The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1880-01-15


the conductor to get the bridge in plaee.
Quls Vas taken on board with Fred, aud
when The bridge bad been aTsd, the lrsin
moved down 10 the station, where :
crowd Of anxious citizens, who bad re.
ceived premonliion that something was
wrong bad gathered.
OF course papa was With the rest, and
when be heard what a liltle heroine Quiz
bad become, be kissed Der very tenderly
aud WAS very thankful that be had kept
and cared for The homeless little girl
whom The strange woman had thrust 90
unoeremonionsly upon him.
But the slrangest part Of the story Is
yet to come. Among the gentlemen who
came forward to thank Qniz aud TO con.
graduate papa on having such a brave
little daughter, was the kind faced man
who bad first spoken to QaiE when she
found herself lying on the ground after
the train bad passed her. No sooner did
be speak than pAps recognized him as bis
old friend and school mate, Arthur VIII
burton, whom be had not seen for twenty
years. lie invited him to accompany bin
to our home, and be did SO.
We at home, were still sitting around
the hre, wondering snxiously why papa
aud Fred did no, come, and feeling thank
fu that The storm had A. last Sbaied,
when we heard papa's nighl.key in the
door and In minute more they came
into the room, papa carrying Quiz who
was weak and pale, while her clothing
was disordered asd covered with mud.
Fred aud Mr.. Wilburton followed close
behind bin.
Nell uttered little scream as she saw
Qaiz, and the rest OF us stared in amaze.
ment for we supposed Quiz was safe in
her one room, aud we could not account
for her disordered appearance. Pspi
soon told us the stery, and then we al
cried and kissed her and called her ouI
own little heroine, and when mamma
insisted upon putting her to bed, fearing
the exposure might make her i'll, We
all wanted to sit up and help take care o
her.
The next morning while we were oil ii
the breakfast room with Mr.. Wilberton
and almost smothering Quiz with tender
solicitude, the former suddenly turned
toward papa and said
You don't know Frederick bow muct
your little daughter reminds me OF my
lost wife. She has the same soft eye'
aud quiet ways and the same tones in hel
voice.
Why, Arthur, said papa; | did no
know that you had ever been married.
Yes, muttered Mr.. Wilburton sadly
but did not long enjoy domestic bappi
ness. But few years after Nettie aud
! were married, became very unfortunate
in business speculations aud went TO Cal
fornia in search of luck
had been there two years, and wa
beginning to look anxiously forward tC
the time when could have Ncttie will
me when received letter informing mt
of her death.
ln those days it was sometimes MONTH
after letter was sent before we received
il. arranged my business as soon as
could, and returned to my old home IN
search of oar child and found that &
strange family who had been living IL
the house with Nettie had taken her will
them. Whittier this family had gone
could not tell. They were strange
wandering family, and had left for part
unknown in the night. ! have Travelled
far and wide, and have spent good
sized fortune searching for my little one
but fear shall never SEQ my little Ma
mie again. Fortune has been kind to me
and am rich now, aud I'D give my
whole fortune for my child could | but
find her.
There were tears is his eyes as h'
ceased speaking, and we oil felt sad, fol
we were beginning to love the man o
whom papa had 40 often told us. Bn
Quiz was very mneh excited, her cheeks
were red, her eyes full OF tears while heI
breast heaved with every breath as she
leaned forward with clasped hsnds.
Did you learn the name Of the family
who took The child? asked papa, after q
pause.
Yes; they we're called sam and Lut
Brown.
At this Quiz uttered cry aud sprang
forward.
! know it now. I'm Mamie, I'm Ma
mie, I'm Mamie she exclaimed, passion
ateIy, falling at Mr.. Wilburton's feet, and
sobblng as bard as she could.
What does this mean! faltered Mr.
WiIburion. Frederick, Is not this your
child2
In as few words as possible papa told
! him the story OF bow Quiz came to be !
J member OF our family.
, But have you nothing, my child. which
you brought with you from your old
home7 asked Mr. Wilburton, trembling
between hope snd Tear.
: OnIy this, sobbed Quiz taking locke
from her neck; the siek woman whC
called me Mamie gave it TO me 10 keel
alwsys.
With trembling hands Mr. Wilburtoi
took the tfiukei aud opened 1t, thel
pressed II TO his lips az be exclaimed
. It's Nellle herslf, her own facet re
member The ioeket now.
We young people slipped out Of th
! room then, and when we returned Qai
was leaning sgsinSt Mr.. Wilburton'
. chair with her band Ia his, looking bright