Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1879-05-03
dislike. She became pale aud miserable. often
sulIen and defiant Fiually ehel me y

dislike She became pale aud miserable, oiten
suIlen and defiant. Finally eheleft me /"
LEFT your =.
al came home one afternoon after conduct
inc an intricate criminal case. and found note
on my table, telling my Myra could no longer
endure the life Of constant quarrelihs aud
reprosch. She bad taken her child aud wocd
never return 70 une.
Did she rot go 20 relatives?'
"She had but few Her father died while
we were abroad, and having been considered
rich man. was found to have lefsleusthan his
funeral expenses She bad an acnt and some
cousins. to all Of whom ! went, but who
denied all knowledge Of her. Af,er searching
with the eagerness Of pcnitence, deep and
sincere. and love most profound. finally
advertised and even employed private police
investigation. Il was oil in vain. | never
found wife or child"
yet yon think they live ?"
, 81 cannot tell remained here for fre
years. aud then, as you know, went 10 see my
only sister. dying in consumption.
" And TO become my second father.
b.. "Yes. my Toy. found you, my little
namesake, sobbing boy Of twelve, heart
brokeu over your mothers illness and death.
You know the rest OF my life-his,oIy.
retired from the pursuit Of my profession.
travelled with you, made you my one interest
IN life You filed my empty house and heart,
for loved you, Hilton, us dearly as loved
nv baby daughter whose childhood is closed.
sealed book to ne"
"But now, Upcle George. can nothing bc
done now ?"
1--WE have both been in London three years,
aud every month there has beea-ap advertise
ment only Myra would understand. inthe
leading papers. ! have never had one line OF
answer. No, my boy. It is hopeless now II
| in the future you ever know Of my vile OF
child, trust her to your care and generosity"
II seemed as IL in the excitement Of his
recital, Mr.. Hilton had forgotten the conversa-
ton that had Immediately suggested it.
He rose from bis scat. aud opening cabinet
| in the room, brought back small box. Ii
contained braceet Of hair with an inexpen-
sive clasp and a locket.
"When we were in Paris" he said. IL had
tLis bracelet made cf Myra's hair aud mine
woven together she has the companion one.
This tiny coil Of gold in the clasp was cut
from the bsbys head, our little darling. then
out three months old IL must have been
romc lingering love that made Myra still Keep
the bracelet like this, which she wore con-
sten,ly. What is the matter, Hilton? You
are as white rs death
Nothing"
els your vife's picture In the loeket?'
"Yes. You SEQ how beautiful she was
Il see more than that" said Hilton, "oui
,e. dare not tell you what hope. Willyou
give lme one little hour TO see if"
! 81 whss2Y To-. -
"Only one,bout--I will be back then"
"Stopl" Mf. Hilton cried. shaking with
excitement.
But his nephew was gone. Hoping. fcstiog
not hpowisg what 10 hope or fear, Mr.. Hill
ton watched the clock, Till the hour should DO
over. lie walked up and down, he tried TO
read, hb lived over again that past. whose re-
morseful memories had been 90 vvidly recalled.
With Nyra's .pictu'e before him he though,
again Of that wild, serce love that had been
/ his happiness sul his blight .''-9
! ",Why IVES not calm. reasonable ns
became my years aud position p ho asked
himself bitterly Why did | give boys
/ love TO a woman who had lived ia society aud
respected all its requirements / lived an
ideal lIfe-Myfs the actual one around u.s.
Where is Hilton What can be know What
has he discovered? Only three minutes gone,
aud il seems a day sirce he was here
But even before the hour was over Hilton
returned 10 bis eagerness TO question him,
4 Mr.. Hilton did not notice that be came through
the drawing room to the library where ho
waited leaving the door a little open.
Where have you been ?" Mr.. Hilton
asked
ITO procure this, Hilton answered grayely,
placing In his uucles hand the duplicate OF
/ tho bracelet on the table. The same braid Of
sunny brown hair, with here and there some
of rayen black streaked with gray; The same
small clasp with a wee coil Of baby curl under
the glass the same lettering, too-Myra and
George twincd together with fantastic scrolls
aud twists For several moments there wasa
deep silence The old man cou not speak,
and the Young man could not break 10 upon
what he felt 10 be sacred emotion. AZ last.
lifting bis head, George Hilton asked 81
Docs Myra Iiye7 Can she forgive ne y .t
q" Il is years since she died, Hilton answer
cd. "but, surely, 10 heaven che hos forgiven
yon. She never spoke Of you % your child
but in words Of respect and affection, though
she always spoke of you as dead
"My child You know my child ~" nm
81 hnow and love her. Do you not gasss.
Uncle Geotgc, where saw that bracelet whose
duplicate recognized Mt once. whose face is
a living copy Of ne one in your loctet Must
tell you that the child nrs. Wilet rescued
from poverty. and adopted as her own. is my
cousin, and your daughter 2"
Ada Smith ?"
g. Smith. was the name her mother thought
most probably would best conceal her identity,
and Ada was the name Of Mrs. Willets only
child. who died in infancy" 90
Bot have you not brought her 10 me -
! asked Mr. Hilton, with almost n sob 10 bis
voice. And as he spoke, tire door Hilton had
left sjar opened, aud across the thresbt d step
ped .all beautiful! gir with sunny brown hair.
and large blue eyes. who waited timidly until
her father came quickly 70 meet her.
Anna p be said softly. Can this be ny
! haby-my wee daughter IL must be, for its
Mya, who has not grown old and grey, asl
baye, but lives is perpetual youth. Ny child,
I once wronged your mother. but have sorrow
cd and repented Lr that wrong. Can yoI
forgive mc7
"The tears were falling fast from Anna
IIilton's eyes, and her voice was trembling
with sobs ss she said
" Nv dear father ~
That was all az George Hilton folded his
child 10 his arms, he knew that he was for
! given, and for bin ai lsst there might be hap
piness in making Others happy.
Good Hrs WilIct mourDed and rejoiced at
once over her loss and her adopted daugbtes
good fortune, bat coDsoled herself With tho
4 ,t,..,ht .b.t Ada rnuet ha 90 loft hor fo bo