Louisiana capitolian., 1881-08-06

silver half buckle that sne nad kepDe eSel
since he had been left at her door, ana
vowed that she would so to London
with him to see what came of this strange
| dream.
Together the woman and boy made
the journey, and after many inquiries
and much wandering about the strange
city, they learned that there existed in
it's heart an old time charity called,
oueerly enough, "Lady Armytage's
twenty.four old wives
Twenty-four old women, who had
been reputable wives and mothers, were
fed. clothed and lodged in these build
ings-the funds for the purpose having
been bequeathed by q certain plous
Lady Armytage, long dead.
70 this row of buildings the two coun-
try folk made their way, and the boy
cried out with something very like ter
ror when he saw the houses of his dream
and ON one low door the number ten
that he had read in those very white
letters. He knocked at it with tremb-
! ling hand, and an old woman in black
silk cap, purple gowL ind little BLACK
shawl opened it at once. She made a
courtesy such as humble English wo-
men give their superors, and SAID (:
"What can | do for you, maam !"
And the boy staggered back against the
doorpost, too faint to speak; but Mrs
Cartwright walked bravely into the
poor little apartment,
sDame," she said, "we've come long
way to ask you a little question. Have
, Won the other half Of bit Of buckle
, like this"
i The old woman looked at her mo-
ment and answered:
II have, ma'am and parcel, too'
for one that shows it to me. Sit down
and Pll tell you about it,"
) Mrs. Cartwright seated herself; the
u boy drew near. The old woman went
q TO n chest which stood in recess, un
- locked it, aud took thence parcel,
= well tied up.
" " "Tbere's two of us in this home al
WAYS ma'am," she said. "fhe last one
% died here. She was an old nurse-wo
l. man-Hannah Clegg, she called herself
and in her last illness, she was great
" put about by something that was OF
i her conscience. Before she died sh'
=, rave me card, with name and
:" place on it, and this parcel. "Whe'
" Pm dead" she said, "not before, write
to that place and say, off you wan
u the other half of the buckle, come t
- me-" When any one comes, II the,
u show you half Of a silver buckle, Civ
~ them this parcel" .
.It's all she said, ma'am. She DIE
10 very soon. OF course, was upset, an
y when all was over, / found that thong
III ! had the parcel safe, ! had not tn
u, H. card-that was gone. I've been tpnl
VI ING to 90 to the minister and show I'll
e' marcel to him, for its full of writing
DIS and there's bit of buckle in 1T, too
ne Bnt it seems some one must have tol
W. Won about it. | think it's yours b
a' right, and ] should give it over"
nc The farmers wife was wise enough
ls- keen her own counsel. She gave q
ne to the old woman that made her fe
ls0 herself paid forany trouble she had, al
'"S took the parcel away with her. AT u
d hotel where they stopped for the nigh
er' the two anxious travellers read the p
per: it contained. !, Martha Grey, WI
vas have been living in the City Of Lond'
'sn for ten years or more, under the nal
Use of Hannah Clegg, do hereby swear al
ne affirm that sixteen years ago, being TN
ant employed as nurse for my Lady Marlo'
my of Marlowe Hall, shire, ] was deslro
'ess of Furnishing Lord Marlowe for tritll
his with the affections of my niece, ks
ng, Grey, who died, as know, OF a brok
r. heart, because of his Lordship's tick
ant uess-for he had no mind to marry
lere poor, ignorant girl, but only to ma
and love to her-and being nurse to my l
Iera dy MarIowe, one night contrIyed
but steal the child and leave the place vi
,an- it unseen and taking boat, ] row
tie with my own hands, stopped near
east house of one Robin Cartwright, farm
yht, and laid the child at his door, and tt
lore departed as ! came, knowing well Il
:, as il would be believed that the mot
0 be who had left her child had drow'
in a herself. Since this, ] have changed
d to name and lived unsupported; but,
lout ing in dread of death, ] now make c
fession, lest ! be punished for the d
that in the world to which / am going.
but half of the buckle which is in this
eel. will mate that which ] hing alb