The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-07


Mr.. Leverdge was punctual to his engage
ment, and with little trouble we found Hor-
ton street, which proved to be almost a lane
in an obscure part of the city. Margaret was
evidently watching for us, for she met us at
the door, looking yet more attractive, now
that her shining hair was uncovered and her
figure seen in all its senderness We fol-
lowed her to bare bat neat room at the
back of the house, where she introduced her
aunt, a fair-complexion gentle, worn
looking woman, and her sister Lucille,
blue-eyed girl with flaxen curls, small for
her years, and looking as if she had always
been somebody's darling and knew nothing
of the rough world. Similarly attired she
stood by Margarets side, with an innocent,
clinging air, as if her sisters four years more
of life entitled her to be in all things pro-
tector and guide.
With his genial kindness, Mr.. Leveridge
put them at once at ease. He told them OF
his daughter, and of Margaret's striking re-
semblance to her, and in answer to some IN
quiry of theirs about America he described
his home in Illinois, while they listened as
to magic tale; in the most tactful way he
drew from them many details of their family
life and circumstances. Margaret brought
out tiny picture of her mother-another
Lucille-to show him; Mrs. Mason would
have him see the needlework the two had
done at the pension. Altogether an hour
passed with charming quickness, and when
we left he said to their aunt:
You see what interest l take in your
nleces 1T may be shall be able to find them
situations; at any rate you must do nothing
till you hear from ME again." and as he
turned away leaving them in delightful won
der and pectation l fingered TO tell them
how good and sincere man he was and how
amply able to do any kindness his heart
suggested.
81 have made up my mind" he said grave
ly when we reached the carriage, land am
sure it is what Anne would have me do ii
she could speak to me- Unless [ find some
thing against it shall take Margaret and
her sister back with ME, provided they will
go, and care for them as my own l never
could quite understand how | came to be
persuaded to leave home for six months
here, but now | believe it was so ordered
that might find these girls! AS soon as l
leave you at the hotel am going to have a
talk with Carl Voigt, who hear is a truth
full, good man, and l shall take the first train
tomorrow for Thorby--it is only two hours
ride--to see Mr.. Wickman, the old clergy
man of whom Mrs. Mason spoke | shan't
see you again till my return, when l will tell
you the result" and he relapsed into a
thoughtful silence which was not broken on
his part till we gained the courtyard, from
whence | fastened upstairs to give my
friends an account of our visit, and he de-
parted in search of the courier.
We heard nothing further till the evening
of Tuesday, when he entered with joyful
face and throwing himself into a chair ex-
claimed:
ITS ali right I'm too tired, and it's too
late to go to Horton street tonight, but in
the morning | shall settle the matter with
out delay. 1t would have made you cry to
hear Carl Voigt describe the bitter grief and
the absolute uncertainty as to the fate of
these two children when he told them of
their fathers death. Clasped in each others
arms they wept for a time without control
when suddenly Margaret raised her head and
whispered; Lucille, God will be our father
We must trust in Him" and from that time
she was composed, aud soothed her sister,
and listened attentively to all he had to tell
or suggest The people in the house were
much attached to them, but unable to help
them, and all they could do for the time was
to come to their aunt. He said he pitied
them so that if it hadn't been for wronging
his own children, whom he can barely sup
port he would have offered them a home
with him. 1t seems their father had a
brother, who now lives in Lucerne but the
two had some disagreement and consequent
unfriendliness, and the girls know nothing
of their uncle"
"And did you go to Thorby?
by the first train this morning. It's as
nice biz OF English country as / have ever
seen-looks as if it had been finished thou
sand years. Rev. Mr.. Wickham proved to be
just what he was represented, kindly gen.
tleman who has spent his life in the parish
and knows it to the smallest particular.
When he learned my errand he had so much
to tell, and so many questions to ask about
America, that l could hardly get away--he
is old now and doesn't go beyond his garden,
and visitor from the prairies was novelty.
1.-THE substance of the information he gave
me is this: The Danes belonged to the re-
spectab BILE yeomanry of the district and were
upright, amiable people. For two genera
tions, however, from one cause and another,
their means had been growing less, until,
in the present one, the two daughters
there were no sons-had to enter the ranks
of what he called upper servants Mary
married Charles Mason, a London clerk a
native of Thorby, who soon lett her widow.
Margaret, he said, was the prettiest girl in
the parish and might have welded more
than one worthy, substantial farmer; but,
unaccountably to him, she preferred the
Swiss courier she met when travelling as
Lady Vernon's maid on the continent
never came home, and he feared had hard
life of it, He said he had felt great compass
sion for her orphan children, and was re-
joiced at what | propose to do. l should
have told you that in addition to the lines
Mrs. Mason gave rue on Monday when l ex-
pressed a desire to call on him, took let
ter of introduction to him from my banker,
so he knew | was no lmpostor His last
words to me were: May God reward you.
never saw Vallot, but if these girls are any
thing like their mother, you will not regret
befriending them"
80 it's settled" he concluded, striking his
hands together favorite gesture with him
when he wished to be emphatic, "and, as
said yesterday 1 know now why I came to
Europe. I've had more pleasure these two
days than in the whole year gone. Since l
came back have written and mailed letter
to my wife for to-morrow's steamer telling
may not be too much surprised, and tele-
graphed to Liverpool for an extra berth, for
of course shall give my stateroom to the
girls. In the morning shall have them over
here to stay till we leave. Now 1 must bid
you goodnight, for Pm as tired as if I'd been
riding all day over my farm"
L