News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-03-03

ful girl was n nameless water wall,
and showed her much Kindness aud
attention during the voyage.
CHAPTER IX.
A month later Mrs. Grandford and
Anemone were established in the
country home of the Grandfords.
1t was a quaint old place in perfect
repair, the extensive ground filed
with strawberries and flowers unriv-
aled for luxuriance and beauty.
In this lovely home surrounded by
comforts and abundance that she
could hardly realize the world con-
tained for her, Anpmone expanded
and unfolded like the sweetest rose i'm
bloom.
Her adaptability, delicate tact and
sympathy added greatly TO Mrs.
Granford's daily pleasure, and Anem-
one loved and trusted her new friend
with complete confidence.
Sometimes there was n touch of
sadness or reserve in Anemone's
manner that Mrs. Grandford could
not fathom, but il was only when
Anemcne was thinking Of another
new friend, and bravely she tried TO
Danish such idle thoughts from her
mind.
"Anemone, dearr" exclaimed Mrs.
Grandford one morningat the break
fast table, as she was looking over
her mail, "hereis letter from Ralph,
the first time | have heard since he
said 'good-by' at Fernando, and he
says he is coming home to stay
Something in my letter, the first he
has received from me, he says, has
determined him. He also says: give
my love to Anemone and tell her /
am so glad my mother has found her
new daughter"
"That is very kind laughed Anem-
one. "Some people would object to
their mothers so picking up stray
daughters.
"Yes," answered Mrs. Grandford,
that is perhaps possible, but Ralph
has perfect confidence in my taste,
dear, wonder what ! could have
written to have hastened him home.
There was nothing in the letter but
little things about you and me-our
voyage, landing, etc"
Perhaps you said something of
Miss Diana Dev-I don't quite recall
her last name," suggested Anemone.
Very likely" replied Mrs. Grand
ford. What a dear little girl you
are to help one out, / probably said
she was soon to make us n visit"
" When does he say he is coming?"
asked Anemone, wondering why this
conversation was so unsatisfactory
to her.
"Bless me, let me see" exclaimed
Mrs. Grandford, in afutter Of expect
ancy, 81 must go at once TO see II
his room is ready"
"And | will go and cut some fresh
roses for the vasesr' exclaimed
Anemone, both leaving the table,
with a breakfast but half eaten.
How oddly he expresses himself" ("
observed Mrs. Grandford, "yet he
evidently is in the best Of spirits,
| turning before sh~ loft the resss, t~s
l one more glance at the letter. "Hov
! do you understand this, Anemone
He says: Il had lost something oI
the utmost value, and the last four
weeks had been devoted TO finding it.
Then your letter came-the only one
that reached my changing address
and Eurekal | have found i'll oh,
mother, you have been very good to
me, and / shall come home TO stay.
Then follows the message which |
gave you"
1T sounds very puzzling," said
Anemone, seizing her garden scissors
and disappearing among the roses.
"AnemoneW cried a voice she well
remembered. 81 hayecaught you at
last" and a tall gentleman turned
from the broad, shaded pathway
which led to the front entrance Of
Mrs. Grandford's house TO narrow
footpath among the rose clumps,
watching as he did so the delicate
profile turned toward him and the
blue eyes deepen and widen with sur
prise as, dropping her scissors and
basket in eagerness to reach him,
she extended both hands in cordial
welcome.
"Is that all, Sea-Shelll" he ex-
claimed, "after my weary weeks of
search and waiting and the horrible
fancy that you, too, were drowned y
And he grasped her hands as If he
could never let them go. Think of
it, dear, to returnto the cottage and
find it deserted You had gone and
no one had seen you since the grand
mothers DEATH Then the contrast,
the receiving of mothers letter tel
ling me of the wonderful 'Sea-Anem-
one she had found" and he drew her
very close to him. "The priest gave
Won my message; you knew l was
coming to you, very soon-the next
day, the next morning-if possible.
Why did you hurry awdy?" and he
| felt her tremble at the reproach IN
his tone
"Oh, please don't recall it," she
implored. Il have tried so hard to
forget that last day and night.
What could / do but go away-oi
course | had no claims on you," she
said smiling archly.
Hadn't you?" he asked, quickly.
you promised to take my name re-
member, Anemone.
"Your namer she repeated, like
one dazed, II see it all now" and n
deep blush stole over her face, land
your mother has so kindly given IL
| to me also, 'Grandford is your
name. You are Ralph Grandford,
and she caught her breath, "Oh,
didn't know this-I didn't think oi
this !"
"Ralphl My dear sonw exclaimed
his mother, coming among the roses
Il thought heard your voicel" and
she embraced him warmly. "This il
earlier than we expected you, as
suppose Anemone has been telling
you, but you are doubly welcome" "
"No," answered her son, smiling
mischievodsly at Anemone's embar
rassment; "she hasn't said n word o
the kind. But how strong and wei
YOU look, mothcrl | can never thanl
Providence and YOU enough for TAX
ing such good care Of Anemone."
do you mean that you have
known her before this2' asked Mrs
Grandiord i'm astonlshment "Anem'
one has never told me this,' and sh,
HlauCtu dN liNA or Sh' FlNN' 49, ~
expression of misplaced coniidenc,
creeping into her eyes.
"Anemone didn't know heeNplaind
that | am myself She thought
was someone else. She has Just
learned who ! am.
Dear me, my children" said Mrs
Grandford, ! must know more O
this" and, with confidence fully re
stored, she heard after lunch tn,
whole story.
"Dianna will be so glad TO hear O
your return. Unless you have writ