The Irish standard., 1888-01-28
TIE IRISH STANDARD: SATURDAY. JANUARY %, 1888

me, wouldn't be nice! Nellie is q feA
I'D woman, don't you think so?''
Whatever my reply was to have been II
was never made, for just then carriage
came swiftly up the walk and we all rose to
catch a glimpse of the occupants But we
only caught sight of two ladies inside be-
fore it passed us. For a moment after,
! we stood looking at each other i'll silence.
We had seen the same thing too many times
not to know what it meant for hardly
week passed that some one did not visit the
| asylum intent upon adopting some OF our
number, and we had no doubt but this was
the errand upon which these visitors came
also. The next moment the call-bell rang,
and then we were certain but still we said
nothing, only each taking companion we
quietly entered the hall. The matron met US
and led US all into the long reception-room,
used to receive visitors. There seated in
large arm chairs were two ladies. One was
young, not more than thirty five and strik-
ingly handsome. Her beauty being OF that
dark bright kind that does not fade but
ripens. She was richly dressed in dark-blue
velvet, with costly lace at the neck and
wrists. On her head she wore a jaunty hat,
the same shade as her dress aud ornamented
her shoulders. Her dark hair was arranged
about her shapely head in rich coils, and the
small hands folded in her lap were exquis.
itely gloved
Inoted all this, child though was, in the
few moments I stood there, and, though
most children would have been attracted
toward the beautiful and dainty-looking
Lady, only shrank away, feeling e strange
repulsion, almost amounting TO fear, towards
her, and wishing could hide myself behind
the rnatron's ample skirts. My next glance
fell on the other lady, who sat quite still,
looking up and down the line Of faces before
her, as if yainly searching for some particu-
lar one amongst us. She was exactly the
opposite OF her companion in looks and bear.
ing. / remember, even then, wondering
that they should be together. She was
woman at least fifty years Of age, and even
more, perhaps, for her hair was thickly
sprinked with gray, and there were hard
lines about her mouth and eyes that spoke
Of age or care perhaps both, but a strange
look Of suppressed pain seemed imprinted
upon her whole face But even when youth
had lent her the charm and freshness Of
girlhood she must still have been very plain;
her complexion was sallow, her eyes gray,
small and keen as ferret's, her cheek
bones high, her figure tall and angular,
with large hands and wrists, her dress, Of
some gray stuff, was scant and short; She
wore brown shawl and some fiat, ugly
sort OF a bonnet, and glasses. Such, in
brief, is the description Of those two women
as remember them that afternoon so long
ago.
The u,atron waited until we were all quiet;
then she spoke in her gentle, even tones
ssMy dear children, these two ladies wish to
adopt, as their own, one OF you little girls.
am glad to say can surely recommend
each and all Of you as obedient and t1'usty
children, and hope, it this kind lady should
conclude to take one OF you, you will try
and see the benefit of the change, and act
accordingly"
This was a set speech Of lnadam;s; we
had heard it often before, and therefore
paid little attention to it, except to stare
more fixcdly vt the floor
The elder lady arose at this and came
slowly down the long line, scrutinizing
sharply each face before her, not as it max:
ing q choice, but rather as il searching for
some resemblance. Finally she reached the
natron, ut whose side stood, Or rather hid,
for felt fear OF the welldressed woman;
felt little less than an absolute terror OF
this one, who, with her keen gray eyes,
seemed to see straight through me. Ihoped
she would pass me by, but she did not. She
paused, and laying hand on my shoulder,
drew me out Of the shadow into the full
light that came in through the hallwindoWs.
blushed crimson, and hung MY head, my
heart beating almost to suffocation, SO fright
ened was l, while the woman slowly inspect
ed me from head to foot.
her brusque way. / obeyed her, She took
one look in my eyes; gleam of intelligence
flashed in her face. ''The same" she NUT
tered; s'the very same. Now, what is your
name, little girls'' she inquired
"Dorcas Lynn" !" answered, shyly.
ssDorcas; yes, yes" Then, turning to she
matron, she inquired very particularly in
regard to my past history yfrom whence I
came, etc, etc, all of which madam an
swercd to the best Of her ability, giving her
the brief history with which the reader is
already familiar.
This explanation seemed to entirely satisfy
Miss Armund (for such learned was her
name), for she exclaimed, almost eagerly,
thought: ssShe'll do; Ill take her."
Then, turning to her companion, she III
quired: "Have you any thing to say, Lena!'
The other lady had remained seated, ap
parently quite Indifferent as to what her
companion was doing, but at her question
she arose ana came SLOWLY GOWN thc Iooul
to where stood. She gave mo one look--a
look SO full OF hatred and malice, that It
seemed TO scorch my very soul; but her
tones were smooth and soft as she an
swered:
"lf you are satisfied, Maria, I am con-
tent"
|tI am quite satisfied" answered Misc Ar
mund in meaning tone.
:Trhen it is settledn answered the other,
and she swept back to her seat by the win
tllhA\\