi.d, when lac opened the coat, WAS sound
asleep; SO tucking her into bed in grimy state,
which would have shocked any good housewife q
heart, Harry composed himself In great arm
chair, and lighting cigar began to smoke.
All night he sat smoking and thinking and by
dawn lis plans were formed. consultation
with the laudlady ended with the consignment
of the child to tho care Of elderly woman,
warranted conscientious and amiable. Harry
Bolton found himself the guardian of ali adopt
ed child. From that moment change came
over the young mans life. He had an object to
think of aud care for. He sald to himself
- will bring up a daughter for my old age
and Het to work to become lifting parent foI
the wonderful woman he had proposed to make
her. lie quilted Ills habits of dissipation, halt
lis time was spent in visiting his charge, who
well cared for, grew every day more lovely and
engaging. lie taught her to call him Uncle
| Harry, and it was strange to see the young man
| devotinB himself, as some old grandfather
might, To nil the whims and pleasure OF d little
| child.
| As she grow older he placed her in boarding
school, and there of course, saw loss of her, ye
| At!ll ~ much rs the rules of the establishment
would allow, until the child was some
| what past twelve years old, when violent Ill
| nens prostlsted her guardian upon what carnt
near being his death bed, and the doctor ordcre(
| hinl immediately on his recovery to so to Eu
| rope.
So they were separated, though regular cor
| reapondence was maintained. Delicate healtl
| y ,,.l FIR, lin
| AT the end of that time Harry Bolton returne,
from Europe, improved in health and anxious t.
see his adopted daughter. He knew she ha'
grown older, but 10 lutte do We reflect on tn
| changes that time must bring, that when luquir
ing for Miss Estea Gray, (ths was the nam
the child had lsped when questionedD as h
waited in the parlor of the seminary. loyel
girl of seventeen opened the door and enterc
the room, he could scarcely believe his eyes.
Yet it was she indee6-the child he had lef
grown into womanhood. Estella was seventeen
and Harry thirty-iive. He was youn
yet IN look and thought. There seemed, aftt
all, hut little difference between them, Bot
felt tkis, and their manner toward each othe
WAS more reserved III consequences. But Harr
was charmed as we'll ns surprised. loylie
creature never met his eyes. Ar he Wake
homeward, lie said to hImsclf,--
"What If aftor ALL have been rearing wifi
| for myself y
Then with half laugh lie muttered,-
'No am too old for her-it il all folly"
| Folly or not, the thought remained. lie lai
Estela such delicate attentions rs suitors dt
He anticipated her every wish and did his bet
to appear in an agreeable light. Whether sh
understood him or not he could not tell. Sh
might regard bin as an indnlgent guardian, an
the thought chafed him sorely At times h
hoped, at times he feared, until calling one Al
noon Ia holiday unexpectedly, lie found Ri
tella tcte-dttte with young friend, Ernei
CLARK. IL WAS good excuse for intimacy, bl
the knowledge that Estella had another ma
friend 30 much nearer her own age than himsel
annoyed and angered Harry. And when. tim
after time he saw them together, his suspico
strengthened. They loved each other III
would wed young Ernest and he would only
| the midelo aged guardian to give her away wit
| his blessing. The thought once in his min
/ rooted itself there and at last drove him besid
! himself.
81 will go back to Europe" raid he, ''l wi
| forget her Love and wedlock are not for me
| And on the impulse of the moment, he ordel
ed his baggage to be packed. took passage III I'll
next steamer for Europe, and went to the sem
| nary to bid Estella good-by.
| | Size come III smiling, but his moody looks mat
| her grave at once. She put her hand IN Ills al
: he shook it coldly, and sat down beside her ~
| a moment he was silent, and then he SAID,
IL am come to say goodby, Estella. II
going to Europe"
MIR, Bolton to Europe? Are YOU i'll again
NO"
"Wil you stay long =
q Forever