Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-01-06


AZ last the table xas empty, except
for the cakeand candy, and Harry called
The butter. and whispered to him. Will
liam nodded TO . girl TO 60 uith him,
and after few minutes they returned
Nth eeseral bsttles at ~ine, pile oa
- - : esny g viss elAss<s. =
(s9 lsfe e9d llahel -
IT, 2kss - jzl - = $
The cake wSs sson delholisbed, and tRe
plates were beaped high with candies
and bAnanas.
Mabel acted her part with the gentle
coinposure which she had exhibited
throughout, aud touched her tiny glass
Of water to theirs with gracious dignity.
Boots" generously offered her q sip
Of bis wine, but her refusal was SO gen.
tie that be did not feel hurt. Merri!y
6ew the minutes; and it was quite ten
o'clock before the unusual guests took
their departure carrying with them all the
remains Of the feast, and leaving the
room quite in order.
Then Harry drew his chair near the
fire, and noticing that a wistful look was
beginning to creep into the baby face,
took the little one on his knee, and
rocking her gently backward and for
ward. told her the old, old story of Js.
sus and his lore for the children who
came to bin for his blessing. Mabel
listened quietly; and only a little quiv-
ering sigh. once in q while, told that
the child-heart was throbbing with
lonesome, tired pain. Then be told her
how his telling the man at the police.
station oil about her, and her name and
age. would be telegraphed all over the
great city, and her mamma would sure.
ly find her; and the childish face grew
bright again. Soon the bright curls
drooped, and little Mabel slept, as safe
and happy n she would have been in
her own little led. Cautiously Harry
touched the bell at his side, and when
"Boots" came, sent for the housekeep.
er. Into her kindly arms he laid bis
little waif aud saw her taken away to
slumber.
Long hours he sat there, reading, and
dreaming happy dreafhs Of all the good
he meant to do, and thinking how many
people could he made glad with a lit
tie Of his wealth. The house bad long
been still, and the noise Of the street
hushed to rest. The church clock
struck two, aud broke the quiet of the
night with ito iron clamor. Roused be
the sound, Harry laid down his book
and lighted q segar for a farewell
smoke. Again the hush Of the night
was broken. this time by the ring Of
horses hoofs, and the roll of car.
ria 2e-wheels. Then quick feet ran up
the stone sters. and swift and sharp
the bell rang through the house.
Amazed, he listened for a second.
then threw his segar into the fire, and
ran down stairs. Quickly be drew the
bolt and unlocked the door. A wo-
mans face met his gaze-the face of a
dnsk-eyed woman, all passion and grace.
White even to the lips. with great eyes
staring anxiously at him, and one little
hand convulsively grasping the arm of
a gentleman who had thrown his other
around her, and half-supported the
trembling form.
"Mr. Burns ?" the gentleman said.
stepping into the hall. |
Harry bowed in assent, at the same
time throwing the door wide, and clos
ing it when they had entered.
Before be could speak, the LADY
sprang to the hst-stand, and snatching
the little fur cloak that hung there,
sank to the floor, kissing the soft folds
and n,unmuring broken words of en-
dearment and JOY. A great, glad throL
stirred his heart, that be had been per.
mitted to lie instrumental in their find.
ing Mabel; and he shook hands with
Mr.. Snow, and received his broken |
thanks with eloquent praises of his
.'waif," a. he called her. The force of
the mothers emotion had spent itself;
and with her face against the little
mantle she sat crying quietly. der
husband assisted her to rise, and then
with quivering lips she asked to see
her darling.
Up the stairs they followed him, and |
when he paused at q half-open door, |
they stood quite silent while he went
in snd turned up the gas to q full blaze. |
Then, with happy. tender faces they
stole across the room to the great bed,
and looked lovingly down on thei, lit
tie girl. She looked more tiny than
ever, nestled costly in the heart of an
immense pillow, in the centre of the |
bed, with one wee hand thrown above |
her head, and the curly bair all tumbled |
into her eyes. Mrs. Jones had found |
4 small nigbt-dress in the stores Of
children's clothes that had lain for !
long years tucked away in the presses
upstairs and by turning back the
sleeves bad made it small enough for /
Mabel to wear. On the sofa lay the
good woman, wrapped in q blanket,
sleeping soundly, and evidently una
ware Of the presencs Of strangers in the |
room.
Mrs. Snow would not have the child |
wakened, and after casing tearfully at !
the pretty bahy for few minutes, they |
left the room a. quietly - they had
and followed Harry into the |
library. There he told them all bis I
evenings adventures, and made the !
mothers eyes gli.ien with happiness,
~ hs spoke Of Mabers brave compo- |
sure. Then they told him of the ter. !,
rifed agony Of finding the child gone !
from the carriage, Of the hurried search, !
and Mrs. Snow going 10 hsr home for !
her husband, and the whole night speut
in examining streets and police staticas.
~ lAst tksy had forsd . dssxirt;cr