The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-09

the saucy call OF the bobolink followed by
the meadow lark's merry carol, and the
joyous trills OF the thrush and hooking
bird; on and on the clear notes rang out,
bird following bird until there seemed
to be a whole colony of songsters in the
slender throat.
The children screamed with delight,
and the grown people Joined in hearty
applause until Meg flushed and smiling,
was led forth again. This time she
whlstled merry little polka, which made
the tiny feet tap in merry unison on the
floor. 1t seemed as if they could never
let her 60, but called her back again and
again. Alter the concert was over, the
ladies' crowded around and praised her
until she was ready to cry for JOY.
we must have you at our musicale to-
morrow night" saia one of the ladies' So
Miss Van Coor promised for Meg. and
they left the hall and were driven home,
II seeming to Meg's excited fancy as If
they were floating in some beautiful
dream and she would awake to find her,
self back on the beach again.
The next night the most wonderful
thing OF all happened. Meg went to
large house where the beautiful rooms
were filed with ladies and gentlemen.
She was very shy among so many, but
they had heard her story from Miss Van
COOr and were very kind 10 the brave lit
tie maiden, whose soft brown eyes looked
straight at them with a yearning for love
and sympathy. As she stood looking
straight before her with sad expression
IN her beautiful eyes her attention was at
tracted by middle-aged gentleman in the
back part Of the room. He had half risen
from his seat and was looking at her with
such a perplexed look that Meg could not
help watching his movements. As she
passed from the room she saw him lean
over and take program from a lady IN
front of him. When she came back sec
ond time he was standing by a window
very near the piano. His face was very
pale and he looked at her with a queer
eagerness that excited Meg's curiosity to
the utmost \ little later she noticed him
IN close conversation with Miss Van Coor
Meg could not hear what they said, but
the gentleman was talking very fast and
eagerly, and they both watched her so
closely that Meg began 10 feel uneasy.
She saw no more OF him that night, and
Miss Van Coor said nothing of the matter,
but as soon as they reached home she
babe Meg 60 to bed and dream of the
gold-pieces and happiness she was to take
home to Bob.
Inc next morning Meg was called into
the library and introduced to Gen. Well
ing, who was the same gentleman of the
night before. He asked her many ques-
tons concerning her parents and her life,
and ended by telling her he had every
reason to believe that she was the child
OF his only sister, Margaret Lorne, who
had been lost at sea, while returning
IRON a trip abroad He had hunted. in
vain, for years for some trace of her, or
her husband or child. 1t ended in his
accompanying Meg home and finding
there the proofs which changed the little
brOwn-eyed waif into an heiress. His
wealth and gratitude worked wonders in
the little brown house. Bob was sent of
to school and Mrs Hall was enabled to
fold her tired hands and rest 1t was not
many days before Meg made farewell
visit to her old perch on the cliff and went
to live in a grand old mansion, dear as
every ray of sunshine 10 her uncle's heart
Though she is now one of the fashionable
young ladies who go To the seashOre every
summer, she has always a ready ear for
anyone in trouble, and she still clings to
her old habit of whistling; for, as she
laughingly remarks to her oldest and best
OF friends, Miss Van Coor, had she not
whistled her way to friends and fortune,
in spite OF the old saying:
"a whstling girl and a growing hen
Always come TO some bad end"
LAURA A. SMITH.