The Irish standard., 1888-01-28

| N 15a1|S@z$as2 51|S%2Il1|II|E %2Il1|II8|E8
A NRw-FoUND FRIEND.
and never mind fellows that ask questions
of little girls''-a remark that was not lost
| upon his friends, for was asked no more
questions.
Presently some of the passengers got out,
and found seat by the side Of my young
friend, who still was as kind and gentle as
| at first, till felt had known him always,
| and began to dread the time when he must
go and would be left again alone with
those two stern, silent women.
But night came on and still my friend and
his party were with us; the lamps were
lighted and their rays fell weirdly on the
faces about me. could see Mrs. Clayton
sitting bolt upright, the white plumes in her
hat nodding with the swayins motion OF the
| cars, and her eyes wide open. with no signs
of sleepiness about them, though most Of
the other passengers were Ill u state OF
semi-drowsiness. Miss Arnlund sat bent
forward her head on her breast, fast asleep.
Even my young friend was nodding, and
felt my own eyes growing heavy and dull,
ihlu &tlu1OSU UI1u1S / AAASN ~ ~ was oO.<A1~
| asleep.
1 awoke once, for an instant, and could
hardly recollect where was, but it came to
me soon. My friend was still beside me
and had placed an arm about me, or should
have tu1nbled to the floor. He looked at me
now with quiet sn1ile and feeling reas-
sured again let my head droop against his
arms and fell fast asleep. have often Won
dered since then if no unseen spirit whls-
pered to him Of the part that the sleeping
child at his side should play i'll his Life, or
how all their lives their fortunes should be
interningled. Doubtless such thought
never crossed his mind. He was kind to the
friendless child from mere good hearted
ness, nothing more.
How long slept 1 do not know. was
awakened by some one shaking me roughly
by the arm. started up to find Miss Ar
1n1nd standing over me looking, in the dim
uncertain light Of early dawn, more grim
! and ugly than ever. / was alone i'll the
seat My young friend and his party were
| all gone; they had left the train while !
slept. I learned afterwards that when he
| take his place, saying I was tired and
sleepy, and he dsliked to wake me.
| I felt strange loneliness and fear when I
huGW uC WdS RUAC, UuC Wo4AOVCO AAAy 4S0E
| ings as best could and obediently followed
theladies to handsome carriagethat stood
waiting for them and into which servant
assisted us, and we were soon rolling rap
! idly toward ho,ne for as such / now desig
mated it. After half an hours drive. We
arrived at what suppose was an entrance
| way. A porter swung open heavy iron
gate and the carriage swept up a beautiful
avenue hordered with trees, and finally
stopped before the house, Or mansion-s
massive pile of bricks surrounded on all
sides by broad verandah's or porticos. A
fight of marble steps led up to the front
entrance, and the pillars supporting the
piazza were of the finest and most delicate
specimens Of architecture.
We ascended the steps, and Mrs. Clayton
rang the bell. A. servant admitted us and
led the way to handsomely-furni sit
ting-room where the ladies removed their
wraps; but Mrs. Clayton gave me in charge
of domestic, who conducted me to pretty
room on the ground floor in the rear part Of
the house.
tsYou're tired, MISS" said the maid, kind
ly. ssYou can rest here till breakfast-time.
She removed my hat and sacque as she
spoke and then, showing me the bathroom
and toilet accessories, she left me alone.
bathed my face, combed and braided my
hair and brushed my teeth, as | had been
accustomed to DO at the home, and then,
having nothing else to do, I drcw chair to
the window and sat down to wait for the re-
appearance Of the maid. While sitting here
my attention was drawn to two children:
bows, who were in company with large dog
racing up and down the lawn short dis
tance from the house. One was dark
faced lad Of perhaps twelve years. knew
at once that he was Mrs. C!ayton's son, the
resemblance was so great But the other
child was much younger, not more than five
wears DID, and fair with light curling hair.
SIT must be they have no little girls }
said to myself; "that is the reason they
have adopted 1ne.n
Just here the maid entered, briskly.
.Well, little miss, ready for breakfast? S
she said, cheerily; 'sbut, If you please, What
is your nane?"
"Dorcas Lynn, answered.
sThank ye, miss; mine is Maggie Mitch
ell, and Mrs Clayton sent me to fetcn ye
down to breakfast"
So saying she led the way TO the break
fast-room It was large. lofty room;
and the table, at which the family Were
already seated, was glittering with cut
glass and silver There were at the
table Mrs. Clayton, her husband, stold,
.corpulent man Of fifty, perhaps. Miss Ar
mund, the two boys had seen in the gar.
den, and q little girl of about my own age, ]
thought. though I afterward discovered
that she and her brother were twins;
therefore she was two years my senior. But
she was certainly the most strikingly=hand.
:some child had ever seen. To me, in fact:
she looked as I might have imagined an
CT e: 4 10 s1.~~r
a soft, rose tint in either cheek; her hail
was golden as a sunbeam, her eyes blue as
the sky in June, and her lips like wet coral.
She was seated near her mother, and gave
me q cold stare of Indifference when took
nv Mace beside her. No one spoke; the