The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-08-03

never at peace, though for the world he
would not have owned to anything of
the kind.
One day he was riding in the suburbs
of London, and came upon little
child sitting by the wayside, sobbing
bitterly. She had her apron full of
primroses and violets, and a black and
white kitten was cuddled up in her
arms. Moved by some impulse which
he could not have explained, Arkwright
stopped his horse and accosted her.
She sobbed out her little story with all
child's righteousness. Her mamma
had gone somewhere to carry work, and
she and Spot had gone to walk by them
selves, and they had walked, oh! so
far, and now they were lost.
Her name was Lily, and the Kittens
name was Spottie, and that was all she
could tell to prove her identity. Sur
prised at himself for doing so, Ark
wright took her into the carriage-kit-
ten and all-and carried her to his own
home.
He advertised her, and for the first
two or three days made some effort to
discover her relatives. After that he
did not want to discover them. Into
his cold, closed heart Lily had crept,
and made her home there; and the
desolate, cynical man found himself
loving her as a little before he had not
dreamed of loving anything again.
After the lapse of a fortnight, the idea
of Lily s leaving him became absolutely
unbearable. He got so nervous that he
started at every sound of the bell-fear-
full that some one was coming to claim
her.
She and the kitten had it all their
own way in Arkwright's house. They
strayed in the library. and upset the
books and papers to their mutual salts
faction. Lily sat on Arkwright's knee
a great deal of the time, amusing her.
self with braiding and curling his hair
into the most grotesque shapes, and
Spot, with feline audacity, mounted on
his shoulder, and nibbled the top of his
pen, or thrust her inquisitive little nose
into his face, all unrebuked.
But one day, just as Arkwright was
beginning to feel sure of the child, a
lady came for her. This lady was tall
and slight, and wore black, and had
her face covered with a thick veil.
Something in low, sweet voice stirred
the innermost depths of Mark Ark
wright's nature, but fierce pang shot
through him when he saw with what
eagerness Lily flew toward her.
Mamma! darling mammal" she
cried, covering her with kisses. 81 so
dad 90 tum! Now 90 and l, and Spot,
and papa are all togedder!"
Arkwright Redeemed. He had been
weak enough to teach this child to call
him papa He wondered what the lady
thought of his presumption; but she
seemed unwilling to linger. She thank
ed him for the care he had given Lily
Offered to pay him for his trouble
from very slender looking purse; and,
being Indignantly refused, she turned
to go. Lily was in her arms. Ark
wright took a step toward them, and
Lily threw an arm around his neck,
drawing him up close, and face to face
with the lady. Through the thick folds
of the veil their eyes met. He started
back, pallid and trembling.
Augusta" he uttered in choking
voice.
''Mr. Arkwright!"
She was the calmer of the two. A
woman always is in cases of emergen-
cy. All the old love, fierce and ungov-
ernable, rose up within him.
"This child! Whose is it?' he
asked
"Mine and yourS," she answered,
quietly. "She was born four months
after our separation. wish you good
morning"
He caught her arm in an iron grasp.
"Stop! My child! Miner he cried,
dreaming, as if it were an effort for him
to realize it.
"No, not yours now" she said, stead
lily. "You forfeited the right to claim
her when you drove her mother from
her home. Mark, at this time-the
last time l shall see you in this world
i will tell you the truth. You were
jealous of my brotherr'
Your brother! l never knew you
had oner' .......
"That was where 1 erred. Arthur
was two years my junior, and a cruel
misfortune placed him in position
where he was suspected of forgery. He
was unable to prove his innocence and
he fled from mistaken justice. l was
too proud to tell you that was the sis
ter of one whom the world looked upon
as felon. In that sinned. had q
secret from you, and upon that rock our
happiness was wrecked. Thank Heav-
EN-! Arthur is free now-the guilty
party has confessed, and my brother is
a man once more.n
Arkwright snatched her to his breast
and would not let her go. She tried
her best to escape, but he held her fast.
| suppose he won her pardon some way,
for she remained at Arkwright house,
and Lilly and Spot remained likewise.
Go there to-day, and you will see the
happiest family this side of paradise.
-S---------