The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-12-21


from the strange woman, and smoth-
cred gasping sound from Miss Grey.
Aud then. for the first time In her life,
Joanna thought her mistress was going
10 faint, she looked 50 white and strick-
en-, all ut once.
= Miss Grey" said the stranger, in a
voice that trembled perceptibly, "per-
haps you recall my namep l was told
that you needed doctor. and as DIR.
Vincent was absent, came To offer my
services. But was not aware at the
time that was about TO intruds upon
you. madam"
Miss Grey lifted her head. 81 thank
you.'' she said--trying To speak in the
regal tone that was her own--"I be-
lieye the danger Is past, and l can hap
PLY dispense with your services"
She did not ask him To be seated and
he still stood with hat in hand, looking
upon her with an expression half proud,
half pleading. She drew the child To
her breast with a gesture that said, as
plainly as though her lips had spoken
it, You shall not touch her"
The itramp-woman came forward
step or two. looking from one to the
other, and spoke, rs though the words
came without any volition Of hers
The child i his. lady"
The stranger looked nj her i'm kind
Of stupor Of surprise, that gave way in
a moment To eager excitement.
"Martha Elson," he CALCULATED
quickly; but before he could utter any
thing more, Miss Grey had risen TO her
feet, and stood before them with flash
ing eyes.
What did you say, woman?r she
cried fiercely.
"This l. his baby, ma 'am,- answer
ed Martha, who had grown calmer; and,
turning to him. she added, F" can prove
it to you, DIR. Wcstmore. This i the
child that my young mistress gave to me
when she died
Tel me the whole story, Martha"
he said brokenly. "God knows | have
sought YOU far and wide, but never
thought 10 find you here tonight"
She told him then. Miss Grey had
sunk into her seat again, and Joanna,
striding across the room, stood at the
back of her mistrcss's chair. DIR West
more stood with folded arms 70 listen,
his face growing paler, and indescriba-
bly, tender and mountul as she proceed
ed The little Emily lay still like fair
carved cherub, her golden hair falling
in a shining silken mesh over Miss
Grcy's somber dress. Her foster-mothcr
gazed steadfastly upon the beautiful
face, and her lip trembled
When the woman had ended her sto-
~, DIR. Westmore came nearer and
looked down upon the bowed head.
" Thcodora," he said, twill you let
me look At my child?"
She lifted her face, and the proud
eyes fell before his mournful gaze.
/" Are You going to take her from
me?r she faltered.
mo
/. Sit down"
He took the chair on the opposite side
II the hearth. She rose, crossed the floor,
and laid the child in his arms then turned
to Joanna with feeble, uncertain mo-
ton, and let the strong, faithful creature
lead her from the room.
They left the father alone with his
child for awhile; and when he left the
house, 70 return 10 the village, il was
understood that he should return in the
morning.
When he was gone, Miss Grey Laid
the still sleeping child in her bed; then
going 10 a chest Of drawers in one cor
ner III the room. she took out garment
after garment Of dainty size and work.
manship, letting the long-locked tears
! fall upon them as she unfoldcd them.
They were her baby's clothes.
AT last she came 10 the long, fine,
French slip, Of spotless white, which
had clothed its dainty limbs when first
she looked upon IL; the robe which It's
Young, broken-hearted mother had
wrought upon with such loving care and
patience. Tlis, with few ot her things
found in the basket with IL, she laid
aside 10 give 10 the baby's father
He came in the morning, when the
roses were bright on little Emily's
. checks, and looked for the
! first time into her blue eyes
that were 10 him perfect copy Of the
soft violet ewes of his innocent "child-
BRIDE And almost unconsciously he
) found himself speaking 70 Theodore
| tenderly and reverently Of that gentle
child, who, though she never won The
best love If his manhood, had found IN
\ him 4 tender and faithful protector and
! friend.
I And somehow, in speaking to her 81
!: his past, he uncovered from the rubbish
Of by-gone memories the key 20 miser-
able labyrinth ~ Misunderstanding
1 which had swallowed up their early love
and hopes; and the veil fell from Their
eyes. and they saw each others hearts
! a. they had been in the first glow q
! their youthful affection.
And so the quarrel that had been fo'
50 long was no more, hut had vanished
like troubled dream. After this Miss
\ Grey melted and soitened into q rea