The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-12-04

I
arms; an she says, says she: Are you
goin' to New York by the Northern
Star, my good woman? AN says, says
L: Yes mem, be- an she says: DO
You want to earn five pounds? an l
says: of course do if / can earn it
| honest an she says: OF course You
can. All want of you is to take care
of this little girl on the voyage an de-
liver her to the address which is writ
ten on this card;' an says she, If you
do it properly, Mr. Arlington will give
you the same amount when you get
there, an that will be ten pounds an l
says: No, mem, won't have nothin' to
do with the child But what with
Maria Wilkins, who always was too
ready with her advice, n egging me on,
an what with the child tal1in' such a
fancy to me from the very first, bless
her little heart, an what with the lady
persuadin' me, yielded"
But surely the lady told you who
were the child's friends?''
"Not a word. The bell rung for us
to go aboard. She gave me a valise
filed with necessaries for the voyage,
an told me that a trunk full Of the lit
tie ones wardrobe was in the hold, an
would go straight through to where
Mr.. Arlington lived. But Just rs the
lady was a goin' off with the other
woman in a hanson cab which was
awaitin' for 'em, up an spoke: Sup
pose we was wrecked crosSin' this ter
rible ocean, says /, AN got stranded on
desert island says l, who should
write to to let you know?' | shall never
forget the look she gave me. Please
God. I'll never look upon her face again
or hear from her or about her any more
in this world, an if you should both of
you go to the bottom of the sea, it
would be the best thing that could hap
pen to you,' says she, as she stepped
into the cab an drove off"
Were there any papers or letters
among the little girls things in the
valise you brought with you?"
Not a scrap, men,"
And you say there is box in the
hold belonging to her?"
There is, mem; at least the lady said
so.''
well" Mrs. Evesham said decisive
", 1--WE must base all our hopes on
cleaning some information from its
contents. At any rate we can do no
good by remaining here. VIII you get
ready to accompany US home?"
Indeed l will, men," the woman as
sented gratefully, IAN glad I'll be to go
e., I
much as to be alone in this big city,
So, as soon as the little ceremonies
of the debarkation of an emigrant
were fulfilled q hack was called, and
they drove in party to Mrs. Evesham's
residence to be received by Alice in
furry of pleased excitement. Little
Wanda ruled the establishment like a
royal princess from the moment that
she set her tiny foot across the thresh-
old, holding in slavish subsection every
human being about the place. With
the usual inconsistency of great little
personages, she lavished her affections
most prodigally on Harry, the one least
likely to appreciate them, but who yield
ed with good grace to the inevitable.
Who could withstand the whiIns of such
winsome little fairy? AS for Alice
and Kate, they constituted themselves
her ladies-in-waiting and never was
regal parsonage more faithfully and pa
tiently served.
That night the stars looked down upon
n sweet group of childish innocence.
In 4 cot which Mrs. Evesham had i'm
provised for the occasion, lay baby
Wanda sound asleep, while side by side
knelt the figures of Alice and Kate,
praying the Father in Heaven to take
under the wings of His protection the
form of Number SKIS sister
1t was pretty sight, and so thought
Mrs. Evesham, as she stood at the door
way, gazing on the innocent scene.
The chamber was a side room on the |
ground floor, with window opening
into a small alley. The servant had
neglected to close the shutters, and,
though there was little chance of an
nOyance from obtrusive eyes in that |
secluded quarter, the young landlady |
turned aside to draw down the blind.
But in the very act she stood trans /
fixed with terror; for glaring at her |
through the window-pane was the white
face of the man who had pretended to
the body of Ambrose Arl-
ington.