The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-03-12

ness of his heart cursed his cruel fate,
which ever seemed to mock him with
vain hopes of happiness. Presently the |
unhappy mother recovered from her
swoon, and awoke 10 the full sense OF
her msfortunes. The Colonel utterly
failed to console her; indeed, his own |
despair was too evident to permit him to
inspire either nope or comfort.
"But perhaps he is found by this
time," he said
"No, non' moaned his wife; "they
would have telegraphed. | shall never
see him again :"
On the misery of the return Journey
the journey to which the Colonel and his
wife had looked forward SO eagerly for
years-it is needless to dwell. In six
weeks time they were in England, and
had learnt all there was to hear of their
loss.
Not the smallest trace had been found
of the child and nurse, except that the
detectives were practically certain that
they had gone to London, and there dis
appeared utterly.
What had induced the woman to take
tins extraordinary step, Doctor and Mrs.
Bradley utterly failed to imagine. She
had always been a steady, honest girl,
and the mystery was beyond their com
prehension. So, with a mighty effort,
the poor Colonel forgave lis friends, and
settled down into life spent in unre-
hitting, toilsome, and ever tantalizing
search for the lost child He spared
neither money nor trouble in the one
object Of his existence. He searched
every work-hOuse, hospital, intirmary,
and school in London, until his eyes
were weary and his heart sick with dis
app United longing. He made truitless
journeys all over England in search OF
tanced resemblance, or led by the plaus-
lhlt tale Of an impostor. And after a
YEAR so spent, he was forced to confess to
himself that his chance of success grew
more and more remote.
Mrs. Poland's health had somewhat
improved by the change of climate, but
she, too, had small pleasure in life, SO
long as her son could not be found.
The Colonies relatives laughed at him
behind his back for his apparently use
less persistence.
''Of course the little beggar's dead"
remarked 10 his friends young Martin
Poland, who, by the way, was the Colo
ners presumptive heir ale always
was weakly brat. just imagine spend
ING your lie IN running about from Pop
lar to Seven Dials, and from Lands End
to John o Groats, to see every child in
the Kingdom who happens to have light
hair and blue eyes, It's positively irri-
tating to see the head of the family make
such an idiot of himself"
at would be rather awkward for you,
too, if the child is found" suggested
malicious old gentleman. whose mission
IN life was to rub people the wrong way
"Oh, | should be too delighted :" re-
piled Martin: "but | am afraid the old
Colonel Will be imposed upon, you know,
and adopt some scrap of humanity that
does not belong to him.
In spite, however, of such sneers,
Colonel Poland and his wife hoped
against hope, and took a somewhat
melancholy pleasure in doing all they
could to relieve the wretchedness of the
poor little gutter children whom they
found in work houses and hospitals, and
even in the streets
Christmas was drawing near, and the
Colonel, according to his custom, was
lqIl .I ol oeneEolehV pans lor 'ne welfare
" tiiFse Nd'lS ana slral7 Oh liidhI hu-
mainly one gay al announcement caught
his eye that certain paper proposed to
raise fund for providing toys for
Christmas presents for these children.
"A splendid idea" cried the worthy
man. an send them subscription at
once ana wen go around TO the SHOPS,
pe'nie' anu puY soihe Toys loi thelh,
100;
ms ""7 tdEcilS dSsehIed' ana thtl
spent al allelHooh ana good many
SoNtfeiSiS III guy my such an assortment
DIS lnel ltil convinced would 40 much 10
itleFe tne HilselS Vi many lllehNltSS
NIUE SultItr'
by the way, SAD MIS- Poland, ~
see tlld' lhere IS d competition lor the
ooot NUM- "ld"e 10Y l uStu 70 ne
ld1lef cleNtI al thaI sort Oh lnlhg-
lht lllo.heI VOICE idIIeu heF' aS she
thought Vi Tue loSt earning whose e'gelIN
eAPtt'aHu race ildu uohe 50 hucn 10 IN
SItIt iitI CitAleIlt9'
Inc C"iohei pressed her ann III mute
= IIIl,"'hY' allo saiu
no. GEAR II VIII be nice occupation
Io[ you
lhey spent d Sood part OF the evening
~ deelulhg what form the proposed toy
Shou,d take
w NAT 40 you say 10 d"Ils house Z?
ASKED ATS roland' AFTER several other
Suggestions mao oeeh discalded as I'M
p I maze; you Know as moe!
""ul' ne ullIlcull:
"Capltal, my dear you must set to
WORK at once ana Il heIp you.
20 the bungalow was dnly begun, ana
III uue TIME was llnlshed on to adnlra-
Iioh. MIS- folaho was really sorry when
inc moment came To part with 1t; the
Ntei aho oltlef memories II called up,
alihou5n they cost hel many tears, seem
ed TO llit her out OF her terrible sorrow,
ahd' Wonan-llhe, sne TOOK a sad pleas
are III reproducing IN immature, the
mousse where she had endured SO much
misery Inc llttle model seemed to bring
l-ei nearer her iost BOY, ana she loved 1t
almost ds lilehd'
II wonder VINO VIII get the bungalow?'
she sald 70 the Colonel, when the dolls
mousse had been duly packed and sent off
10 us destination.
II ID AFRAID can say, my dear" an
s"ered heT husband, but | believe we
j