The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-03-29

with tales Of my deprivations, not
knowing how the gentle presence COM
forted me, Iwould find Lima curled up
III my chair with book open before her
reading by the freight, but with traces
OF tears on her face. She was ever
eager to do me service. l could not
bear the thought of sending her to
school, so l taught her in what leisure
time could command. And while
could give her little beyond the bro
therly care and protection had prom
ised her mother, l advertised for her
relatives that might come any day and
snatch her from me. 1 tried to hope,
for Lina's sake, that they would soon
come to give her a luxurious home, but
/ knew my life would be sadly lonely,
missing her. When she would draw
low seat to my side, rest her golden
head of curls upon my knee, lift her
soft, brown eyes to mine and talk in
her low, sweet voice, was conscious
of serene peace, such as my lonely
life had seldom known. l loved her
very, very dearly, and was all she had
to love. So we two, man and child,
passed through the long winter, quietly
happy in being together. Spring had
come, when / was summoned hastily to
a railroad accident. One of the first
who demanded my care was an old
chum of mine. More than once 1 had
thought of him in the long winter just
passed, but had no clue to his where
abouts. When my painful duties were
over, returned to the low cot bed
upon which he lay, and asked hun
something of his life, since our parting
six years previous.
''Ahl" he said, "there have been
many changes, old fellow. My father is
dead, 1 am married and have two baby
boys"
"And where is your home,"
''It will be in N, but have been
in this county but a few months. To tell
the truth, am here upOn an errand at
once sad and hopeful"
''What is that?"
''It is long story. l had a sister
whom L loved very fondly, and who was
with my father when / went abroad,
twelve years ago. Soon after my de
parture she married a scamp, a thor.
oughly bad man, who hoped to finger
her Inheritance. You know what wo.
men are. The mole my father opposed
the match, the more closely Caroline
clung to the lover who was all perfect
in her eyes, In spite of all entreaty
all opposition, she married him, making
a runaway match at length. My Iatnel
threw her off, and after few month";
of angry solitude in his old home, JOINED
me In Paris. l wrote to Caroline, bu
never received any answer. When m!
father died less than year ago, he re
pented his harshness to his only daugh
ter. He would not alter his will. tina
left me wealthy man and my sister I
beggar, but he begged of me to find he
and divide. the inheritance. L haC
made my home in Paris and married ;
French lady, SO that l could not a
once leave that city and take possession
of my home in N, and my father
property. But as soon as l could
came to England. One Of the frs
newspapers opened advertised for m
or my father, in my sisters name, an,
begged me to send my address to thi
place. l only waited to establish m
family in their new home and cam
here"
"Seeking Caroline RiversP"
"Ahl you know?"
eyes, for the advertisement is mine.
Then told him of his sisters death
and where he would find his niece.
81 have your sisters marriage cert
ficate, that of her husbands death, an
Lina's birth, and some few inexpenslv
trinkets she said that you would recot
nize.''
l cannot dwell upon it. My Iittl
household fairy drifted out of my lif
again, leaving blank darkness nothin
would tighten. Her uncle was onl
: slightly hurt, and in less than a wee
was journeying back to N, carryin
Lima to the ideal home l had often in
! agined for her. Even Martha wa
: sorry when she was gone. In the seve
[ years that followed l rose in my pre-
Y fession by dint of hard work and stud.
: 1t was uphill work, but neared the to
/, by steady application, and was alread
I in easy circumstances, when fell he
I to a moderate fortune. Not a vast e
}. tate, but sufficient for ease from pecul
:. iary care for a lifetime. Soon aft,
d this came to me, u letter reached N
It home from my old friend, Gordon Wa
y ters. We had never corresponded, bl
n he wrote-"Lina is quite i'll, with Il
same disease, think, of which po'
1t Caroline died. We have had the be
l. advice for her, but she fancies that yo
and you alone, can cure her. Can yc
y come and try your skill for her? 1t
/ useless for me to tell you how profour
will be our gratitude if you can he
2 her,"
it had been theory of mine that th
= same disease 1 always considers
incurable could be eradicated fro
the system if taken in time. Its i
roads were made so gradually that, as
~ rule, the patient applied for relief on
when it was too late.
y Never can forget the expression
y y the pale face when 1 first stood besi
~ her. A thrill Of joy unutterable fill
my heart when read there certain
10 that had been held in loving remei
h' brance during all the long years of Sc
81 aratlon. In our many long talks
a