New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-26

ne parties llVOlVeu were Hom the
islands Of the Mediterranean, and seemed
to carry in their breasts the slumbering yet
d dangerous elements Of their own volcanic
soil, and refining upon the tradition of their
cruel vendetta they preferred to ravish in
| retribution the treasure of his heart,
rather thar to still its beating. AL that
| n oney and detective skill could do were
employed to ferret out the perpetrators of
this cruel deed but in vain. 1t seemed az
though. their foul work accomplished, the
earth mad gaped AID swallowed them from
| sight. After lingering long enough to be-
| come satisfied that justice would never
| claim its own, Mr.. and Mrs. Stanford, to
| whom the scene o: thsir misfortune must
| ever prove Gistate.u!, resolved to seek q
naw home, and there devote themselves to
| the fu.tillment OF such duties as rose TO them
| il the future. New Orleans was the place
| which they selected, ant in the new role of
! merchant Mr.. Stanford succeeded far beyond
| his expectations, or even desires, though he
was always careful that his charities should
| be commensurate with his means. The do
serving INDECENT found always in him a
friend the vicious were not refused ii
striving 20 Lift themselves from their slough,
and the orphan was tbs constant recipient
of his tenderness and oeneticence, for the
sake OF The little enc who mad been snatched
SO suddenly TO cruel death. In these good
works his vifa.vas his assistant, and while
mingling among the motherless and the
"a Il
hope that one would be found whom her
Eeart would recognize as comforter, and
receive as a child in her home. This hope
had 1ever hitherto att aimed truition, but
now. suddenly, 1T the sight of this forlorn
and desolate little stranger It leaped TO her
with az ardor which refused to be stilled,
and caused her to exterd her hand and
place it caressingly upon tie eglected locks
OF her silken hair.
The shy, prattlirg outcast, encouraged
by the touch, deserving her bag. nestled
closer in the folds of the costly robe, and,
in lieu of ether demonstration of content
nent, gently stroGed the heavy chenille
fringe which bordered Mrs. Stanford's vel
vet CLOAK.
"Wili you 90 home with ne, Leda'" asked
the lady very gently.
"Aunty Patch won't let me; she'd be
mad"
But if she IS will!rg-if I 90 and ask
herr"
Would you like to have me-
Yes, think very much"
Then I should dearly love to-" where.
upon the child caught Mrs. Stanford IS hand
and, pressing it 10 her little cheeks, called
quite aloud, Mamma, Oh. mamma" and
then fell a-cryirg with some sudden in.
st!nct, which the lady reciprocated 50
keenly that it was with much ado that she
RETAINED from mingling her tears with
those OF her companion.
Mrs. Stanford without difficulty, for
small gratuity, secured the services of one
Of the alley boys to carry the bag to the
place which the little girl designated, and
then accompanied Ter TO seek an interview
with the woman who appeared in some sort
to control her actions.
The dark and widowed novel, before
which Leda paused, seemed in its dilapida-
ton and squa,or entirely appropriate as a |
depot for the reception of rags and shreds |
rejected and cast off as unfit for further use |
by even the most economical or impoyer. |
ished housekeepers. Its low walls, con- |
structed of the unsghtly timbers of dis. |
nembered tiatboat, yielding slowly to damp |
and time. projected threateningly beyond |
the plumb line of safety, and their original |
had been added to by an |
abortive effort to mask it beneath rough |
wash of sanguinary hue. The roof, which
was pitched at great slant was of clap
boards, clumsily piled on, and so far ad.
vanced in decay that they afforded nourish-
ment for patches of Shiny looking moss and
other plants of parasitical growth.
There were two entrances to this domi.
double door, hanging loosely on
eathern hinges, and undoubtedly the place
Of ingress and egress for the cart with its
pony and bells, which little Leda fondly
tancied proof positive of afiiuence and re-
'pectability; the other composed of single
BOARD, and apparently used by the human
inmates of the establishment.
When the child, with a slight of hand
which could have come only of practice,
irew the heavy swinging affair to one
tide, Mrs. Stanford was presented with a
'ight for which, after cursory view of the
exterior, she was not altogether unpre-
Jared. The interior was divided by q
hackiing partition; one part-and by far
he larger portion-being devoted to storing
he slow accumulation of rags until there
vas quantity sufficient to be baled, which
ieslderatum seemed near attainment, for
arge mound reaching quite to the rafters,
illed all the enclosure except a corner,
which was left clear, wherein the work
night be commenced.
The smaller division was devoted to
living purposes, being kitchen, bedroom,
ittingroom all in one, and here there were
'ome meagre efforts at comfort, which pre-
rented its being altogether cheerless. The
mall and rafting sash of the two windows
which lighted the room, were screened by
Icanty curtains of white cotton, edged with
! coarse fringe; bed that stood in one
'orner was spread with heavy quilt of
many fantastic colors; the floor, which
ested quite upon the ground, and was
broken through in many places, was Gov
'red here and there with bits Of carpet and
AIDED widths of matting-spoils gathered
Al