Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-03-07

in former days, his quiet, thorough unobtru.
sive worth, his integrity and manly selfcom-
mand, and the generous thoughtfulness for
others which led him to put his own wishes
and his own interests resolutely aside, in all
cases where there might not be perfect har.
mony between his and theirs.
Her meditations we're interrupted by sum-
mons from her uncle She returned to the
drawing-room, to find him walking up and
down in restless way, and her aunt sitting
upright in her chair, by the fire, with half
disturbed, half.irritated expression of coun.
tenance. ..
my DEAR" said the old gentleman, hastily
advancing to meet her, and taking her hands
in both of his, "we-that is, I-have heard
strange news tonight Your sister," ""
"Good gracious, Mr.. Dashwood," sharply
interrupted his lady, "is that your way ofpre-
pairing her2 In the first place. she contin'
ued, addressing Helen, "let me tell you, as
far as I am concerned, that do not put
very much faith in this said news, which your
uncle accepts so credulously, and if he had
taken my advice, he would not have said any
thing to you about it until he had some es.
tablished proof"
"Proof! Haven't proof7" exclaimed the
old gentleman. AT any rate, have very
strong grounds for believing that the story is
true, and Helen, as the person most interested
in it, has a right to be told all that know.
Helen, my love, suppose you have no re.
collection Of your little sister, who was lost 50
long ago?" -. ' -
"No, sir" replied Helen, surprised at the
question. Something in her. uncle's look
startled her, and she added quickly, "have
you been hearing anything about her, uncle7"
II have, my DEAR" replied Mr.. Dashwood,
who was entirely incapable of evasion or cir
cumlocution. II have, in fact, reason to sup
pose that it is possible, even probable, that
she is now alive"
Helen's heart beat fast The sweet, yet
strange, unknown link of sisterhood seemed
to thrill into renewed life, drawing her back,
mysteriously, into the long-forgotten past.
She stood silent, tremulous, waiting with
clasped hands to learn more.
Mr.. Dashwood went on to tell her that a
person named Stratton, who had been with
him that evening, had offered to give him
convincing proofs of the identity Of young
girl, living in San Francisco, with little Ada
Forester, the baby sister who had so suddenly
and mysteriously disappeared, and to find
whom, search had long been made in vain.
This man had informed him that be had, for
years, been engaged in ferreting out these
proofs, and had not succeeded, until lately, in
discovering either the true name Of fthe young
girl in question, or the existence of her rela-
tives in New Orleans.
"Of course the creature is actuated wholly
by -tha- hone of q larae- -reWard said -Mzs
Dashwood. These low people are always
mercenary."
A mercenary feeling is not confined en-.
tirely to the lower class, was Helen's reAec-
ton. '7
"Whatever motive he is actuated by, that
doesn't affect the Importance of the discovery"
replied her husband. GAS to reward, l
dare say Helen, is rich enough to give him
one if she finds he is entitled to it."
"Yes-O yes, anything, Uncle, anything
in the world, if his story is really true" cried
Helen, eagerly. "But please tell me more
how did he find her, and what are the proofs ?"
SAY, what are the proofs, indeed ?" MUIR
INJURED her aunt.
Mr.. Dasbwood went on to relate the sto-
ry as it had been told to him. We will
not follow it now through its many wind
ings. Suffice it to say that Jim Stratton, act
ing on the information which had been
given him by his wife, had rested neither day
nor night since then, in his endeavors to sift
the matter to the bottom. After many dis
appointments, and much painstaking inquiry,
he had at length, as he believed, succeeded
in his object. He had learned from the peo-
pie at Cobbs' Springs, the date of little Ada's
disappearance, and connecting this with his
wife's account, found that it Tailed exactly
with the discovery of the waif whom she took
under her protection, and cbristened "Mari
posa" His next step was to hunt up her fam
lily, which was not easy to do, her father and
mother both being dead, and her uncle bear
ing different name; but at length, by the
merest chance, he had learned Helen's name,
seeing letter advertised for her in the post.
office, and following this clue, found out Mr..
Dashwood's connection with the Foresters,
and also his place of abode. He had volun-
teered, after making his statement, to act as
Mr.. Dashwood's guide to the various places
which had served him as sign-posts in his jour
ney of discovery, and finally to the residence
of the girl herself.
"Oh! Uncle, take me with you. Pray,
pray do p cried Helen, greatly excited. "Let
US 60 at once"
"Nonsense, Helen," said Mrs. Eastwood.
"It may be only a wild-goose chase. You
had far better remain at home"
Helen did not even hear. "Shall we, dear
Uncle?" she entreated, pressing his hand.
"Yes, my dear, yes Augusta, she must do
as she likes in this case. 1t is her right" said
the kind old man, who secretly felt that he
could not do enough for Helen, to atone for
past neglect. eve will 60, Helen, my child,
Just as soon as we can possibly arrange to
set out I've little matter of business to at
tend to first, as my stepson is out of town !;
but that will only delay me single day."
"Then, shall we set out day after to-mor-
row?"