The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1876-08-31

Gilbert, aud I viii tell you secret
which has nevsr been breathed 10
mortal nan before. Twenty years
ago painted Tie likeness Of my only
daughter, ~ picture that you SEQ
before you. 0ko We then ten years
Of age shs b now thirty, and still
with ne"
"siay not this be her child--this
model OF mine r.
"Listen. At the age Of nineteen
my daughter did a. many q good
girl has done before hor--she mar
ried, without my knowledge, one
who was to me an entire stranger,
and nearly 10 TO hor. That husband
proved 70 be . villain, fcr in two
years after, he forsook her. More
than tbis-he took with him o daugh-
ter By tho name of Oracle. The
blow nearly killed the mother, aud
evcu time has not healed the wound.
I have made evory effort to trace out
the man. aud recover our darling,
but in vain. gained such informa.
ton, however, that was satisfied he
had died miserable in distant town
aud we have given the little Oracle
up as lost forever Now you can
account for my agitation when I
first saw your painting, can you
not 7" -Ii,n -,
Il can divine your thoughts"
"What is tho name Of your mod
elT
II only know her as Katie the
street singer"
"You know where she can be
found ?"
"Yes."
"Let us 70 for her at once"
In two hours after tho little beg
gar entered the splendid saloon of
tho Byrd mansion. She was bcwild.
cred, for che had never gazed upon
80 much elegance before. except as
she had seen il from the streets,
through the closely curtained win
dows. Her confidence was soon re-
stored, however, and then she was
conducted to the studio
As her eyes fell upon tho pictures,
she stood motionless for time, and
then said: "Why, you have painted
two pictures Of me, instead Of one,
Mr.. Gilbert"
"Yes-would you not like copy r
"Oh, so much J she answered, her
eyes becoming brilliant in anticipa-
ton.
"You shall have ono OF them.
Which do you prefer p
"rhis, feel as il l could love it y
and the young creature knelt be-
fore tho mother, while tears filed
her eyes.
This was too mnch for the grand
father. lie sunk into seat and
covered his face with his fugers.
What is your name asked
Gilbert. %
"Katie Courtney. l thought you
knew that before. "
"Courtney was his name," groan.
ed the old man. Nt
"Do you remember your parents =
again asked Gilbert.
"Only my father. Ho. was not
very kind to me, and died in Ply
mouth several years ago." B..
! Sand you have been singing for
your bread since 7"
"IAsye.'
"Well, il you have to have the
picture, l want you to. sing me q
song now. You will do 80, will you
not r"
"Oh, yes, willingly.
| She began one of her wild strains,
and the dwelling was filed with
melody.
This had not long continued be-
fore the door OF the study was open.
ed, and lady entered the room,
She was pale, aud staggered as II
suffering from great weakness. She
clutched the back of q chair for sup
port and then asked in q faintvoice
"Who is the singer 7"
To have answered in words would
have been useless, however, for her
eyes had fallen upon the face of the
child and, with dull shrek, the
mother fell fainting upon the floor.
In an instant, Katie, or Oracle, as
was her real name, was by her side.
AS she gazed upon the marble face,
she exclaimed: "Oh, this is the
other picture 7" t1 ~.
"Not my mother ! Oh, tell me, ia
it my mother I"
"lt is."
Joy mover kills. The orphan child
at this moment gave vent to her
feelings in sobs, caresses, and
words Of endearment aud 1t was
not long before the mother was fuli3
! conscious Of her great happiness.
Those twin portraits had beep "
means Of uniting those loved ones
who had been 20 long and cruell,
separated.
LrrrLE CHILDREN.-People wht