The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-10-03


who she was and who had sent her
there but presently, seeing her
stir the fire into a blaze, forgot
her caution, as all my old anxieties
came back, and l raid pleadingly
Don't poke the fire, please. 1t
will burn out too quickly, and we
have no more Goals"
"Oh, now, miss, you have been
dreaming. The cellar is nearly full
the Goals only came in last week"
Again l essayed to answer, but
was so gently, yet with such author
ity ordered to be quiet, that | was
glad to obey, so l lay still enjoying
the sensation of being NOT able to
think. In day or two l grew
stronger, and one morning to my
delight, my mother came in, ond l
had leave given me to talk little.
Then l heard all about my late
adventure.
1t was really a most wonderful
event, my dear, and reads like
chapter out of three-volume nov
ell" said my mother, who, by the
way, looked quite bright and strong
again. "When you fell down in a
faint, you let fall the envelope in
which you had carried the minia-
ture, and the gentleman who was in
theshop-"
81 remember him, mamma l
cried, excitedly, che was the very
image of the portrait, l fancied l
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 gen.
tleman saw your name and address,
brought you home in a cab, sent in
a nurse, and everything we wanted,
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 faithlessness of his old
love, married late in life, and
has not long been dead, leaving
Arthur large fortune. His aston
ishment at seeing you with his
fathers portrait, you may be sure
was very great. However, it was q
very lucky thing for us after all
Aunt Betsy's present was not such
a poor one. By the way, here it is
Mr.. Rashleigh was kind enough tC
bring it back with him"
There was one thing which die
not appear to concern my mothe'
in the least; but made my pale fac
flame, and that was the idea of re
ceiving all these benefits from
mere stranger, upon whom we hat
not the slightest claim, unless tn
fact that his father, forty years age
had been my aunt's lover, could b
considered one.
So l made up an eloquent speec
in which thanked him warml
for his goodness, and delicately We
firmly conveyed the information
that l intended to repay him a
soon as | could get to work again.
But carefully as | rehearsed
that eloquentsp speech was never Il
tered, nor did | wonder at m
mothers willingness to receive bel
efts from him. He was so lionel!
he said, he had not a friend or rel
tive in England, and a man servar
whom he had treated with kindne
and confidence, had just robbie
him of some valuable old famil
plate which his father had thong
highly Of, and carried with him
all his wanderings,
For me-may ! confess it wit
out shame-the grateful interest
felt in him soon grew into love, an
ali, happy as my life has been sin
can ever forget that happy eve
ing, when walking home from t
theatre, whittier he taken me,
told me that he loved me deal
and asked me that to be his wifi
"But II am poor, l am not pr
ty, and l am so old !" l plead
fearing to accept this sweet n
happiness, and mindful of Len
depreciation of my personal appe
ance, age, etc.
Arthur laughed and drew
arm closer in his.
eff you are too old for MARI
at twenty-five, how may / h
with six more years added on, c
to enter that blissful state p he 6
ed.
So l said yes, and soon after,
all went to Aunt Betsy's, and Il
/ was married at the little will
church, to the son of her old 10
who loved and rcverenccd the q
touchy old maid not a little for
loyal devotion to his father.
So Aunt Betsy's present sa