The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-07-31

voicelcss benediolion, upon a clay.clad
form, and upon a motherless girl alone
with it and her sorrow..
At first the desolute child-for Ma
bel was but fourteen-was conscious
only of her bereavement. But soon
came a thought which brought with it
such keen pain that it aroused her to
instant action. Her darling mother
must not be laid away to rest in the
Potter's Field.
She would 60 to the kind old gen.
tleman who had given her the flowers.
and ask him for help in this trying
hour which had come to her young
life. She found him al home.
"Oh, sir" she said piteously, "my
mother is lying cold and still, with all
the sweet life gone out of her beauti-
full body You are kind and rich. /
know it is a great deal to ask, but if
you keep them from laying her in a
charity grave | will pay back every
penny you spend.
The pleading, tear-staned face, the
childish yet womanly ways of the self
reliant little creature, thus pledged to
fulfill duty which woull entail long
hours of labor and days of anchorite
abstinence before it could be accom-
plishcd, touched a chord in Randolph
Gwinne's heart.
$50 home, little one he said gent
ly, "and mourn your dead. DO not
fear; | will see that all heedful ar.
rangements are attended TO-"
After all was over, Mabel settled
down again to her monotonous routine
of work. Every week she scrupulous.
ly laid aside portion of her earnings
and carried them to Mr.. Gwinne, who
took them from her with apparent in.
difference.
The child had made a contract with
him, and out of respect to her the man
of business carried il out to the letter.
AT last the final payment was made.
AS Mabel turned to 60, after thanking
her benefactor, his voice recalled her
to his side
'Little Mabel" he said, 81 have
been an interested spectator of your
manner of life since you and made
our bargain. have seen your cheeks
grow pale for want of the food you
persisted in denying yourself, that you
might bring your weekly hoard TO me,
and / wondered if one so young would
be able to carry out so high a resolve.
You have succeeded and all your life
long you will have it to remember
Now, your part is done, and mine be-
gins. aive me your hand, my child,
for Randolph Gwinne respects you.
More than that, he loves you well
enough to ask you to become his
adopted daughter. Come and make
your home with me. You shall have ev-
cry advantage that bountiful means can
provide. You will have no objections,
Chauncey, my boy, will you 7" as his
grandson came into the room.
A few words explained his meaning,
and Chauncey turned his handsome
eyes indifferently toward the hesitating
girl. 1t was not the first time they
had met-as Mabel was conscious in
every fibre of her sensitive being, but
Chauncey did not remember her.
So the careless but good -natured 'of
course, grandfather, one more or less
does not matter in this great house."
sank deep into Mabel's memory; to
rise again to the surface and influence
her future long after Chauncey had
forgotten them.
So it was that Mabel was domiciled
at the Gwinnes. A governess was en-.
gagged for her, and music and painting
lessons soon occupied the time not en-
gagged in her studies. Thus u year
passed on.
One morning the daily paper was
brought as usual to Mr.. Gwinne, as he
was sitting at the breakfast table, sip
ping coffee.
Suddenly an exclamation from him
arrested Mabel's attention.
HR had read notice asking for
the knowledge of the Whereabouts of
one Rachel Freeland, whose married
name was Wynne. Her only surviving
parent had died, and she, if living, was
sole heiress to large fortune; if dead,
her children would inherit.
"Well remember poor Rachel"
said Mr.. Gwinne musingly. "She was
the handsomest girl ever saw. She
gave up all for love, and made clan
destine marriage with man of whom
her parents disapproved. l wonder if
she is aliven'
Mabel rose from the table, and went
to Mr.. Gwinne. She was very pale,
but her eyes shone with excitement
"Rachel Freeland was my mothers
maiden name. Oh, my kind benefac-
tor, how little you knew whose child
it was you were befriending! But for
you she would be sleeping in name
less gravew
Truly, the ways of God are mys.
terious !" said the kind-hearted old
gentleman, taking off his spectacles
to wipe away the sudden mist that
blurred them.
Mabel had no difficulty iE proving
her claim, as her parents marriage GER
tifcate was found among some papers
slowed away in the chest. So the Or
phan waif adopted by Randolph was
now independently wealthy in her own
right.
Mabel was now fifteen. She had
not changed much in personal appear
ance during the year of.her stay at
the Gwinnes'. She was still slight
and rather undersized. Her complex
ion was rather sallow, and though her
features were regular, she was undeni-
ably plain. Her luxuriant shining
hair and lustrous eyes, were, however,
sufficient to redeem her from positive
ugliness.
Chauncey was still student, coming
home only for his college vacations,
and then burying himself in his be-
loved books, so that he was visible only
at meal times.
Suddenly Mr.. Gwinnes health
failed, and he was ordered abroad
Mabel and Miss Clay, her governess,
accompanied him. They remained
away from home three years,
Then word came to Chauncey they
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