Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1881-02-18

Suddenly Its eyes were caught by q
bright cleaning light on the white
ground; in an instant the child had
slipped on all tours and held out one
little hand to catch the CLEAN. But
the CLEAN could not BE- caught, and the
head was held up to see where the sur
ming CLEAN came from. II came from O
very bright place; and the little one
raising Oh its legs went on 10 the door
OF Sias MGrner's cottage, and right up
70 the warm hearth where Silas' Goa.
lay on the bricks to dry. Tho lille
one squaltsd down on thu coat, pres
emily the warmth had a lulling effect,
aud the littls golden head sank down
on the old coat asleep. But where
was silas Marperf He was in Vie cot
taSe, bat he did not see the child. Hs
hsd gone to the door TO look out, and
put his right hand on the latch OF the
Door to CLOSE close it, but he did not
cloEe it, he was arrested by the Invisible
hand Of ostalspsy, and stood with wide
vide but sigbtlssS eyes holding open
his door, powerless to 'esst the good
or evil tina: might enter there.
When Msrner's sensibility returned
he closed the door, and turning towards
the hearth, where, to his laird vision,
it sssmed, Gs If there were gold on thu
ioor in front of the hearth.
Gold!-his own gold--brought back
al raysteriopsly as il had been taken
away.
He leaned fOrVarl at last and streoh.
ed forth his baud, but irS.ead OF the
hard coin his fingers encountered soft
warm ourls. Could thio be his little
sister come back to him in a dream ?
He had a dreamy feeling that this
child was somehow message come TO
him from far of. But there was 8 cry
on the hearth, and Silas fed and cloth
ed 1t. He found It had on wet shoes
which suggested to him that she must
have come from out dOors, so he raised
the child, aud went to the door and
the little one cried ont NANNY, Bend.
ing forward he could just discern marks
made by the little feet, ard he FOL.
lowed their tracks to the fur4e bush
and there he found ahumGn body, with
the head sunktn in Snow. Sias knew
that all the town WAS at the grand
party at ths 'Bqaire's, so he carried the
little one there in search Of the doctor.
The Doctor, Godfrey, aud few others
go 10 she stone pits, and there fud that
the woman ia past help-dead. they
urge Sllag 70 part with the child, but
he pressed it TO him, and says:
mo, mol | can't part with 1t. It's
come to me--i've o right to keep it,"
1t was a bright au'umu Suaday,
sixteen years after Silss Esruer had
found his new treasure on the hearth.
The bells OF the old Raveloe church
we're Tingiog the cheerful peal Which
told that the morning services were
ended. He called her Bppie tor hia
sister, and tha! morning, as they
walked together, in low, murmuTing
tones Bppte talked to him.
Father, if / was TO he married,
ought TO be married with mother
ringY"
"Why, Bppie, have you been think.
ing OF it,"
"Only this last week, father" said
Eppie ingenuJuSly, "sinse Aaron
talked to NE about it,"
"And what did he say ~ said Silas,
"He sGid he should like TO BE- mar
ried, because he was going GU fOur-and'
twenty, and had got a good deal OF
gardening work, nov Mr.. motifs given
up"
"And who is it he's wanting 70 mar
ry." said silas, with rather sad
smile.
"Why me, to be sure, daddy" said
Eppie, With dimpling laughter, kissing
her fathsr's cheek, "ss if he'd wait e
marry any body else"
"And you mean to have him, do your
said SlRs.
ayes. soma time" said Hppie. 81
don't know when.
"RVsrybody's married some time, u
Aaron says.
But | told him that wasn't true, for
| said: Look At father-he's never
been married"
"My child" said Si!as, "your "a
Their was lone man till you was sent
him"
"But will never be- a lone man again
father" said Eppie tenderly; that
was what Aaron said"
al could Lever think Of taking yon
away from Master Mariner, Rppie."
"And," I said, sit 'ud be OF no use3it
you did, Aaron. ard be wants US all to
live together, ss you needn't work, and
he'd be az good as son to you. But
don't want any change. Only Aaron
does want change, aud no made me cry
q bit--because he said didn't care for
him, for II cared for him should want
Us TO be married, 90 he did,"
ooh, my blessed child" said silss.
|" You are DER young 10 be married,
Bat shall get older and helpless, and
should like to have you marry some
body else besides ms-young and strong
as'nd take sare O. you to the end"
"Thsn you would like me- to DO mar
ried, father :"
"I'll not be- tie man to say no, Eppie.
but will ask yeur godmotheS. She'd
wish the right thing by you and her
Bon, too"
And The godmother wished 1t.
In draining the lands the stone pits
ere drained dry and the skeleton Of
DuSton Cass was found and all Of Silas
Il arper's gold: 1855.
So Eppie enlarged their garden,aud
n ade pretty their home, as they did
lot like to leave the stone pits, and
Copies own words toll the story OF
heir united happy life.
son, father, what happy home ours
j I think nobody could BE- happier