The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-11-06

my old place i'll her favor, though l
heard in the same letter in which she
solemnly commended the portrait to my
care, that she had adopted an orphan
girl in my place as her companion and
probable heiress
I put the letter and POI trait away with
sigh of regret for my old happy home,
with its quiet and freedom from the
daily toll and worry that were now my
portion.
Things went on from bad to worse
with us, and my twenty-second birthday
found me in despair.
Walter, i'll despair, had gone to New
Zealand; Lena had married on n very
slender income, and gone to live in the
North I could not bend to ask help
from Aunt Betsy, and my mother was
i'll and my work so scarce that / could
barely find us in the necessaries of life.
At last. 1 too, became i'll, aud we had
not penny i'll the house everything
we had, even poor mammals engage
ment ring had gone for food
Stella, you must go and get some
money. Mrs Burton says she will have
the rent by to MORROW, or we shall have
to turn out into the street. There is
would You mind, dear?-your Aunt
Betsy's present; you could get enough
for that to keep us for Il long time"
Mamma dear. cannot, dare not sell
it! Anything OF lnine I would not with
hold, b it this-oh, don't ask me"
"And yet the generous donor has
never sent us the price of IL loaf, said
my mother. bitterly "Well, take my
wedding ring; it has never been off my
finger since your poor, dear father put
it on twenty five years ago; but it must
g. now"
"No, no, mamma, you must not, shall
moi, take it off 1 will go and take
aunt's present, not to sell, but to the
pawnshop then I may, perhaps. get it
back when Walter sends us some
money"
With heavy heart and weary tagging
steps, l departed on my hateful Grand
All our things had been sold, we had
preferred to lose them to going into
that last disgraceful refuge of the desti-
tute, q London pawnbroker's
Arrived outside, I paced to and fro
until my lettering limbs, weak from
illness and continual fasting, warned
me that my strength would not hold out
much longer
I entered. Only one other person,
tall, dark gentleman, whose face I
could not see i'll the emi-darkness, stood
there talking TO the shopman.
Il tel you, my man, the plate is here.
It has been traced by n clever detective,
who will join me here in few minutes.
He is only delaying because he thinks
he has traced the thief, and has gone to
follow up the search"
"Well, sir, am sure you are mis-
taken, but my principal will be here in
q few moments, You must talk to him.
What can [ do for you, young woman?"
he asked, turning to me somewhat
eagerly, evidently CAD of an excuse to
evade his unpleasant visitors CONVEX
sation.
Unable to speak, I drew forth my
treasure. The shopkeeper looked sus-
piciously at me as he took it up and
tested it.
"Your name and address, please" he
said, sharply. "And how much do you
WANT"
81 want IA little money, if you
please" I faltered.
As spoke the gentleman turned and
I could feel pair of bright, keen eyes
scanning my pale face. grew more
helplessly confused, my tongue refused
to utter word.
"Tell the shopman how much you
want, and your name, my good girl, he
said in kind and plying tone"
Then, for the first time, I raised my
eyes to his face, feeling that 1 had found
friend. Merciful Heaven! was dream
ing, or had my late troubles driven
reason from my brain, and filed it with
delusive fancies.
Surely there stood the original of
Aunt Betsy's portrait, but young and
stalwart as he had been forty years
ago, when it was taken.
In vain 1 tried to speak. I could