The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-09

from the fish-hook he had unwittingly
buried there.
A serene Joy began to beam upon the
key sang 1.-THE Ninety and Nine, and it
was with difficulty Joshua could be kept
in his seat. Tears rolled down his cheeks.
Yes, yes" he murmured, 81 go to the
desert to find my sheep"
Good gracious !" said Mrs. Bixby,
nudging Jane with her umbrella; 81 be-
lieve in my heart he's going to do some
thing dreadful-get converted or some
thing. My life, what care he is y
But Joshua was oblivious of the ninety
and-nine of his relatives among whom
Mrs. Bixby belonged. All that he
thought of was the one that had been
lost; and during the benediction he kept
his eyes firmly fixed upon the now yelled
and dropping form of the widow.
Alas in one moment, in a half second,
she was swept away out of his sight.
The vast multitude heaved behind him.
He was pushed, driven, bewildered he
hesitated, and was lost. Mrs. Bixby en-
deavored in vain to reach him with her
umbrella Jane beckoned wildly, called
in vain. He needed not. They were
driven on, lost in the crowd, and still he
was unmindful. What mattered it to
him who was gone, now that he had lost
sight of Kitty? But suddenly in the
distance it seemed to him that he saw
her; and now indeed he resolved that
come what might he would not lose sight
of her again. He began to push his way
4. l,a II
steadily fixed upon the shrinking form,
and the people about him found ont that
this old man had considerable push
about him. He reached her side at the
door, and they were thrust into the street
together, but with desperate tenacity he
grasped the corner of her shawl
"Doht be frightened, ma'am," he
stammered 81 have business with you.
lin fact, ma'am, II am a friend.
Do you know lady by the name of Kit
ty Murphy-Mrs. Kitty Murphy"
eyes, yes, sir" said the lady; 81
know her well-as well as / know my
self"
"Aha f" said Joshua, taking long
breath. "Thank God, / have found
you mt last Do you know have come
a thousand miles to find You? Do you
know that for the last ten years it has
been the dream of my life to see you as
you are, before me? May go to your
home, and talk with you a little out of
the crowded street.?
She looked at him in dazed and Won
dering way, and said, in sad voice that
went to Joshua's heart, Yes, you may
come to my home, sir. 1t is poor one,
but you can come"
ga poor one" he muttered, as they
went along. "Of course it is. 1 ex-
pected it to be poor" And presently,
as they turned into crooked and tum-
ble-down thoroughfare, into narrow
alley, through dark and dingy door
way, up dilapidated stairs, into a clean
but wretchedly furnished room, where
the evidences of poverty were unmistak-
able, the face of Joshua began to glow
with satisfaction. "Poorer even than l
thought" he murmured "on the verge
of starvation, likely" And, unable
longer to stifle his emotion, his Joy, his
unspeakable gratitude, he turned to the
poor lady, and said, in voice husky
with agitation
cts all over, dear. Thank God, it's
past-all the hardship and agony. I'm
your brother, Kitty-your old brother
Joshua. Don't you know Josh? Don't
you remember the dear old home out
West? It's waiting for us now, dear,
ten times more beautiful than ever. /
saw your husbands death in the paper.
He was killed in brawl, the scoundrel,
Just as he deserved to be.
Z. -, la1
ly. "My husband killed in a brawl
What do you mean ? He died deccntly
in bis bed. How dare you say such
thing? You're wandering you're mis-
taken, sir, or demented-Heaven knows
which"
Joshua sank down upon chair, the
three legs OF which giving way under
him. he fell upon the floor
Didn't you tell me- faltered the
poor Old man, that Jon were Kitty
Murphy"
q said / knew of y lady by that
name, ard God knows / do, and-and"
here sAe paused and listened to the
sound of carriage wheels" here she
is, she added, running to the window
4" here she is, God bless hegp
Joshua staggered to his feet in time to
reach the window and see lady descend
from CARNAGE at the doo1, and not
word more was spoken till she mounted
the stairs and entered the room
"This ~ Mistress Kitty Murphy"
said the poor woman, "the best lady and
the most Beautiful the sun ever shone
upon. Sh, has kept roof orer my head,
and food m mine and the children's
mouths tie whole dreary winter. God
bless you, 1Aa'am, he followed me out of
the Hippodgome, thinking vas his sis
ter that's been lost or dead this many
year, and, 's5range to say, her name was
like your. own; but, for that matter,
there's May a Murphy"
Here the poor woman stopped talking,
finding tkat her benefactress and the
strange gentleman were gazing Mt each
other steadfastly.
Joshua could not take his eyes from
the face Sf this lovely woman before him.
She was clad in silks and velEets; faint
perfume touched his senses. She was
creature all of luxury; but Joshua
couldn's take his eyes from her face.
Her own were fast filling with tears,
and she clasped and unclasped her hands,
and took one little step forward.