, 1883-05-19

found himself plying the chllu very
much.
He had no expectation Of ever see
ing the child again, but he told his
landlady, Mrs. Balfour, of the Incl
dent, the next day, and Mrs. Balfour
listened with remarkable attention
She had formerly lost a little girl
about the age Of little waif. The
next evening, to his surprise she
said:
Il have been to the hospital. The
man is dead"
Tennyson saw something in he,
face which prepared him for VII"
followed. -
81 have been to Black Court, Mr..
Tcnnyson, and-taken the child"
And there, sitting mutely by the
kitchen fire, without her short scarlet
frock, her curls smoothly tied back
With a-hlack ribbon, was Titia.
al ShaIfbring her up as my Own,"
said the motherly woman, giving
the Lace at the child's throat a finish
ing touch. ''She shall learn to wash
the dishes, and-play upon the
piano"
She followed Basil into the hall.
ado you knOw?' she said, looking
quite vexcd, "she wouldn't come
without she could bring the organ!
Horrid thing! It's in the attic!"
The young man smiled. %
''Shc's actually fond Of it," con-
tinued Mrs. BalfOur, "and wanted
her to forget it. But, then, yOUsay
the old man was very kind to hers
She was very fond of him, and it is
rather a good trait in the child to he
fond Of the old organ, after all, isn't
it?''
"Ithink So" said Tennyson. 'De-
cidedly." a
bay by day he .saw little Titia,
whose ''lincs had fallen in pleasant
places" She learned little house
hold tasks-tO make herself useful;
hut also, Ias Mrs Balf0ur had said,
She w;iS>taught music. She went to
school, ,lapd soon skipped about the
house much like other happy child
rem.
''She shows great good sense"
said Mrs. BalfOur. "Shc is dOcilc
and respectful"
But at times Tennyson detected a
melancholy beyond the child's years
in her liquid dark eyes; and once,
when she had been rebuke1 care
lessness, AM she was s.I.asd rrand
the household consequently right
need, Tennyson found her asleep in
the attic, with her cheek against the
old organ, where she had wept her
self into forgetfulness.
She grew taller and prettier, until
one day Tennyson went away to
London, and perhaps forgot her, for
five years. lie was an Englishman,
but fond of America, and American
society, and by-and-by he came back.
1t is a little curious, perhaps, that,
as he found himself nearing the
shores Of the continent, he thought
| a great deal Of Titia, and wondered
what she had grown to be. Mr..
BalfOur had written him once or
twice while he was in England, but
not Of late.
When he came to the old mansion
on Brattle street, he was much
shocked at the news which met him.
Mrs. BalfOur was not living. The
house was occupied by strangers,
and the strange servant put Titia's
card in his hand:
"TITIA LIND,
Teacher Of Music, Brcvoort House."
Something of the taste an y refine
ment Of the room into which he was
shown prepared HIM for Titia's ap-
pearance. But when-ke held her
hand, and looked into the pathOs Of
her sweet eyes; his heart beat
strangely.
"You had not forgotten me?" he
asked and by no means idly.
"NO," she said simply.
Suggestive Of everything beautiful
and romantic as Titia was, her life
and habits were so eminently practi-
cal that TennysOn felt strictly for
hidden to betray anything Of his
feelings or enthusiasm. She told
him, not without emotion, Of the
death Of her friend, Mrs. Balfour,
which had occurred the previous
year; but with all due appreciation
Of the good lady and gratitude to
her, it was evident to Tennyson that
she had never grieved for her as for
old Louis. Since Mrs. Balfour's
death she had devoted herself to the
study Of music, and given lessons
} with marked success.
81 am very busy and get very
tired" she said; "but 1t is sweet to
be independent" Then she added:
''Mrs. BalfOur left a letter for you"
, ''FOF me?" repeated Tennyson.
She opened the drawer Of pretty
cabinet and produced it.
Tennyson Immediately opened the
= seal and read it. 1t affected him
powerfully. 1t was an earnest ap-
, peal to him, made with all the pa
thetic helplessness Of the dying, ia
, befriend Titia:
81 have studied you, 1 believe in
! you, and leave her virtually in
your care, as a friend and protector
: to take care Of her best interests.
; have no money to leave her; she has
, only her dover Of beauty and limo
eenee. You know her history. You
4 only, can understand and befriend