The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-10-10

StItN IL III Ol lilt IOthS. w Iidb
became of her crew and passengers could
not be ascertained; but it was supposed
that they had been washed overheard and
lost.
But now, all eyes are turned toward the
incoming boat VIII it reach the shore
No. There it plunges into the sea. All
there it is again, on the summit of an
enormous wave! Nearer it comes, now
only a short distance from the land Hur-
rah! 1t is safe.
The good people Immediately crowded
around the boat, but the first to reach it
was Mabel. Poor, orphaned heart-sick
seen both her father and lover hurled into
eternity,
Quickly grasping the bundle which
they had seen one of the departed loved
in which it was wrapped, and with cry
of surprise, disclosed to view sweet sleep
ing babe.
Many were the hearts and homes opened
begged that she might be allowed to keep
it until some traces of its identity could be
found.
II will keep it." she said until we find
its relatives, and if that never happens, she
shall always be to me sister"
Nothing about the child gave any clue
as to whom it belonged, the only character
of any kind being the name, Laura
Devereau" worked on one of the child's
garments. So it was decided that she
should be Mabel's charge.
=
Six years have passed since the events
above related. A tall handsome man
arrives at the solitary inn of which Zane
Vile can boast, and curiosity runs high
among the denizens as to whom he may be
for visitors are few, unless such fishermen
as have occasion to come on business
from the neighboring towns can be called
visitors.
He appeared to have naught to occupy
his time except to walk leisurely through
the streets of the village, stand listlessly
gazing at the sea from the shore. or sit for
hours on the stoop of the inn, languidly
gazing at the passers by and showing an
especial interest in children.
His habit of Watching the people, led
some to surmise that he was a detective
from one of the cities, and was working
up a case, and from this he received the
sobriquet of ''the Detective"
After breakfast, one morning, Mabel, in
company with Laura, strolled down to the
beach, to watch tile waves as they surged
to and fro, for she never tired of gazing at
the place where she had last seen her father
and Harry.
While thus engaged, and absorbed in
her own sweet, sad thoughts, Laura wan
dered along the strand until she reached a
rock which sloped from the ground at the
back, until it reached an altitude of some
ten feet and the front of which was per-
pendicular descent to the water
Up this gradually sloping back she
climbed until she reached the summit;
then, for the first time, noticing her eleva-
ton, she called out:
''Sister Mabel, see how high l ami and
i'll her glee, she clapped her tiny hands, and
not knowing her danger, gradually stepped
closer to the edge; and, as Mabel, starting
from her reverie, turned to look, her heart
sickened as she saw her darling percipitated
over the edge of the rock into the deep
waters, and uttering a terrified shrek, she
fell senseless to the ground.
When she revived, few minutes LATER
''the Detective stood solicitously bending
over her. ''Where is Laura ~ she eagerly
inquired
''Safe,' responded the gentleman. II
was witness, from the other side of the
cliff, to the whole affair, and jumped into
the water, and brought her to the shore,
alive and well. but trifle wetted and
frightened. She is now at yonder cottage"
'.Oh, how can sufficiently thank you?"
said Mabel gratefully.
''There is something of much more i'm
portance to be considered now, he said;
you must be cared for, or you will be sick. "
So saying, he took her arm and led her
towards the house he had pointed out.
Pardon me, but may ask your name,
and if the little child is yours ?"
Il am Mabel Gray, and Laura is my
adopted sister, ;" said Mabel. MAY know
to whom | am indebted for the rescue of
my precious Laura?''
MY name, Miss Gray, is Fred Devereau,
from Paris, France. have come to this
place because six years ago the ship on
which my wife and only child-a little girl
babe-sailed was wrecked off this coast. /
afterward was informed by a sailor who
escaped the fate of the rest of the crew,
and returned to Paris, that my child was
saved. but could not accredit it as being
true that it should have been saved and all
the rest lost And now, though do not
expect to find my child, love to spend the
time, at least, near where my wife was
lost"
''Mabel's face blanched with fear at this
recital of that sad, sad story. She knew
That this man, 1.-THE Detective" must be
her daring's father, for his name and that
found ON the garment which the child wore
when she first saw it, were SO truly identi-