Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-05-26

w hole Number 1877.

the bed, she left no money nor valu-
ables of any kind?
Not bit of it, sir, for
But the child stepped forward,
fragile bit of thing, but erect and
resOlute. es
What did you do with that little
bag you took off nurse Nina's neck ?
she asked. l.si esr1 i d H8fN
Bag ? stammered the confounded
woman. IL HA riat ar-. faa
Yes; you took it of her neck last
night when you tboughtI was asleep.
s The child is dreaming, said. Mrs
Hoppens turning red and white. So
But / do sot think she is, said the
doctor, quietly but firmly. Give
herltbe bag, Mrs. Hopper laiga i.-'1
/ never see no bag, as sure as /
live and breathel asserted the wO-
man; bat DIR. Traey's5 qniok eye fol
lowed the direction of her wander
ing glance. He stepped across the
room and removed the cushion of
the stool; beneath it lag a small red
leather bag, drawn up by a tarnish-
ed gilt cord. Isl.9;
That is my bag, said the child,
holding out her small hand.
Yes; but had l not better keep it
for you? And, little one, perhaps /
shall take you home with me to-
might. 1t is not well that yon should
stay in the house with death.
/ am not afraid of death, said the
child, gravely. | saw my uncle Pa
olo die.
Who, demanded DR., Tracy, turn
ing suddenly around.
Ny uncle Paolo.
And what is your name?
Bertha Petroni.
DR.. Tracy's heart seemed to stand
still.
Come here, my child, he said, in
tremulous voice Who was this
woman that lies dead here?
My nurse, Nina.
And how did she come here
A puzzled expression came over
the grave little face. il
l don't know, sir; she came TO look
for some one-l don't know who.
How old are you, Bertha ?
l am eight years old. ra
DIR. Tracy opened the little leath-
er bag; it contained a yellow letter,
Wornl through all the edges, and
signed "Helen Petroni;'' slender
chain of gold and. a tiny ring set
with toIquoises. He closed it again,
feeling ike one who has unexpected
ly encountered some rare, lOng-lost
treasure. .sdaifa yffg 1a5r
Come, little Bertha, / shall take
you home with me, he said, rising. J.
She put her hand in his with
simple trust that brought the inFol
untary tears to his eyes, and they
drove away, leaving Mrs. Hopper
muttering and groaning on the
threshold. I .slr1 ff,s,.j.v.
/ Child, said he, breaking the op-
pressiye silence, when they. were
about half way home, you are an
orphan ? - gofas
Yes, said little Bertha, simply.
Do you RENE mber nothing of your
mamma? f.3---'..-, -.,,
Mamma, repeated the child, vague
ly. My, mamma-no; never had
a mammal sr...--r ..,.-... n.
Wouldn't you like to have one?
I-don't-know, hesitated Bertha.
| don't know how it would seem to
have one. - '.'
1t was intensely dark when they
drove up to the doctors house, but
the lights shone ike cheerful bea-
cons, and Helen was in the hall to
greet him. .--
Ny love, he said, standing on the.
threshold, have brought you a lit
tie daughter to love and cherish
some one to fill the lost Bertha's place.
AS he ledth fair haired child for
ward Helen gazed wildly at her for
a moment, then burst into wild,
glad cry. @
Berthai my own little Berthal
The mothers instinct had tri-
umphed over all these long, long
years of separation; and IN her ten
der embrace that enfoIded her tiny
form, poor little Bertha Petroni first
learned how it would seem to have
mother. "a s.AA sisai - afiia.i
Well, said DR.. Tracy, smiling
through dimness in his sight, if I
were an in6del Imight say fate had
done this. As I am not, I'll ven-
ture to assert that the hand of Prov
idence has led US most miraculously
through this long labyrinth of years.