The Van Buren press., 1878-06-25

been washed upon the beach. She is
cold and stiff, but think she is not dead,
Let us have some warm nannels i'm.
mediately, and tell Thomas to go for Dr.
Hunt e.,.,.
1t was long before Che qui,ering lash
es aud feeble fluttering of tho heart gave
token that success would crown the ef-
forts of Eva's rescuers, but, by and by,
the lids parted and revealed two large,
liquid, sky-blue eyes, that wandered from
face to face in bewilderment way, aud
then closed wearily.
Il fear she will not recover very rapid
ly' said the doctor. She has a delicate
constitution, and vii! require the best of
care
Poor child!' said Mrs Turner;I do
not wonder she is nearly dead but who
can she be ? Some terrible accident must
have occurred at sea-
You had better examine her clothing,'
said the doctor; perhaps you may End
some clue to her relations
Mrs. Turner lifted the gossamer white
dress, and turned it over and over,
The square and compass placed there
by Mr. Durant flashed upon the eyes
of all at once. The doctor and Mr..
Turner looked at each other, but neither
spoke, and Mrs Turner did not notice
the tear that glistened in her husband S
eyes.
The doctors fears that Eva would not
recover rapidly proved to be well foun-
ded-days and weeks of fever succeeded
in awakening her t. life, during which
she talked incoherently of papa and
poor mama,' and Of the burning ship
and of hunger. She finally awoke to
CONSCIOUSNESS, and asked many questions
rs to where she was. and how she came
in the dark room, aud who were those
who attended her, but DR.. Hunt forbade
her being questioned until she was stron-
ger.
How interested were all in the little
convelescent, whom the elements had
cast into the little seaboard town! The
ladies declared that never before did a
child possess such lovely eyes, such
beautiful curls, while the gentleman seem
ed no less interested, and brought her
gifts OF everything that might please her
My dear little GIRL said DR.. Hunt,
when Eva was at length able to ride out,
will you tell me your name?
Eva said the child, thought you
knew it,
Yes, know your name is Fva but l
want to know the rest OF your name
Eva Durant. NJ. Durant is my
papa
Yes, want you to tell me all you
can remember about your father and
mother
Eva's eyes filed with tears. oh sir,
may mamma died and went to live with
the angels, and do uot know where
papa is. He said if never saw him
again, must know he had gone to
mamma
Where were you when he told you
this P
'On the ship: and oh, the fire burned
me so, and papa held me in his arms
until a strange man took me and tied
something under my arms and then he
threw me into the water, and | have not
seen papa since. Oh, sir, can you tell me
where he is r
No. dear child, but perhaps we may
find him .t
And this was all that Eva's new friend
could discover 1t was plain that she
had come from the ship which had been
burned few weeks before; that she had
been cast into the sea, and 0oated to the
H., ..,i. l., r,tt l,al h
been saved, and was he searching for
his child I? Every possible effort was now
made TO find him. The circumstances o
the case, with the statements Of the child
were published fully in the newspapers
Of the neighboriug cities, but the griel
stricken father, believing his child to b.
lost, had sailed week before for Europe
and it soon became settled in the mind.
of Eya's protectors that he had perished
But the little one still prattled about he
papa and said he would come by ane
by those who believed differently woult
not pain her by contradiction.
The square and compass that had beer
found upon her clothing was regarded
as powerful appeal from Mason tt
his DrCtUTcn 10 cure I0T MS emu. DO !
came to bass that Eva became, as it were
the special chage Of Hiram Lodge, No
GO. MIR Turner would gladly have tax
en- the entire charge Of the little wait
and the wealthy Senator requested
to be allowed to adopt her as a daugh
ter but the brethren in lodge assembled
declared by vote that Eva should b'
reared, educated and protected by .h'
Lodge, and that as Providence had placet
her in Brother Turner 8 house, that shoult
| be her acme.
And so years went by, and Eva became
a healthy, joyous child, fitting here an'
there, and everywhere, meeting the warm
eat of welcomes The Masonic Hal
was but few rods from Mr., Turner'S
residence, and Eva often went with hin
as far as the door. and then returned
alone, always bidding the Tyler taxi
good care of Pa Turner, and send hin
home early.
| CHATTER Ill