St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-22

gently, yet with such good authority, or
dered to be quiet, that l was glad to obey, so
lay still enjoying the sensation OF being
able not even to think. In day or two
grew stronger, and one morning to my de-
light my mother came in, and l had leave
given me to talk little.
Then I heard all about my late adyen-
ture.
cit is really a most wonderful event, my
dear, and reads like chapter out OF three
volume novel; said my mother, who, by the
way, looked quite bright and strong again
''When you lell down in faint, you let fall
the envelope in which you had carried the
miniature, and the gentleman who was in
the shop"
IT remember him, mamma" cried ex-
citedly. 'He was the very image OF the
portrait. I fanced I must be dreaming"
''That is the strangest part OF the story,
but YOU won't let me tell it to you properly
my dear. That gentleman saw your name
and address, brought you home in cab,
sent in nurse, and everything weIwanted,
and has been our good angel ever since.
He is Arthur Rashleigh, the only son of your
Aunt Betsy's old lover, who, after mourning
the supposed faithlessnes of his old love,
married late in life, and has not long been
dead. leaving Arthur large fortune. His
establishment at seeing you with his fathers
portrait, you may be sure was very great.
However, it was a very lucky thing for us;
after all, Aunt Betsy's present was not such
poor one. By the way, here it is; Mr..
Rashleigh was kind enough to bring it back
with him.
There was one thing which did not appear
to concern my mother in the least. but made
my pale face fame, and that was the idea oil
receiving these benefits from mere stranger
upon whom we had not the slightest claim,
unless the fact that his father, forty years be-
fore, had bee1fmy aunt's lover, could be con-
sisered one.
So made up an eloquent speech in which
thanked him warmly for all his goodness,
and delicately yet firmly conveyed the in
| formation that intended to fully repay him
as soon as 7 could get to work again.
But carefully asI rehearsed it, that elo-
quent speech was never uttered, nor did L
wonder at my mothers willingness to receive
benefits from him, when once l had seen
and talked with him. He was so lonely, ne
said, he had not single friend or relative in
England, and man-servant, whom he had
treated with kindness and confidence, had
Just robbed him of some valuable old family
plate which his father had thought highly OF,
and had carried with him in all his wander
ings.
For me-may l confess it without shame?
the grateful interest felt in him soon
grew into love, and, all, happy as my life has
been since, can l ever forget that happy
evening, when walking home from the thea
tire, whittier he had taken me, he told me
that he loved me dearly, and asked me to be
his wife.
"But II am poor, am not pretty, and
am so old" 1 pleaded, fearing to accept this
sweet new happiness, and mindful OF Lena's
depreciation of my personal appearance, age,
etc.
Arthur laughed and drew my arm closerin
his.
eff you are too old for marriage at two
and-twenty, how may I hope with six more
years added on, ever to enter that bliss
full statel" he asked.
So | said yes, and soon after, we all
went down to Aunt Betsy's, and there L
was married at the little village church, to
the son of her old lover, who loved and
reverenced the queer touchy old maid not
a little, for her loyal devotion to his father.
So Aunt Betsy's present saved my dear
mothers life, aud also saved me from
the dreadful fate Lena had threatened me
with. 1 had it made into locket, and L
wear it constantly. 1t Is generally mistak
en- for the portrait of my dear husband, SO is
the large oil-painting of his father which
hangs in our drawing-room, from which
this miniature was copied.
We are very happy, and when my brother
Walter comes home, as we expect him to
do with his new bride, next Christmas, we
shall have a wonderful story to tell him OF
that same present which he and Lena
thought so little of.