The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-02

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to have home"
"Can you you get them ready at once?
| should like to take them with me to-
day."
"They can be ready in an hour. Only
some of their clothes are in the wash"
"You can send them by express at your
convenience"
"Good riddanee to themw thought Mrs.
Noreross, as she left the room. "Now
people can't find fault with us The
bills paid, too. We're pretty lucky"
When the intelligence was communi-
Gated to Hiram Norcross, be. rubbed his
hands with glee, and lost no time in
making out the bill for the children's
board.
| Henry and Laura were brought to the
sitting-room. They seemed instinctively
drawn to Laura Thurston, and were soon
on as intimate terms as if they had been
acquainted for years. Laura, too,
found herself attracted by them in a
manner which surprised her. In the
frank, open brow and clear eyes of the
boy she recognized a striking resem-
blance to the father-a resemblance
which excited i'll her degree of pleasure
not unmingled with pain.
"Will you come again seon%' asked the
little girl, climbing into the lap of the
namesake. .....s
"No, I think not"
"Oh, am SO sorry" said the child,
regretfully.
"And why are you sorryp'
"Because l like you"
"How would you like to come and
live with me?" .,...
"And not stay here any longerw
asked the child eagerly.
"No."
"Would Mrs. Norcross let me? Would
papa be willing?"
Mrs Norcross has consented" said
Laura, evading the last query. "And
you, Henry" she asked, turning to the
boy.
"I should like to live with you much
better than with Mrs. Norcross," he SAID,
frankly.
"Then," said Laura, "it shall be as YOU
wish. If you will go to Mrs. Norcross
she will get you ready, and will start by
the next train"
Hannah's astonishment was extreme
when her mistress returned with the
children. Laura explained, quietly, that
their father was dead, and she was their
guardian.
Now commenced new life for the
children. Miss Thurston constituted
herself the teacher. 1t was to her a
source of the greatest enjoyment to train
these young minds, which she perceived
to be full of promise. The days were no
longer leaden-footed, but fed apace. A
new world of thought and action, a new
sphere Of duty and responsibility were
opened to her. Nor was it little that her
affections, which were naturally warm,
had found objects on which they might
be bestowed. t-.
At first the children were dear to- her
for their fathers sake. Henry, for the
clear eyes through which his father
seemed looking at her; Laura, because
her name continually suggested that
fathers continued attachment to. her.
self. But the children soon became dear
for their own sake. Laura felt that she
had entered upon new life. Her wealth
enabled her to command all the advan-
tages which were desirable for them.
Fortunately, she had no near relatives
to complain of the, manner in which she
chose to dispose of her money.
One day Henry was reciting lesson in
geography, and was on the point of
giving the boundaries Of Africa, when
Hannah entered the room with the in
teligence that gentleman was below.
"Do you know who it isp' ask ed
Laura.
"No, Miss Laura" r....
"Did he give you no cardP'
"No. He only said he would like to
see you." j..
every we'll. You may tell him I will
be down directly. Henry we will defer
your recitation for short time. You
may look over your spelling now"
Five minutes later Laura descended
to. the drawing-room. In the obscure
ight she did not at first distinguish her
visitor. He rose and came forward. A
man of middle height, with fine fea-
lures, but pale and thin, evidently the
effects of recent sickness. Laura looked
at him inquiringly. Not a suspicion of
the truth dawned upon her mind.
"Don't you know me, Laura-Miss
ThurstonT he asked, in a low voice.
captain PalmerH she exclaimed, with
sudden conviction. IT thought" w.
"You thought me dead; 1 was So re-
ported, but it was mistake, I fell into
the hands Of the, confederates, and they
have kept me till this time. As soon as
I could, wrote to Mr.. Norcross, but he
did not see fit to communicate the fact
to you; when l called on him yesterday,
he acquainted me with your disinterested
kindness to my children. How can I
ever thank yon, Iarral' He took her
hand in tender respectful manner
"Do not speak Of it," she said, hur-
riedly. "T felt that there was some
atonement due to you for the past" Z
"Have you, too, regretted it, Lauraw
asked Captain Palmer, with subdued
eagerness.
Il have never ceased to do so. But let