The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-12-22
LOST BUT FOUND.
BY VIRGINIA X. FAIRFAX.

1t was christmas Eve. NOG genuine
old-fashioned one, when the earth is COW
cred with its mantle of snow as soft and
pure as Carrara marble. But the biting
GOODNESS of the sharp winter wind, the hur-
rying crowds of eager shoppers, the stately
evergreens and wreaths of ivy and holly
berries, and the glad bells Ginning out
sweet notes, proclaimed that the oldest holi-
day, the one beloved by all nations, was
near at hand.
In a small, though comfortable house in
the suburbs of one of our large cities the
preparations, if there were any going on,
were of very quiet character. No child
rem were there with merry shouts to echo
through the warmly lighted rooms or clus-
ter in confidential groups about the large
glowing fire in the open crate.
The cosy drawing were empty, but
below in the dining-room the clatter of
dishes and the odor of roast turkey pro-
claimed the fact that some one was cooking
dinner, and good one at that, for some
one else to eat.
Presently from out the depths of the
back kitchen a portly figure comes in sight.
It is that of the good-hearted housekeeper,
Mrs. Duval, OF the bachelor establishment
of John Porter.
John is late this evening, and good Mrs.
Duyal looks somewhat anxious about the
roast turkey being overdone, as she straigh-
tens knife here and mat there on the
little round table with its plate for one oc-
cupant.
Pleasant indeed to the ears of the old
lady is the familiar rat-tat-tat Of her mas
ter, which interrupts her thoughts. She
hurriea to the door to admit him. She
opens the door quickly, but starts back sur
prised, for he is not alone.
He says nothing, but pushes past her,
and makes his way into the warm drawing
room and lays the senseless form OF wo-
man upon the broad lounge.
"Run, get me the whiskey-fask, Mrs.
Duval," he says, in his brisk, CHEEKY tones.
''I found this poor girl. unconscious, lying
in the street square off. But L trust we
can soon bring her around.
Mrs. Dqyal waits to hear 20 more, hHt
her properties as q nurse being in question,
she is soon back, and goes quickly to work
to restore to consciousness the white, death
like form before her.
The girl, for she is nothing more, lies
full length on the lounge; her white, hstless
hands lie motionless beside her. Her long
dark hair is partly unbound: Her deli
cately penciled eyebrows straight and black,
her long dark lashes falling on the marble
like cheek betoken beauty, which is inten-
siGed hundred fold as she slowly opens
her great, dark, sorrowful eyes on the
kindly conntenance Of the housekeeper
John, who mas been watching her slowly
with puzzled look on his clear blue eyes,
starts as she opens her own luminous
dark ones. His face becomes pale and
drawn, and for moment he places his hand
to his temples as if suffering intense pain.
Without a word he leaves the room and
goes slowly into his little den at the back
of the hoHse,
$50 this is the end, he says slowly TO
himself, as he sinks wearily into great
chair "This is the girl who | loved better
than life, and who was promised to me.
Poor child" and his stern voice softens, for
he has very tender heart this great,
Drowned and bearded man. "She has not
had all ioy in her married wealth, 1t is
but six months since | saw her last. She
was winsome and glad then, poop little
thing. Thank God have not seen her
since the cruel word came that she had de-
cided to throw me over for the sake of that
rich Calderon. But what am [ thinking
of to be sitting here when, perhaps, her
dear life is in danger. o, how | love her
vet, even though it is wrong.
He hastens from the room, and has soon
returned With q physician. Mrs. Duval
has put the girl in bed, and says she has a
burning fever. The doctor goes up stairs
to see his patient, while John turns aside
YEARLY and goes into his den.
Two years ago he had met and loved
pretty Violet Marvin. His love was re-
turned, or SO he fondly imagined, and they
were to have been married the preceding
Fall, but cruel letter came from Yi9lets
country home, saying that all idea of mar
rying Violet must be done away with, as
her hand was promised to Mr.. Richard
Calderon an aged but wealthy bachelor.
To be sure, the letter was not from Violet
herself, but her father; but enclosed in it
was Short cold note in Violet's clear cal
igraphy, saying that she could never marry
him. and not one word of love or tender
ness for the man she had wronged.
John, almost frantic with grief, had not
waited to hear or read anything of her
coming marriage, but had gone away to try
and fight his battle before meeting again
the object of his love.
This Christmas Eve he returned to the
pretty home he had prepared for his lost
love, to find her, whom he supposed safe,
sheltered and happy, perishing in the cold
streets.
What to do was the next question. Who
should he notify of her presence in BIZ
house? Was her husband, Mr. Calderons
in town or where? Where were her de-
voted parents? Such and similar were
the questions that arose in John Portef !
mind, as he YEARLY paced the floor Of his
Foom.
Meanwhile the physician had been up