Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-06-08
"Yes Did you know him 2"
nI did What henama of him

IuTcu uiS shull. L tOOh lut lltllt = d
in out of kindness.
You don't seem to want her much
Give her to me-"
You'll pay me somethin' for the
brat, won't you?" asked the woman
I advancing with disagreeab!e leer;
'she's of use to me, you know, and
I'll lose by lettin' you have her fol
nothiD'; what'll yer give?"
"Wh do you say, Nell?" | asked
"will you 90 home with me and be
my little sister,"
will | be happy there?"
"You will, if it is in my power TO
make you So"
"And sell no more matches?"
NO, indeed"
Then I'll go"
| thrust bank note into the wo.
mans extended hand, and with my
protegee hurriedly left the house
Il am your brother now, Nell," l
said, as I again deposited ber in the
carriage, and directed the driver to
proceed to my hotel; you must call
me brother Charley"
Brother Charley" she repeated;
chow funny it sounds" and she fixed
her great brown eyes upon my face,
with that searching look SO common
among children when they are trying
to ascertain the true characters of
those around them. "Brother Char
ley" she repeated; "it's so strange
| never bad brother before!"
On arriving at the hotel, | gave the
little match -vender in charge of the
housekeeper, with instructions to pro-
cure for her every thing she needed in
the way of attire, and requested her
to effect general renovation as speed
lily as possible.
A few days aiterward we left for
home My little charge was instant.
ly taken possession of By my mother
who gave it, as her opinion, that Mel
ly was perfect beauty; though we
must not tell her so, Charley" she
added. at would make her vain"
Without loss Of time I dispatched
letter to the father of Alice, request
ing him to call at my house, as | had
something of the greatest Importance
to tell him. He soon came.
"Mr. Armor," | began, "your
daughter Alice"
my daughter" he fercely inter-
rupted. ri have no daughter. | had
one once, but-she left me-"
Listen" | said, and / repeated to
him the story of the match vender.
His iron will melted in the fire of
afiliction; the strong man wept.
Shall | bring in the child?" l
asked.
He assented. and in moment |
presented her to him.
This is your grandpa, Nelly" l
said.
"Come !" he exclaimed, extending
his arms. while his countenance ex.
pressed the bitterest remorse, "let me
by my treatment Of you make some
slight atonement for my harshness
to Alice. You must go home with
me, Nell" tenderly caressing her lux
uriant tresses.
"CouldL't do it," was the reply;
brother Charley found me. | be-
long to him-Don't |. Char"
stopped her mouth with kiss AS
as | answered.:
81 have no right to keep you here,
darling, in opposition to your grand
pas wishes"
"Then I'll 60 with him although |
don't like to leave you all"
Mr.. Armor had the remains of his
daughter removed from their resting
place among the paupers' graves and
deposited in the family burying-
ground, marking the spot with plain
white marble slab.
l was sitting before the fire, one
December morning, in one of the
front parlors which | had taken pos
session Of for Office purposes. and was
awaiting my regular hour for com
mencing my rounds among my pa
tients. | held the poker in my hand,
and carelessly drummed upon the
crate, keeping time to a verse Of an
old song | was humming:
"Oh, don't you remember sweet Alice, Ben
Bolt ?
Sweet Alice, so kind and 80 true
when | was aroused from my reverie
by the sounds of a carriage as it drove
up and stopped before the house The
moment after, the door-bell was rung
loudly. / arose and sauntered to the
window, just in time to see foutman
in gray livery close the door Of
handsome carriage drawn by pair
of splendid black horses. My visi-
tors were already at the door.
1.-TWO friends!" announced the SER
want; and Harry Kimbro. accompani-
ed by Alice, about whom | had just
been singing, presented themselves
TO my astonlshed gaze.
How are you, old boy" exclaim-
ed the former, as be grasped my hand
and shook it warmly. 81 hope it is
hob wv inJc w ICbuh'C jill OIu dCIuulu-
tanceship?"
Alice extended her hand, and |
took it mechanically, all the while
staring in open-mouthed amazement.
Had the skeleton which hung behind
the closet door quietly unlocked him.
self from the nail and danced iy,
could not haye been more surpris-
ed.
Harry Kimbro," / said, at last
finding my tongue, 81 heard that you
had gone home late one night. stupe-
fed with liquor. and bad killed your
self by falling down stairs!"
"What ridiculous story Upon
my word, Charley, was not aware
than you had beaome insane during
my absenceW
And you" 1 said, turning TO
Alice. 81 was informed that you had
died, all alone, in q tenement.hous IN
New York"
81 declare" she laughed, II am
almost willing to agree with Harry
in considering you demented."
"Who sleeps, then, in the church
yard, il you are alive and welli Does
the stone that bears the name Of Alice
Armor lie 2"
Come, old fellow, this il rather n
poor way to treat friends whom you