The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-01-04

Anxry ana 1nutXuAUts IOF nc n10 allow.
esl me 10 spend my mornings there for
Two months past, silently went 10 my
oDn room.
And Was sngricr still when not ten
| minutes later his door opened To admit
Miles Griffith. . fellow from the Artist
Club.
And then l was ready TO cry with
Yexation. They had aiwsys peited and
| spoiled me. mOiher and Jack. and let
| me have my own way, 50 that I could
| not bear even this little neglect grace
fully.
And besides we were just engaged.
| and Jack, il seemed to me. wasn't act.
ing Just rs he ought nndsr tho circ,lnS-
4 stances.
At last l was determined 10 b. mean
enough TO listen and hear ii 1 could
what they were talking about 81 earn.
| cstly in tho studio.
| Me, found out al once, for Jack had
just spoken ms name rs | guilty
put my ear to the ksyhole. q dis
graceful thing to do, admit. but as I
mean this 10 be faithful account Of
my birthday. and as really did listen
al the kcyhole, l record IL a#
Il have made great mistake" said
Jack. signing heavily.
couldn't distinguish Mr.. Grihiths'
reply. but !. hushing my breath. heard
JACK say again: .,- s"'-,
'It has always been my nothsr's
| wish. l did il more 20 please her.
suppose. She loves Bird dearly, and
! With dry sob fell forward on the
rug. could not have stirred then had
they opened the door aud saw me there.
HE has found out this early that be
has made mistake. has hep" thought
bitterly when my brain stopped whiri-
ing SO ! could think. 1T ives ouly to
please his mother that he asked me to
become his wife! And TO thiRk be
should reveal his disappointment to
that horrid old Griffith first! o. il was
too humiliating." ....... !.
resolved to release him at once. but
again listened. having dim hope. I
suppose that perhaps my esrs had de-
| ceived me. -,
IF II suits my mothsr--" began
Jack.
That's not the thing" interrupted
Griffith. lyon never would be suited.
| She lacks cNpTeS.ioa and"
Eyes, know --naturalncss-l know
| the faults--for I'm better acquainted
with Birdie than you are. Griffith"
10 be sure sssented Griffith.
Mouth too large; eyes very vacant. I've
noticed. advise you to give u up.
| .I'il take your advice" said Jack
emphstically. and then l rushed to my
| room.
So through Griffith advice" which
Jack seemed so ready to take. my brief
| little romance was to be shattered
! Well, | would never stay and Let = him
see my heart break. too; for fell, sure
/ never could live through this trouble.
SO dear had Jack in the role. Vt Lover
| become to me in few short hours.
And so some way-nOw it all seems
| like vague dream to De-l found
myself wandering aimlessly down a
strange street. not knowing or caring
where my steps tended. Some work
men obstructed the sidewalk and was
| obliged 10 cross the street. 2
remembsra ct stepping down and
advancing few steps. Of hearfnG
hoarse shouts OF warning. feeling .
sudden shrrA. :! .hen all was blank.
When | rctur;:rd 10 consciousness !
was in strange room. everything was
| strange TO me. =.
Where am H." l asked. although
| could see no one What has happen
ed?'
1 You are with friends" laid low
voice near me-. aud turnlas my eyes
| they fell on a Sweet-faced lady not yet
| old, although her hair was nearly
| white. sitting near lie.
How came hcre?' demanded 10
weak. startled voice.
Alter brief consultation with the
woman. evidently the nurse, the lady
decided to explain the siiustiOu.
:iou are weak. but | trust to your
good sense 10 remain calm while l tell
yuu why you are here. About month
ago ,on were crossing tho street and
my husband and I accidentally ran
against aud severely injured you.
There was not hing about you to ideu-
lily YOU. 30 We brought YOU home"
And this was month ago; has
no one been here? Did you adver-
| tiSc:"
No." replied the lady. 1T was re-
ported in the police news. believe. a.
my husband had TO pay large fine for
his carcleSsncSS, bat ! never thought OF
advertising for your friends. lsuppOsed
Ihey would go To the station and then
he directed here. ii you had any 10 the
city,"
IL have uone," said bitterly: II
Was only founding, living upon char
lily all my life. :.
| was reckless. di.t not think how
unnecessary 1t was 70 speak Of my own
history to stranger. >.
| A whole month had lain there and
no one had called. .-.,... :.
And my pale. thin bands showed how
near to deaths door had been. As ]
lay looking at my wasted fingers ! DO
ticed my ring was gone.
Hastily inquired whore It Wa. My
new-found acquaintance blashed. aud
then said:
"Will you allow my husband to talk
with you few momentsp He has your
cameo"
| In few moments q tall. handsome
gentleman accompanied her Into the
room. .....r. .....
Years ago." he began. after apollo
giving for being the cause OF my Ill
ness, and congratulsting me upon my
recovery, Il had pair Of canoes cars.
ed in this city. They were unlike any
thing ever seen here. l had them set
In q pair Of earrings for my wife. One
night our house was robbed by trust
ed servant; the canoes were taken
along with other vsluables"
'.Was anything else tskenf' asked.
sitting upright, forgetting for . mo
ment my weak state. :,
The gentleman strove to control bis
emotion, but his wife was silently weep
ing near the window.
Eyes, our only child" be replied
brokenly. Nov will you tell me
how YOU came BY this cameo, for It Is
the same? To-day took it to the per-
son who carved il for me so long ago.
and he recognized it At once. although
it has been reset. )"
"Was 1t seventeen years ago that
sour child was stolen?" asked eager
y.
Eyes. What do you know Of itP" he
questioned hoarsely. :,
II know that am your child then. >
After had told the story so often 10
peated to me by my mother kaynor
they were perfectly satisfied that BE-
longed to them. and their joy beggars
description.
Their story was that my father had
given his wife Q necklace Of diamonds
and seeing how pleased her baby wa
with it she had shaken the stones be.
fore its eyes, and at last in spirit o.
; fun, clasped it about the child's neck
But she did not understand the fast.