Daily Republican., 1884-07-12

them to this part of Tennessee.
For you see, the father Is dead-cruel
old mani and his immense fortune is
bequeathed to his daughter should she
no longer be living, of course, 1t reverts
10 her child.
Mrs. Tompkins stood listening with
eyes and mouth open while the lawyer
rehearsed the romantic story. She
turned suddenly and her angry glance
fell upon Hester crouching behind the
clump Of shrubbery near, the book
which was 30 obnoxious TO the widow
open upon her knee.
One bound quite forgetful Of the
gentleman's presence). and Mrs. Tomp'
| X ms had Hester by the arm, shaking
her until the girls teeth chartered,
while she administered singing re-
proof.
John Lawrence darted forward and
caught the uplifted arm of the irate
W idow just as her fat hand was coming
down sharply on the girls smooth
| cheek.
His eyes we've fiashiug-his face very
pale.
"Stopl' he commanded. "You
shall not strike that child have al.
ready been informed of your harsh
treatment Of this girl, aud II there is
any Law In this place you shall suffer
Mrs. Tompkins relaxed her grasp up
on the terrified Hester,y who had been
too frightened to resist or defend her
self.
| March straight into the house :"
commanded her task-mistress "there's
churnin' to do, and let me find 1t done
when cOme in -
| Hester raised her clear gray eyes to
the face of her defender.
| Thank you, sir !" she said simp ly |;
and then she was gone.
| After that, somehow, John Lawrence
"a " a great deal of Hester. She grew
to look and long for his companionship,
and as the long, golden summer DAYS
came and went, the little poor. house
girl, quite unobserved by the sharp
eyes Of the widow, was learn ing the
sweet, ga lesson of love. Yet all this
time Mr.. Lawrence labored, under the
delusiOn that Hester was Mrs. Tomp-
kins' orphan niese, whom that lady
had taken charge of as her dependent
and drudge.
One evening, down in the apple or
chard, Johu Lawrence repeate to
Hester " the old, old story"-how she
had grown into his heart, and had be-
come the dearest thipg on earth to him
aud begged her to become his wife.
The girls face grew pale a. death, and
her eyes fell before his passionate gaze.
You cannot mean 1t |" she faltered.
am almost stranger to you, Mr..
Lawrence, and have never yet OK plain
ed my position. am only poor-house
girl. l was found in q miserable attic,
tiny babe, clasped In my dead moth
er's arms. was taken to the country
alms-house, and adopted by Mrs. Tomp-
kins after became old enou yh to work.
That is my history, Mr.. l. wrence. I"
John Lawrence looked surprised.
81 always believed you to be- Mrs.
Tompkin's niece, Hester" he cried,
and that your name"
Is Hester Stanley !" she interpola-
ted" that was the name marked upon
my clothing. l have the articles vet.
also my mothers portrait and some old
letters.'
chester Stanley" cried Mr.. Law
renee incredulously. "Great heavens
can 1t lie possible that you are the girl
for whom have been seeking? If this
can be established, my dear child, you
are one of the wealthiest women in the
State"
And it was established without any
possible doubt before many weeks had
elapsed, much TO the CONSERVATION OF
the wid.''v rompk' Ms. And how happy
Hester VS., for her lover had woed and
won her, believing her to be only the
little aru ,se--Mrs. Tompkins' niece
and never dream ing the romantic truth
tn" wedding took place not long after
ami the newly welded pair went home
, to I'll. Lawrence mansion to live. Blu
! prosperity did not spoil Hester's swee
nature, and to this day, in the midst o
, her fashionable and select circle, she
has never forgotten that she was onc'
the recipient Of charity, and only a
poor-house girl
And Mrs. Tompkins declares that i
~ hadn't been for her the truth would
not have been discovered, and JohI
r Lawrence and Hester would never hav'
; met.