Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-01-29
Just as he ought, under the circum-

cQOu2u W llbDcu, auO ucoI, IA OOuiN
what they were talking aboutso earnestl
in the studio.
Me, found out at once, for Jack ha
ust spoken my name as 1 guiltily put m
ear to the keyhole. "a disgraceful thin
to do, admit, bus as l mean this to be
faithful account of my birthday, and q
really did listen at the keyhole, 1 e
ord it,
II hsve made great mistake" sail
Jack, signing heavily.
81 couldn't distinguish Mr.. Griffith
reply, but /, hushing my breath, heart
Jack say again.
at has always been my mothers wish
l did it more to please her, l suppose
She loves Bird dearly, and"
with dry sob fell forward on thu
rug. / could not have moved then, hat
they opened the door, and seen me
there.
"He has found out this early that hi
has made a mistake, has he?" though
bitterly, when my brain stopped wnirl
ing so l could think. ut was only te
please mother that he asked me to be
come his wife! And to think he should
reveal his disappointment to that hor
rid old Griffith first. o, it was too humil
iating"
l resolved to release him at once, but
again listened, having dim hope,
suppose, that perhaps my ears had de-
ceived me.
IF it suits my mother" began Jack
"That's not the thing" interrupted
Griffith. "You never would be suited
She lacks expression, and"
yes, l knOw-naturalness-1 know
the faults-fOr I'm better acquainted
with Birdie than you are, Griffith"
"To be sure" assented Griffith. "MOuth
too large; eyes very vacant, Eve noticed.
l advise you to give it up"
"I'il take your advice" said Jack, en-
phatically-and then / rushed to my
room.
So, through "GrifIith's advice" which
Jack seemed SO ready to take, my brief
little romance was to be shattered. Well,
l could never stay and let him see my
heart break too; for | felt sure l never
could live through this trouble, SO dear
had Jack, in the role of lover, become to
me in lew short hours.
And so, some way-now 1t all seems
like a vague dream to me- found N.Y.
self wandering aimlessly down strange
street. not knowing or caring where my
footsteps tended. Some workmen OBJ.
structed the sidewalk, and l was obliged
to cross the street.
l remember of stepping down and ad-
vancing a few steps, OF hearing hOarse
shouts of warning, feeling a sudden
shock, and then all was blank.
When l returned to consciousness, l
was in strange room-everythIng was
strange to me.
"Where am II" l asked, althoue h l
could see no one. What has hap
pened?"
you are with friends, said a low voice
near me, and turning my eyes, they fell
on a sweet-iaced lady, not yet old, al
though her hair was nearly white, sitting
near me.
"How came l here?" demanded, in a
weak, startled voice.
After brief consultation with wo-
man, evidently the nurse, the lady de-
cided 10 explain the situation.
"YOu are weak, but l trust to your
good sense to remain calm while l tell
you why you are here. About a month
ago you were crossing the street, and my
husband and l acc dentally ran against
and severely injured you. There was
nothing to identify you, and so We
brought you home"
"And this was month ago; has no
one been here? Did you advertiser?
"No." replied the lady. at was re-
ported in the police news, l believe, as
my husband had to pay large fine for
his carelessness; but never thought of
for your friends. l supposed
they would 90 to the station, and then
be directed here, if you had any in the
CITY,"
II have none," 1 said, bitterly. 81 was
only founding, living upon charity all
my life"
Twas reckless. Ibid not think how
unnecessary it was to speak of my own
history to stranger.
A whole month had lain there, and
no one had called.
And my pale thin hands showed how
near to Deaths door had been. AS l
lay looking at my wasted fingers, l no.
ticed that my ring was gone.
Hastily inquired where it was. My
new found acquaintance blushed, and
then said:
evil you allow my husband to talk
with you few moments? He has your
cameo"
In few moments a tall, handsome
gentleman accompanied her into the
room.
"Years ago." he began, after apologize
ing for being the cause of my illness,
and congratulating me upon my re-
covery. had pair of canoes carved
in this city. They were unlike any
thing ever seen here. had them set in
a pair of earrings for my wife. One night
our house was robbed by trusted SER
want: the canoes were taken, along with
other valuables."
WAS anything else taken?" asked,
sitting upright, and forgetting fora mo-
ment my weak state.
"Yes, our only child" he replied,
brokenly. "Now, will you tell me how
you came by this cameo, for it is the
same? to-day took it to the person
who carved it for me so long ago, and he
recognized it at once, although it has
been reset"
"Was it seventeen years ago that your
child was stolen?" asked, eagerly.
eyes. What do you know" he
questioned, hoarsely.
81 know that l am your child, then"
And after had told the story so often
to me by my mother Rsynor
they were perfectly satisfied that l be-
longed to them, and their joy beggars
description.
Their story was that my father had
given his wife a necklace of diamonds,
and seeing how pleased her baby was
with it, she had shaken the stones be-
fore its eyes, and at last, in spirit of
fun, clasped it about the child's neck.
But she did not understand the fasten-
ing, and as her husband was away from
home, and she could not get the short
-ola oxzo. tho child1a hoad bo uras