The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-14


After all these years, after all these
years p And she clasped Ninetta to her
heart.
The old pastors eyes were wet also.
He turned aside for a moment, till the
emotion of mother and daughter had
partly subsidized, and then came forward
again.
IL was in the last extremity, and
under the seal Of confession, he said
shat the old peasant woman, with whom
this dear child lived, and who called her.
self Ninetta's grandmother, revealed to
me that she had stolen the little one more
than sixteen years ago, when her daughter
was with gipsey lover in England, aud
that Lady Peyensey of Pevensey Grange,
was her mother The object, at first, was to
get a reward but the police was put on their
track so hotly, that they fed to France,
and afterwards, when the man returned
and opened negotiations for a ransom, he
was caught in an ambush, and resisting
arrest, was killed. From that hour the
woman vowed that Ninetta should never
be given up and when she died, year
or two after, she made her mother take an
oath to the same effect. Here, my lady,
is locket that was around the ehild's
neck when she was stolen.
at is the same !" cried Lady Pevensey.
at opens by secret spring, and inside
should be a miniature Of my late husband.
See !"
She fumbled, with trembling fingers,
for a moment, and then the lid flew back,
revealing the handsome face Of man in
the prime Of life. What little of the dress
was seen represented the costume of about
twenty years before.
Great aud merciful are thy ways, o
Lord God !" exclaimed the clergyman,
reyerently, "and past finding out.
~ always suspected there was some
mystery about the child" he said, after
awhile. "Wheu first knew her, she was
about three years old, lisped English as
well as French and it was this, combined
with her fair skin and pretty manners,
that made me think she was not the
woman's daughter. But this was always
denied. | took great interest in her
always, and, as she grew up, did what |
could to educate her. | understood Eng
lish, as you see for my mother was from
England and kept the child's knowledge
of it fresh, by constant reading and con-
versation. But that was all | could do
for her; for we parish clergymen in
France are poor, as you know. She had
to earn her own living, dear child, by
hard work, us a common peasant. But |
suggested that she should raise flowers,
and Sell them, as less aborious than any
other pursuit But have other proofs,
beside the loeket. have been, for nearly
two months, in London, with a great law
yer, getting them altogether. Ihavc, too,
dress which Ninetta wore when she was
stolen, and the dying declaration, duly
attested, of the old woman, whose CON
science, at the last, made her disregard
her wicked oath and reveal the truth. |
would not, you see, come to you till | was
sure"
"Oh, my darling, my long lost child |"
cried Lady Peyensey, as he concluded.
"Little did | think, when awoke this
morning, that God had such blessing in
store for me, before night"
Just then the door opened, and, uuan-
nounced, Lord Aylesford entered. Atfirst,
he did not, see in the twilight, the strangers.
Give changed my mind" he said,
gayly, "and am back again like bad
penny, | did not even see the lady
Gwendoline. went half way to London,
and then took the return train. | feel
as il there was some mysterious power
drawing me-"
Here he stopped abruptly for by this
time he had come near the fire, which re-
vealed the group at its side. He recog-
nized Ninetta.
He put his hand to his brow.
cam | dreaming?" he cried. as this,
indeed, Ninetta? What does it all mean?"
Mean?" exclaimed Lady Pevensey,
bursting into hysterical tears at means
Arthur, that this is my lost child"
As she spoke, she clnsped Ninetta again
to her heart, and looked up at Lord Ayles-
ford in triumphant joy.
A month later, and Lord Aylesford and
Lady Pevensey were again alone The
young mans face was radiant for he had
just returned from walk with Ninetta.
my dear Lady Pevensey," he said,
mischieyously, "I'm going to London in
the noon train. Would it be well, do you
think, to hunt up Lady Gwendoline,
and make that long deferred proposal2"
Lady Pevensey gayly gave him blow
with her jeweled fan.
Do it at your peril !" she said. "I've
other and better prospects for you now.
I've daughter Of my own to dispose of
and you are the very best match know"
And as soon as the season came and
went, and Ninetta had been duly pre-
sented to the London world, the happy
marriage was celebrated, aud Niuetta be-
came Lord Aylesford's bride.