Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-12-28
PART II.

The elegant, fastidious, rich Hugh
Livingstone, the great catch, the lion of
the hour, sat in his bachelors homo, sad
and thoughtful, day dreaming, tso, a
little. 1t is Christmas night. The day
haG been enc of peculiar trial to his high
ness, In the first place his morning nap
was disturbed by the frequent ringing OF
the door bell, by persons who were the
bearers of gifts slippers, cigar and watch
cases, boquets, etc, etc, ad inhnitum,
from young maidens; girls who were
almost too young to be suspected Of ang-
ling for the elegant bachelor, but who
possessed a girls weakness for seat in
his box at the opera. or in his elegant
coupe. Some anonymous notes and bo-
quets; saucy notes from the spoiled bel
les; books from his literary friends,
pictures from artists whom he had en-
couraged, and music from musical friends
but not the promised gift from his friend
Louise, and OF this fact was he thinking.
What thought he had received presents
as beautiful as rare. What thought in
vitations had been sent him from half a
dozen homes? Still he sat in his elegant
apartments, lonely and sad. The wo
man who had won his love; the woman
whom he recognized as the angel of his
future, could not be his for five years
He wanted a present love-someth to
labor for, something TO worship. Every
thing that taste could suggest or money
command, was represented in his elegant
rooms, and yet tonight everything
seemed to taunt him with mocking echoes
OF unloved unloved
Patience patience Even now swift
ly approaches the little boy with the ar
rows.
Louise Horton suddenly enters the
room, gliding with queenly grace over
the nossy carpe: so rapidly that ere Mr..
Livingstone could raise from the depths
of his easy chair, she had placed in his
arms bundle, saying as she did so:
There, my friesd, l have brought to
yOc the most beautiful object in all the
world, little, pure, helpless spotless soul
a little baby girl, and remember that
you promised 10 accept, love and cherish
anything that might present."
OfcOdrse our bachelor was at first al
most terrified. and was astonlshingly
awkward and completely "bewildered'
(as old aunties say; but when two little
hands softly patted his cheeks, and tive
mourniul, baby eyes looked into his, and
when, after careful survey, such as
babies know how to give, two little lips
gave him cooing kiss, the awkardnes:
vanished, he ciasped the little darling
tenderly TO his heart, saying: GOO
bless you, Louise; it is a great surprise, &
strange proceed ing; don't know whert
you found the little waif, but, God help
ing me, viii give her home and love
Perhaps l need little innocent child t,
! keep me from becoming cynical and bit
ter during these weary years of waiting
for YOU" And in after years, vheI
Hugh Livingstone's name became
synonym for charity and benevolence
every one knew shat baby hands haC
guided him out from selhshRess into tn,
beauty of doing good.
Many explanations were made, variou
plans iormed, and the Christmas party t
which both had been invited, was entire
ly forgotten as this beautiful belle ant
elegant bachelor talked OF their adopted
ch ildren
Mr.. Livingstone suddenly remembered
cousin, a maiden lady Of respectabl,
age, whom he thought he could induce
10 spend year with him and take care o
the little stranger Strange how people
memories viii quicken in regard to for
gotten, neglected relatives. wheneve
said relstiyes can be OF any seyyice). Il