Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-29

child had haunted her; and partly be-
cause she could hear nothing OF her,
partly, perhaps, because she was sick
and nervous, she began to have strange
fances about her.
''She was so like Laura when she was
little" she thought, land no one ever
saw her but me. 1t was very strange
And then, as madame sat there alone
her door opened little, and then lit
tie more, and the child she was think
ing of came softly into the room.
She was dressed in some kind of a
pale blue f1eecy material, which look
ed as if it might have been cut from .
cloud in the sky, and her floating cold
en- hair surrounded her head like q
halo
''Laura's face, Laura's dress that l
keep locked in drawer in this room.
Oh, what can it mean?" madame NUT
tered.
Dada love co." the child cooed, lay
ing her velvet cheek against the cold
fingers that were clutched upon the
arm of madam's chair.
Madame Van Dyck suddenly leaned
forward
''In Heavens name, who are you,
child?" she cried out wildly.
That moment the door opened again,
and figure entered that was like a
magnifed Dada, face, dress, loving
eyes and all.
Laura screamed Madame Van
Dyck. Have YOU come back to me?'
.'Oh, mother!'' cried Laura, and then
the two women were sobbing in each
others arms.
II should have come before if [ had
thought you would let me, " Laura said
rying. ''Rut you never answered any
of my letters, and when you sent them
back without even opening them, [ did
not dare to come myself"
'Lettersr' exclaimed Madame Van
Dyck. II don't know what you mean.
[ have never had a line from you since
you left me for that man"
Il wrote you several times. The let
tiers were always returned unopened. l
can show them 10 you.
Madame's housekeeper was sum-
moned.
She turned white at sight of her mis-
tress' daughter, and confessed to every
thing.
She had stopped the letters herself,
and sent them back, thinking that she
could ron her mistress with more i'm
punity as long as she could keep her
daughter from her.
Mother" said Laura suddenly,
'1ook at that child"
Dada had climbed upon a chair, TAX
en- out q handkerchief, exactly two
inches and half square, and was COM
posedly and quietly crying all by her
self
What are you crying about, dear?"
asked her mother.
No answer.
What is the matter, darling?" Lau-
"a asked again.
Dada kying about dose letters too"
Madame Van Dyck laughed aloud.
Upon which the quaint little creature
graVely put her handkerchief in her
pocket again, got down from her seat,
and began to laugh too.
cit is strange l never thought of her
being your child, Laura" said madame.
'She is so like you"
$50 everyone says. [ thought you
would guess who she was at once, and
I hoped the sight of her would soften
your heart towards me. [ brought her
here myself. l had q key to that little
door from the rose garden, and / knew
the house SO well | kept out of the SER
wants sight very easily. | have been
in here a good many times since you
have been sick. | watched my chance
when you were asleep, and your nurse
either asleep or out of the room. Once
l got your keys, opened drawer, and
took out that little blue dress. I
thought you would certainly guess who
Dada was when you saw that on her.
Her name is not Dada, you know. It
is Hilda, after you. But that is the
nearest she can come to saying it."
You talked just like her when you
were little. Where is that man?"
''Now, mother, don't call him that
man Fred is not very far away, you
may be sure. We live only a few
streets off. When may we come and
see you?''
'.At once. [ forgive him everything
on one condition. You are all to come
and live here with me. [ can't be sepa-
rated from you again. And if he and
are each careful to mind our own
business, we shall be a model mother
and sOn-in-law.