Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-09-29

me, wouldn't be nice. Nellie is real
aid woman, don't you think sos"
Whatever my reply was to have been 1t
was never made, for just then a carriage
same swiftly up the walk and we all rose to
catch 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 in silence.
We had seen the same thing too many times
not to know what it meant, for hardly
week passed tl1at 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 callbell 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 and ornamented
with dropping white plumes that swept to
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 / stood there, and, though
most children would have been attracted
toward the beautiful and dainty-lookine
lady, only shrank away, feeling a strange
repulsion, almost amounting to fear, towards
her, and wishing could hide myself behind
the matron's ample skirts. My next glance
| fell on the other lady, who sat quite still,
1a1l A.. e.
| her, as if vainly searching for some particu-
lar one amongst US. She was exactly the
| opposite of her companion in looks and bear
| ing. / remember, even then, wonderin g
| that they should be together. She was a
| woman at least fifty years of age, and even
more, perhaps, for her hair was thiclzly
sprinkled 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 a brown shawl and some flat, ugly
sort of bonnet, and glasses. Such, in
| brief, is the description of those two women
| as remember them that afternoon SO long
ago.
The matron waited until we were all quiet;
then she spoke in her gentle, even tones
| 'My dear children, these two ladies wish to
adopt, as their own, one of you little girls.
I am glad to say can surely recommend
each and all of you as obedient and trusty
children, and hope, if 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 madam's; we
had heard it often before, and therefore
paid little attention to it, except to stare
more fixedly at the floor.
The elder lady arose at this and came
slowly down the long line, scrutinizing
sharply each face before her, not as if max
| ing a choice, but rather as if searching fol-
some resemblance. Finally she reached the
matron, at whose side stood, or rather hid
for felt fear of the well-dressed woman
felt little less than an absolute terror o!
this one, who, with her keen gray eyes
seemed to see straight through me. hoped
she would pass me by, but she did not. She
paused, and, laying a hand on my shoulder
drew me out of the shadow into the full
light that came in through the hall windows
blushed crimson, and hung my head, my
heart beating almost to suffocation, so fright
ened was /, while the woman slowly inspect
ed me from head to foot.
tHold up your head" she commanded, il
her brusque way. ] obeyed her. She tool
one look in my eyes; CLEAN of intelligence
flashed in her face. 1.-THE same,n she NUT
tered; s'the very same. Now, what is YOU
name, little girls" she inquired.
'Dorcas Lynn" answered, shyly.
"Dorcas; yes, yes" Then, turning to the
matron, she inquired very particularly il
regard to my past history, from whence
came, etc, ETC., all of which madam an
swered to the best of her ability, giving he
the brief history with which the reader il
already familiar.
This explanation seemed to entirely satisf.
Miss Armund (for such learned was hel
namel, for she exclaimed, almost eagerly,
thoughts "She'll do; I'll take herr
Then, turning to her companion, she in
auired: "Have you any thing to say, Lena9'
The other lady had remained seated, ap
parently quite Indifferent as to what he
, companion was doing, but at her question
; she arose and came slowly down the room
to where stood. She gave me one look
look so full of hatred and malice, that
. | seemed to scorch my very soul; but he
tones were smooth and soft as she an
, | sweredi
! s'1f you are satisfied, Maria, am COZ
. tent"
81 am quite satisfied" answered Miss Al
. mund, in meaning tone.
''Then it is settled" answered the other
and she swept back to her seat by the wiz