Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-11-19

Of every scene that turned her love f
me to fear and dislike. She became pa
and miserable, often sullen and defian
Finally she left mel"
Il Left you ?n ,Ys.. 4a sT
II came home one afternoon after co,
Quoting an intricate criminal case. an
found note on my table, telling m
Myra could no longer endure the life +,
constant quarreling and reproach. Sh
had taken her child, and would neve
return to me.n @ 8.
did she not 60 to relatives ?''
"She had but few. Her father die
while we were abroad, and having bee
considered rich man, was found to hay
left less than his funeral expenses. Sh
had an aunt and some cousins, to all Z
whom | went, but who denied all know
ledge of her. After searching with tn
eagerness of penitence deep and sincere
and love most profound, I finally adye1
tjsed, and even employed private polio
k1Vestigation. Tt4waS1iff IN VAN f6eve
found wife or child y q
Yet you think they live ?n S.
II cannot tell. I remained here n
five years, and then, as YOU know. wen
to see my only sister, dying in consump
tion." ,tf ---f' =
"And to become my second father.u
"Yes, my boy. Ifound Won. nv lit.
tie namesake, sobbing hoy of twelve
heart-broken over your mother's Hines
and death. You know the rest of nv
life history. retired from the pursui
of my profession, travelled with YOU
made you my one interest in life! Yor
filled my empty house and heart, for
loved you, Hilton, as dearly as I loveC
my baby daughter whose childhood is 8
closed, sealed book to me.n
"But now, Uncle George, can NOTHING
be done now?n
"We have both been in London three
years, and every month there has beer
an advertisement only Myra would un.
derstand, in the leading papers. Ihave
never had one line of answer. No. nv
boy, it is hopeless now! If in the future
you ever know of my wife or child, ]
trust her to your care and and generosi
ty." si.
It seemed as if in the excitement Of
his recital, Mr.. Hilton had forgotten the
conversation that had Immediately sug.
gested it.
He rose from his seat, and opening 8
cabinet in the room brought back a
small box. 1t contained bracelet OF
hair with an inexpensive clasp and a
locket.
when we were in Paris" he said,
II had this bracelet made of Myra's
hair and mine woven together; she has
the companion one. This tiny coil OF
gold In the clasp was cut from the baby's
head. our little darling, then but three
months old. It must have been some
lingering love that made Myra still keep
the bracelet like this which she wore
constantly. What is the matter. Hilton ?
You are as white as death.u
Nothing"
rs your wife's picture in the locket ?''
eyes. You see how beautiful she
was.n
II see mere than that" said Hilton.
"and yet dare not tell you what hope
Will you give me one little hour to see
if-u
"If what?"
"Only one hour-I will be back
then u'
lt"Stop!" Mr.. Hilton cried, shaking
with excitement.
But his nephew was gone. Hoping,
fearing, not knowing what-to hope OF
fear, Mr.. Hilton watched the clock, till
the hour should be oyer.
He walked up and down, he tried to
read, he lived over again that past, whose
remorsefdl memories had been so vivid
ly recalled.
With Myra's picture before him, he
thought again of that wild, fierce love
that had been his happiness and his
blight.
"Why was I not calm, reasonable as
became my years and position ?' he ask
ed himself, bitterly: why did 1 give a
boys love to a woman who had lived in
society and respected all its require
ments? l lived an ideal life-Myra the
actual one around us. Where is Hilton Z?
What can he know? What has he dis.
covered? Only three minutes gone, and
it seems day since he was here"
But even before the hour was over
Hilton returned.
In his eagerness to question him, Mr.
Hilton did not notice that he came
through the drawing room to the library
where he waited, leaving the door lit
tie open.
Where have you been ?' Mr.. Hilton
asked.
ITO procure this!" Hilton answered
gravely, placing in his uncle's hand the
duplicate of the bracelet upon the table.
The same braid of sunny brown hair,
with here and there some of raven black
streaked with gray the same small clasp
with wee coil of baby curl under the
glass the same lettering, too-Myra and
George twined together with fantastic
scrolls and twists. For several moments
there was deep silence. The old man
could not speak, and the young man
could not break in upon what he felt to
be sacred emotion. At last, lifting his
head, George Hilton asked:
"Does Myra live? Can she forgive
me?"
ut is years since she died." Hilton
answered, "but, surely, in heaven she
has forgiven you. She never spoke of
you to your child but In words Of respect
and affection, though she always spoke
of you as dead"
"My child! You know my child p"
II know and love her. Do you not
guess, Uncle George, where saw that
bracelet whose duplicate recognized at
once, whose face is a living copy of the
one in your locket? Must I tell you
that the child Mrs. Willet rescued from
poverty, and adopted for her own, is my
cousin, and your daughter ?"
"Ada Smith ?"
smith was the name her mother
thought most probably would best con-
ceal her identity, and Ada was the name
of Mrs. Willet's only child, who died in
infancy"
s.But have you not brought her to me?''
asked Mr.. hilton, with almost a sob in
his voice. And as he spoke, the door
Hilton had left aiar opened, and across
the threshold stepped tall, beautiful
girl, with sunny brown hair, and large
blue eyes, who waited timidly until her
father came quickly to meet her.
Anna" he said softly. "Can this be
my baby-my wee daughter! 1t must
be, for its Myra, who has not grown old
and grey, as have, but lives in per-
petual youth. My child, I once wrong
ed your mother, but have sorrowed and
repented for that wrong. Can you for
give me?"
The tears were falling fast from Anna
Hiiton's eyes, and her voice was trem-
bling with sobs as she said:
MY dear father?'
That was all as George Hilton folded
his cnlld In his arms, he knew that he
was forgiven, and for him at last there
might De happiness in making others
happy.
Good Mrs WILLS -,,a,,oJ oc1 ~,