The Wilmingtonian., 1885-11-07
Vsl taiatka-'ssss and his

years before had frightened the old home
stead with her presence. When he was
suddenly aroused from his reverie by shrill
scream of terror, s.of child in distress,
and turning his head quickly in the direc-
ton from whence the sound came, he saw to
his astonishment a little boy hanging by
his skirts from one of the lower limbs of a
neighboring tree, from which he was trying
in vain to extricate himself for every mo-
ment seemed to entangle him the more, and
to bring his face iuto closer contact with the
rough branches. Reginald quickly spraDg
to his feet, ran to the tree, and catching the
frightened child i'll his arms soon had him
safely landed on ''Terra Firma" with the
exclamation "There my little man and now
tell me your name," and how you came to
get into the tree" ''NIe lose mama.-mama
done to seep' replied the child, bright
little fellow of perhaps two summers, but
whose little pinched face and threadbare
garments denoted poverty and want. Regi-
nald got nothing definite from the child
but Judging from his manner that some
thing was amiss, and feeling strong in
terest in the little one he bade him to take
him to his mamma with the promise of re-
ward should they find her. They started
out, and after walking for some timeiRegi-
nald was about to give up his search in des-
pair, when upon taking "a short cut across
what was generally called Despair Thicket
ESQ close did the weeds and bushes interlace
each other) they suddenly came upon the
recumbent form of Il woman. Beautiful,
she must once have been for her brown hair
had become loosened, and layed in damp
wavy masses over the moss-grown rock
were her head rested. The face turned
slightly to one side was pale and emaciatad,
and the form was wasted almost to skele-
ton. Reginald stopped down to raise the
helpless figure, when, to his horror, and
amazement he recognized in this poor faint
ing creature, the well-beloved and familiar
features OF his cousin Nellie, the daughter
that his uncle had so cruelty disowned, and
the subject of his own thoughts, but few
hours before. "Mamma wake up german
wants to thee you" lisped the little fellow
at his side, "mama leth go to grampa." 1t
was but the work of a few moments to lift
the slight, unconscious figure and to bear it
to a cottage near by where he placed it in
charge of the kind hearted mistress who
promised to do all in her power to restore
poor Nellie to consciousness, and to take
good care of her. Having placed some mon
ey in the hands of the woman, and promis-
ing to send physician and all necessary
comforts for the invalid in a short time,
Reginald again took little Walter (for this
was the child's name) by tie hand, ant
once more set out for his uncle's residence
Old Mr.. Merrhew was in the library,a large
room in the east end OF the building seated
in the Gavorite leather covered easy chair
books and papers lying in profusion al
around him. He was deeply wrapt il
thought when his nephew entered the room
with the little boy. He was linking of hii
child, his bright-eyed Nellie, once the prid'
of his heart and home, and ever aud anon a
tear stole down his cheek, as tue remors
filled his heart, that ever comes from
guilty conscience. He was thinking too o
his own young wife who on her death-b bet
had bade him be always kind and tender t.
their darling. How had he fulfilled TIA
trust. Where was she now, their preciou