The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-06-14

favor of friend who had already done so much
for her, and kind lady knew nothing of
Lena's loss.
The next morning dawned bright and heauti-
fu on the luxurious home of the Mortimers. as
well as the humble cot where lived the seam
stress and her child. Lillian at Elnside, an |
Lena at the cottage. both arose with light
hearts and happy smiles, but grief and care OPP
pressed some of the older members of the two
families.
After breakfast Lillian went into the pleasant
sitting-room and amused herself with the cum
ming ways of her canary, letting it out of its
cage. 1t was very tame, intelligent bird, and
would sit perched on her finger, hop on her
shoulder, and even put its little bill between
her lips with seeming affection. Lillian loved
it, as you may imagine, and no dainty was too
difficult to get or term of endcarment tender
enough for The little songster. The windows
Of the room were all closed so that " Bonnie -
might fully enjoy his freedom. and he flew
and tiuttered around almost like wild bird. A
servant came hastily into the apartment and
left the door o. jar out flew Bonnie, and the
nearest window gave him access to the open
air.
Lena was out among her flower beds, and
raised her head just as q bird alighted on the
fence. She almost screamed with delight.
"Oh," she thought, "that looks just like a
canary. and perhaps lie will go into my cage"
She kept very still, and after little flutter-
ing and hesitancy Bonnie Mortimer hopped
into the cage and began to eat seeds. Then
Lena gently closed the door, and she had him
safe.
"Mother, mother she cried, running in,
"the Lord has sent me bird, just as thought
He would
On the morning of the fifth day after the loss
of Bonnie, Lillians grandfather proposed to
her to take ride across the country with him
on horseback. She gladly consented, and they
were soon cantering away in the direction of
Lena's home. AS they came near they saw
Lena standing on the porch playing and talking
with her bird. Mr.. Mortimer recognized her as
the child who had affected him so much one
night as she passed his gate, but Lillian saw
"Why, grandpa. that looks just like Bonnie y
she cried, so loudly that Lena heard her.
Hush " said Mr.. Mortimer, in vexed
tone "the little lady will hear you" And he
would have gone forward, but Lillian stopped,
determinedto to see the bird that looked SO much
like the one she had lost.
The moment Lena heard Lillian's words she
felt sure that the dreaded time had come
when she must say goodbye to her treasured
pet so she was not surprised when she saw
Lillian dismount and come through the gate
toward her.
Excuse me-" said Lillian, with a pleasant
smile, "but your bird looks 80 much like one
lost few days ago that 1 thought must come
and see it. Isn't it funny that they should be
so much alike?"
When Bonnie heard his mistress voice he
knew it, and began to sing little chirping notes
as he always did when she was near.
Poor Lena kept back her sorrow as well as she
could and said
"perhaps this is really your bird, for it is
one that came and sat on the fence few days
ago and then went into the cage. 1 had q
bird and it died. so | have let the cage hang
Eere with the door open ever since. Mother
said perhaps the owner of e bird would
come by, and l have let it hang out in sight all
the lime. You must love him ever so much.
and Tn glad you've found him. she added,
heroically.
Mr.. Mortimer, finding Lillian determined to
see the bird, had also come to the door, and
saw the tears which would well in Lena's eyes,
spite of all she could do.
Declining her invitation to enter the house.
Lillian and her grandfather turned to go away.
Suddenly Mr.. Mortimer stopped, and asked
Lena. whose face possessed strange charm
for linn, if she would tell him her name.
Elena Howe" said the child, smilingly.
At the sound of her name Mr. Mortimer
grew deadly pale, and grasped his riding whip
convulsively.
Just then Mrs. Howe appeared in the porch
calling Lena and ignorant of the presence Of
the visitors, whom she had not seen enter the
yard. The first sight that met her view was
Lena standing before the door, and by her
tide, regarding her with mingled hope and de-
spair, a tall, gray headed man of noble pres
tHCc, WHOSE hlllulv 1edltres, tIOuSH now con-
vulsed with anxiety, were to her like vision
from heaven.
Springing forward with outstretched hands
she cried "Oh father" and fell into his
arms.
The rapture of that meeting cannot be eX-
pressed in words, but its memory will always
b ess the hearts of the two who were thus
united after long years of mutual suffering.
The mystery is soon explained. Mrs. Howe
was the only daughter of Mr.. Mortimer, the
light of his eyes and pride of his heart. Beall-
tiful and winning, she attracted many ad-
mirers and among them Ellis Howe, young
artist who had no inheritance but his genius
aud great charm of manner.
The young girl married against the will of
ler father, and was commanded to leave the
home of her youth never to return. For that
hour of pride and anger Mr. Mortimer suffered
years of self torture.
The discarded daughter, wounded and sad
at heart indeed, but still cOmforted by the love
Of her husband, had gone with him to distant
town. Then the strength of Ellis Howe failed,
through overwork and exposure, and after a
short illness he died, leaving his wife and little
child penniless. Since that time Mrs. Howe
had supported herself and daughter by the
work Of her needle. But she had struggled
on, and at last her trials were over and the
love she had longed for was her own.
Lena and her mother Immediately removed
to Elmside, where the warmest welcome was
given them by Royal Mortimer and his wife.
The children were the best of friends, and
Willie declared con6dentially to Lillian that
Lena was the incest girl he ever saw.
A Wonderful Timnuiecp.