The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-12-08


stancy to me scarcely seven years agol
Oh, how pitifully life changes! Oh, l
| wish were dead and in my grave! What
blessed thing it is that We have no
children to suffer from their parents sad
estrangementf'
And poor Sophia Sepal wept until her
lace-edged pocket handkerchief was as
wet as if it had been dipped into pail
of water.
Mr.. Sepal, meanwhile, was repeating
the same thing in the seclusion of his
study up stairs.
What a comfort it is that we are child
less!''
HE used to love me once" said Mrs.
Sepal. seeking in vain a dry corner Of
the pocket handkerchief.
"When I first knew that girl" pom
dsred the husband, "she was all sweet
ness and devotion!
II can't understand it at all" sighed
the wife.
cit would almost seem as if we were
under the influence of cruel spell!'
said Mr.. Sepal.
| It was the old, old story over again
the .little rift within the lutte, "-the en-
tering wedge of seltishness aud indiffer-
ence, which was now parting their lives,
as with a Archimedean lever. And
neither of the two was willing to say,
Forgive mel have been wrong"
As Mrs. Sepal sat all alone in the fire.
light, there came soft tap at the door.
"Ma'am, if you please said Sally,
the parlor-maid, "heres a little girl.
Left here, maam, by Imperial Express
From Kansas, ma'am.'
What" said Mrs. Brewster.
"If you please, maam. I'll light the
candles" said Sally. "And here she Is!
with the Express Agent, maam!
A little golden-tressed mite OF crea-
ture, scarcely four years old, in white
frock. and with red India scarf pinned
over her shoulders, and carrying small
travelling bag in her hand, stood there in
the middle of the floor, with burly Ex-
press Agent in the rear.
IF you'll give me receipt. ma'am,
please" said this latter official.
"a receipt? What for?' cried the be-
wildered Mrs. Sepal.
Matte Pole. Aged four. From
Mills Falls, Kansas, to Mrs. b. Sepal, No.
1879 Carnation street, New York. l only
want papers, maam, to prove as I've
done my duty as faithful servant OF the
Express Company. You haven't wanted
for nothing since yon left Mills Falls,
chick, have your" patting the sunshiny
head.
"No, Reuben" said she. nesting her
cheek against his hand.
And receiving his receipt, the agent
went his way.
"Child, who are you?" demanded Mrs.
Sepal, when at length he was gone.
II am your cousin Ellen's little girl"
said the small creature, trustfully. my
papa and mamma are dead. And they
have sent me to be your little grill"
"You darlingy' cried Mrs. Sepal burst
ing into tears, as she Rugged the little
apparition to her breast-and in the
same moment, she looked up and saw
her husband standing beside her.
"Sophia," said he, with gentle in
Election in his voice which she had not
heard before for months, "do you really
mean to keep this child"
"Oh, Brewster, what can do, she
cried, with strange inclination to fling
herself upon his brerst
"She is beautiful child?" he said,
looking down upon the innocent baby
face with moisture in his eyes.
care you going to be my new papa?
asked little Matte, softly, as she reached
up to play with his glittering watch
chain.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sepal looked at each
other.
Brewster" began the wife, hesitat-
ingly, "if We are to bring up this dear
baby"
III we are to bring her up" he inter
posed. gently, she will need all the holy
and sanctifying influences of home.
Sophia wife"
"Oh, Brewster" she cried, hiding her
trimming eyes in her hands, 'how good
you are! And have been 80 foolishV
mot more than have beenV he &C.
knowledged, frankly.
"And-do You really love me?"
"As we'll as I did, dearest, upon our
wedding day."
"Oh," cried Mrs. Sepal, ''how mad /
have been--how selfsh-how inconsider-
ate But if you can find it possible to for
give me Brewster, you shall nee how diff
ferent shall be for the future!"
"And only to think, said Mr.. Brewster
Sepal, chow near we came to a-separa-
toni"
I'VE never should have been happy
again" said the wife.
"Neverw declared her husband.
"And it is this darling little rosebud OF