The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-11-13
police investigation. It was all in vain.
| never found wife or child"

never lOunQ wife or childD
Yetyou think they live?'
II cannot tell. / remained here for tiyre
years and then, you know, went to see NV
only sister, dying Of consumption
"And to become my second father.o
Eyes, my boy. found you, nv little,
namesake, a sobbing boy oftwelve, heart
broken over your mothers illness and
death. You know the rest of nv life
history. I retired from the pursuit of nv
profession, travelled with you, made YOU,
my one interest IN life. You filled nv
empty house and heart, for I loved YOU.
Hilton, as dearly as I loved my baby
daughter whose childhood is closed
sealed book to me-"
"But, Uncle George, can nothing be,
done now?"
1--WE have been in London three years.,
and every month there has been an adye1.-
tisement only Myra would understand IN
the leading papers. have never had
one line Of answer. No, my boy, it is
hopeless now! If in the future you ever
know of my wife or child, I trust them.
to your care and generosity" s
It seemed as if, in the excitement of his
recital, Mr.. Hilton had forgotten the con-
versation that had immediately suggest
ed 1t. He rose from his seat, and open
ing cabinet in the room, brought back
a small box. It contained bracelet Of
hair with an inexpensive clasp, and a.
locket. ~
"When we were in Paris" he said. "I
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 bah VS. head
our little darling, then but three month";
old. It must have been some lingering
love that made Myra still keep the Brace
let like this which she wore constantlv.
What IS the matter, Hilton? You are as
white as DEATH"
'Notbing. Is your wife's picture in
the locket?''
Eyes. You see how beautiful she was,n
II see more than that" said Hilton,
"and yet dare not tell you what hope.
if -
'.1f what?" -
'Only one hour-I will be back then.n
"Stop!' Mr.. Hilton cried, shaking With
excitement. But his nephew was gone.
Hoping, fearing, not knowing what to,
hope or fear, Mr.. Hilton watched the
clock till the hour should be over. He.
walked up and down, he tried to read, he,
lived over again that past whose remorse-
full memories had been so wildly recalled.
With Mvra's picture before him, he.
thought again of that wild, fierce love
that had been his happiness and his,
blight.
why was not calm, reasonable as.
became NY years and position?' he ask
ed himself, bitterly. "Why did I give
boys love to a woman who had lived in.
society, and respected all its require
ments? 1 lived an ideal life-Myra the
actual one around us. Where is Hilton2
What can he know? What has he dis
covered? Only three minutes gene, and
it seems day since he was here
But even before the hour was over
Hilton returned. In his eegerness to,
question him, Mr.. Hilton did not netice-
that he came through the drawing-room
to the library where he waited, leaving
the door little open.
"Where have you been?" Mr.. Hilton
asked.
ITO procure this" Hilton answered.,
gravely, placing in his uacle's hand the
duplicate of the barcelet upon the table,.
The same braid of sunny brown hair,
with here and there some of raven black
streaked with gray; the sam. small clasp
with a 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 deem
silence. The old man could not speak,
and the young one would not break in.
upon wnat he felt to be sacred emotion.
At last, lifting his head, George Hilton:
"Does Myra live? Can she forgive
ut is years since she died." Hilton an
swered, 'but, surely, in heaven she has:
forgiven you. She never spoke of you to,
your child but in words of respect aud .
affection, though she always spoke Of
you as dead"
my child! You know my chiIda"
II know and love her. Do you not
guess, Uncle George, where I saw that
bracelet: whose duplicate I recognized at
once, whose face is living copy Of the
one in your locket2 Must tell you that
the child Mrs. Willot rescued from pow
erty, and adopted for her own, is my
cousin, and your daughter?"
"Ada Smith,"
''Smith was the name her mother
thought most probably would conceal !.
her identity, and Ada was the name OF
Mrs. Willet's only child, who died in in
fancy"
''But why have you not brought her to-
me9' asked Mr.. Hilton, with almost q.
sob in his voice. And as he spoke, the
door Hilton had left ajar opened, and.
across the threshold stepped tall, beau
tiful girl, with sunny brown hair, and
large blue eyes, who waited timidly I'M
til her father came quickly to meet her
"Anna!'' he said, softly. "Can this be:
my baby-my wee daughters It must be, :,
for it is my Myra, who has not grown old !:
and gray, as l have, but lives il perpetual
youth. Ny child, once wronged your
mother, bnt have sorrowed and repented
for that wrong. Can you forgive meq'
The tears were falling fast from Anna.
Hilton's eyes, and her voice was trembling
with sobs, as she said:
my dear tather!'' @
~