Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-03

strong, worn face wearing Una paifor
which never knows a change:
"Grandmarm," cried the child rum
ming 10 the bedside, 'here's a good,
nice lady come, and she'll give you
some tea, and you'll get well low"
The old woman turned her head,
her eager eyes fastening themselves
upon US.
:Thank God" she murmured. 81
thought J. should die and leave her
alone.'
"Whatcan we do for you, madam Z"
| asked, bending over her.
"Nothing for ME, Pm past help ;
it's the child [ want looked after"
Eyes, but you must have nourish-
ment-Philip go out for some tea,
and Wen have Il fire at once"
"Woman," she said solemnly, ellis
ten to me. | am dyiEg-in a few
hours / snail! be i'll the other world
l could drink a drop OF wine, but
nothing else"
My husband procured it in a few
moments, aud after drinking it she
seemed somewhat revived.
"Now," she said, "while Pm strong
enough. let me speak about the child
when Pm gone she won't have a
friend in the world-yOu look like a
rich woman, would you
"Ill take her and be a mother to
her." l interrupted, eagerly.
"CUme round here aud let me see
your face"
l obcyed, bending down to the
dying eyes that searched my face SO
kecnly. After a moment she drew u
deep breath.
EYES," she said. ri can trust you ;
your face is good aud .honest-God
has sent you-cOme here, little Rose
this is your new mother ; you must
love her and be a good girl when Pun
gomez ...
l held out my arms, aud the little
thing nestled close to my bosom,
looking up into my. face with Won
dering eyes.
81 will be good to her." 1 said ; cas-
God hears lne, | will"
"l believe you, and now l can die
in peace. l should have been dead
long ago, out for leavin' the child
that kept me back. She aiu't a friend
in the world, and she's no flesh aud
blood o. mine. Ten years ago, my
old nau was alive then, and runnin'
a 1atboat Oh a western river. We
tell i'll with d party Of %Injuns. They
had Il white babe with 'em, the pref.
test, daintiest little thing 1 ever set
eyes oil. L had jest lost my own baby,
and l couldn't bear to see tnen carry
the poor little thing away, so I per
suaded my old man to buy it. They
were glad enough to sell, 81 l took
the child and raised her as my own
[ meant to hunt up her folks and
named it after my own baby. l had
y great likin' for the little creature
l couldn't bare to give her up-but
was sorry enough after my old maj
died, and we come TO want. But Iv'
kept the clothes she had GU, aud may
be, madam, you may hear of her PEG
pie some day."
"Let us see the Clothes" gaspet
my husband, his face as white a
death.
Look in the box and get 'em
Rose"
The child obeyed, bringing a small
bundle carefully wrapped up. l um
J folded it with trembling hands, All,
then as my eyes fell upon the EN-
, broidered frock, the little crimson
sack and the dainty blue shoes, III,
5 own baby's clothes, for the first tim,
, in my life l dropped down iu a dea,
faint.
4 When consciousness returned
: found my husband bending over IN
with a radiant face, and little Rose
my W little Pearl, closely claspet
7 i'll his arms.
"Found at last, Belle" he murmur
: ed, TREMENDOUSLY ; God be thanked
}. we are not childIess."