The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-03-07

I
something about the child.
81 Will, sir, she said, motioning me
to be seated with grace have rarely seen
/ equaled. "The sole guardianship Of little
Eva fell to me strangely" she began
81 am the daughter of clergyman, and
while teaching music in my native viii
lage in the West II happened that one
winters night some years since-a night
not unlike what this promises to be-my
father and were startled by moans at
our windows. Investigation showed a
woman and child. Both were nearly
frozen, and the woman, once in the
heated room, swooned. We summoned
physician, but she recovered conscious
ness only to lose it again until we found
that she was dying. Toward the
last the poor creature muttered wildly
and incoherently, and seemed to be
in mortal terror of punishment for
some great crime. just at the last, how
ever, she became entirely rational, and
made frantic efforts with her diving
breath to tell us all about the child; but
the most we could understand was that
Eva belonged to wealthy parents, and
that something would prove her identity.
Sewed up in the rags wrapped about the
baby girl we discovered the diamond
crescent, which is strangely engraved IN
ciphers, unintelligible to stranger, but
no doubt significant enough to the
owners, whom we naturally suppose to
be little Eva's parents, for this was evil
dently what the poor woman meant to
convey.
My father and ] accepted the trust
thrown an IN ht. tcat l.
as commission from heaven" " said Evas
guardian angel, with soulful smile
which disclosed q rich, beautiful nature,
land we set about to find the parents.
For long time we advertised, but to no
purpose. Many replies came, but to none
OF these people did our little Eva belong.
AT last, after my fathers death, which
occurred three years ago certain that
Eva's parents were not to he found in
the West, | sold my property there, com
ing to New York in the hope of obtain
ing pupils here, and at the same time
good legal talent to push the work of
establishing my darling's identity. We
have not been very successful so far.
/ felt my elf in a dilemma. Here was
a beautiful young woman who had evil
IDENTIFY sacrificed all her worldly goods to
what she believed divinely appointed
mission, and for all knew had at this
moment neither money nor food, Ger
tainly not fuel for the morrow's bitter
weather, for little Eva had innocently
given that fact away, and yet she would
net make moan which would give me
the cue &c her necessity, or make it pos.
slble Tor me to oler pecuniary assistance
What should | do about 1t alll
cogitated over and over again. "Retire
at once, now that the business for which
you came is ended" said the conven-
tionalities. "But you cannot leave these
two penniless and friendless in big
city" urged the heart within me, and
the latter argument seemed the stronger
of the two, 80 broke forth at last, awk-
wardly 0or | am not a man of tact any
time, but to the point. "You accepted
the care of little Eva as a commission
from Heaven when strange fate
brought her to your door, and why may
| not accept the care of both of you as
my commission until something better
can be done.n
The effect of this speech was simply
startling. Miss Adele flushed and turned .
pale by turns, but she said, looking
straight at me, with womanly courage
flashing from her large violet eyes: "Sir, /
you have been so kind to my dear little .
Eva that will not believe you intend
less to me-"
God knows that do not" replied. |
feelingly. "Pardon me, but your little
charge has give me some idea of how YOU
are situated; would like 10 befriend
you both while you need friend"
Miss Adele searched my face long and
earnestly to discover if perchance there
Iurked some sinister motive there before
she said Sir, your offer is very ex-
one
'Not more so than your own course in
yourself and all that you pos
'essed to this child cause.n
But that was the will of Heaven for
ne" Miss Adele said with deep serious
ness, II could not do less. But" she
added, after moment, we do indeed
need friend"
'Do you suppose that l would tres.
pass longer upon your privacy were it
lot sop asked earnestly, may, trust
ne and you shall have no cause to re-
2 ct itw
Then Miss Adele spoke out like the
al &c soulcu WOllldu tnat Sne was. II
will trust you sir, for my little Eva's
axe"
Matters proved quite as bad as |
cared. They were at the end of their
money, and no immediate prospect for
,etling more opened before them. Miss
Adelle, whose musical gifts had been
ecognized as pre-em nent in her native
ilage, had thought it would be easy
nough to secure pupils in a great c.ty
ike New York, but elias from bitter (.
'erIente she had learned that this com.
nercial Mecca towards which so many
Oung aspiIants for success turn their
ootsteps held but disappointment for
er.
The end of long discussion OF the :
ros and cons involved. resulted in Miss =,
Adelle's accepting assistance from me as ,
loan, and ], in turn. promised her
upils from among my friends, taking :
pom my shoulders the doubtful task of =
oer ing all the fathers and mothers of =
ny acquaintance into giving their chill :
ren over to hertraining, beginning with !,
~ own married sister. And it was
Drtunate that l made my beginning J.
here else it is probable that | shou d :
ave miseTably failed in my undertak- :
lg, for my sister-Mrs. Merwin-in- =
1rmed me seOfnfuily when laid nv plan =
efore her: ~ cannot be thankful enough, !.
om that I au tho fret nua 80 - 7 =