Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1880-01-29
told her husband of the episode that
night. II hope she will return to-
morrow. as she promised"

morrow, as she promised"
She did return, and was installed
to her new position.
''No wonder you were moved by
her face said Colonel st. Johi, after
he had seen the new girl. "She is
the exact picture of yourself when |
married you, Grace. | never saw
such striking resemblance. | won
der what her history is. , N.I'
Ms. st. John laughed. na.
Whatever it is she said, she can
not be relative of fmine. | have no
sister, and my brothers children are
all living in this city. 1t is only a
chpnce resemblance; but really she
does look more like me than Maud
does.
Maud is strange girl said the
Col. with slight frown. "She does
not seem to make much progress in
school and her utter disregard of CON
versationalities is shocking. She told
me to-day she wished she was poor
girl and an orphan: she should like to
roam the world over ut random.
81 cannot interest her in embroi-
derry or music, smd her mother. II
really do not know what to make of
her."
A few days after Rachel Moore
came to the st. Johr mansion she
was taken very i'll. Mrs. st. John
placed her in cool, airy room, and
sent for the family physician.
"A hot bath was his first order.-
When disrobed large fiat locket was
found suspended to a chain from her
neck. 1t flew open and disclosed a
folded paper within. ..0a
Examine it said Maud, it may give
us us a clew to her history.
Mrs. st. John took it to her room,
and upon unfolding it was struck
with amazement, for it was headed,
ITO Colonel St. John, of N. Y. City,
his children Or grandchildren She
read it with deepening amazement
and wonder.
81 am gypsy woman, Ruth by
name. In the year 1850, I,1with my
tribe, camped near New York city
| was beautiful. Col. st. John saw
me and deceived me. supposed him
to be free man. learned better,
and resolved upon my revenge. His
wife was soon to become mother.
| lurked in the yard uptlsl heard the
servants reioieing, thN1 bided ,my
time. I.wiiited Until sSlt lthouse MA
quiet. I stole in thrduglr.thes open
window, for it was summer time. I
stole the sleeping babe from the arms
Of the nurse, who slept well, from a
drug | had an hour before dropped in
her tea. / stripped its rich robe from
it, and put it upon the form of my
own two days-old child, and it was
mychild who was found in her arms;
my child who was reared in luxury.
The wife's child has lived the life of a
gipsy, and wears this confession in q
golden locket, which she is to open
and read when she shall come of age.
This is the oath of q dying woman.
Maud st. John, waiting for her
mother to come and repeat the con-
tents OF the paper, saw her father en-
ter, and it was hours before the door
was unclosed. What passed in there,
she never knew. Both were pale, and
looked years Older when they merged.
Both replied to her inquiries that
they had discovered the girl to be a
child of wealth, who had been stolen
from her parents, and it was their in
tention to educate her as n daughter.
SO the blue-eyed girl had herwish
granted strangely. And Maud?-
Despite all wealth and education
could do, she defed restraint, and ran
away from her home with a wander
ing Italian musician, whom she met
at concert. Years afterward she
wrote to them from Europe. She
was happy and content, travelling
from country to country with her
handsome Bohemian husband, who
earned enough by his musical talents
to clothe and feed them.
"Do not mourn for me, but be
happy with the adopted child, who is
so much more suited to your life than
| was. Nature makes strange mis-
takes sometimes. | thank you for
all your care, but | am far happier
as | am ls
When Rachel reached womonhood,
she was told the true story of her
life and in gratitude to the good
Providence that so strangely restored
her to her home, she lived in pence
and happiness, and does to-day, a
happy wife among the residents of
New York.
Ahl blood will tell.