West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-06-21
LOST AND FOUND.
BY X. X. GRANT.

The summer that left old ''Vassar's' $
classic shades, crowned with honors ant
flushed with triumph, father was board
ing at Mrs. Eliotts; indeed he hac
lived there for years, while | was pursu
ing my studies in the North. lie was ,
widower of fine physique aud ample for
tune, with no encumbrance save me. hi
only child-Eunice Grey.
Mrs Elliotts boarding house was. un
like the typical one, elegant in all its APP
polntments, with a corps of we'll ira ned
servants, and mistress that would have
graccd the home Of the most fastidiou.
connoisseur of feminine beauty aud
worth. We became fast friends at once
this petite brunette and myself TO
her invalid child / was no less strongly
attached. wondered often why the
mother was always robed in the deepest
of mourning. That she was a widow ]
knew; but that her bereavement was of
no recent date had learned by chance.
from the little one who, in mentioning
her father, told me quantity she had
never known him, that he had gone an
70 God before the fairies had given her
to her mamma
/ asked my father if he could solve
the vexatious mystery Of those sable
garments.
"Oh, yes, " he answered, 81 believe |
can. II is but the fancy of loving wo.
mans heart that secs in the sombre hues
reflex Of the grief that knows no So
lace. Seven years ago her husband per-
ishcd in storm that wrecked the pleas.
ure yacht in which they were cruising.
She herself escaped death 10y the mirac-
ulous inteTposition of Providence, be.
ing caught by passing steamers crew,
as she drifted by them clinging 10 a
broken plank. She was carried aboard.
but lost consciousness, as the rough bur
kindly hands drew her from her watery
bed. For months she lay ill, nigh TO
death, her mind blank. When at
length the skill of the experts in the RE
treat for the Insane to which she had
been conveyed elected the restoration
of reason, she learned through the col.
umns of an old Herad that she alone sur.
vived that fearful gale. A few weeks
later a newborn baby lay upon her
bosom. Miles away from the scene of
the disaster, in strange land, little Ada
was born. Mrs. Elliott does not know.
as do, that official stupidity-or care
lessness-had reported her death some
three days after her husbands. The oc-
cupant of the bed next hers in the In
sane Pavilion having d ed, and the name
oddly enough being the same as her
own, 1t was Immediately taken for
granted that the deceased was the vic
tim Of the yacht disaster
'The northern climate was not suited
TO Ada's delicate constitution. For this
reasonAIrs. Elliott came south and opened
small select boarding house for the
maintainance Of herself and little one.
SO popular did this become under her
management that She wa3 cmboldened
by the success Of her humble beginning
TO remove to this fine dwelling. And
you see what she accomplished here.
''She was my first love, EuniCe. Years
before i met your mother / knew and
loved Edith ] attimer; but she gave her
hand and heart to my chum, George IL.
lott, and / went my way with sorrow
for my loss. and gladness for the happi-
ness Of the two so dear TO me. would
MAKE her my wife now; but she is true
to the memory Of her husband. and
frankly says that no one can ever be as
dear TO her as he. IL is sad, this Linking
ones self with those that are gone; but
it's like a womau's constancy and am
not the man TO press a suit ] know is
vain"
After hearing this recital I believe I
loved Mrs. Elliott more than ever. Ger.
tainly felt deeper sympathy for her grief.
Her devotion 20 her child was touch.
ing in the extreme. The little
creature a cripple from birth seemed
too fragile for this earth. Her deep
blue eyes looked out wistfully at one
from amidst a mass Of fully golden
curls So patient, so loving, who could
help being drawn toward her was
with her day after day, reading some
bright tale, or talking TO her OF the
birds, the flowers and the bright blue
sky but best Of all she loved to hea: Of
the sea where the waves, in their silvcrv
tones Gang requiem over the grave Of
the father she had never known. And
she would press her lips to the miniature
that hung bY a golden thread from her
neck, and mTrmur words Of love TO the
handsome man whose image it bore. She
would SIT for hours by the window where
we placed her and watch the shifting
panorama Of busy people in the streets
below. And when some sprightly little
elf would dance by in childish olee Ada
would draw her mother gently to her
and Kiss away the tears which cloudcd
those dark eyes for she knew how it
grioyod her that her only child should
be so unlike other children. And in
many q pretty. touching way the little
ono would seek to show how little she
rccked her own sad lot Poor child
she knew not that q child's heart IS an
open book to its mother But when Ada
and i were alone. She would often saw
ooh, Eunice, why must / suffer sol
10 hurts SO bad Co cough and vet 7 can.
not keep DO in And when the doctor
comes in the mornings and sounds ms
lungs. as be says. 7 could scream ont
loud but do not cry because mamma
is always there. But 80 hurts so awful
bad
I could only press my lips io0e hor %
keep back thc tears, and presently turn
the child's thoughts elsewhere
Summer passed Autumn n thc
South you know i' fair fcador, with ~
cool bfee1W tanning away Use u'fg