The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-01


In the next mornings paper I saw an
advertisement Of the lost purse, with
request that the finder would return It to
receive reward.
Wondered II should receive the re-
ward I so much desired-an acquaintance
with her-and determined to return It that
morning.
tage In the prettiest residence portion of
the city. A neat servant maid answered
my ring. asked for the lady who had
advertised Q lost purse. "Ah, yes" said
she. "Step into the library. She will be
down in q moment"
She ushered me into lovely little room
and ran upstairs, leaving me staring stu
pidly at q iife-sixed portrait of my sister
Alice, which hung on the opposite wall.
In an instant IL all flashed across me.
The resemblance to some one ! had met
puzzled me no longer. saw as In q dream
the low -ceiled room In the old house I'm
the Sierras, the rough faces Of the miners,
the eager eyes Of the young girl as she sat
there playing for my life.
As Razcd at the picture Q light step
sounded behind me, and turning, stood
before the woman I had been following
for weeks, to find In her the heroine OF
my early California experience.
She laughed musically and held out her
hand. "Ah, Mr.. Elliot, I see yon recognize
me through your sisters portrait. Now,
my memory II far better than yours, for
recognized you the day saw you at the
Clin House. Nave 1, then, changed SO
much since that nightf Let me see, 1t was
fourteen years ago, was II not?"
seized both her hands in an impulsive
clasp. Though I remembered her as
Athin slip OF girl like q new moon,
Sure to be rounded into beauty soon,
had no idea she would develop into such
= beautiful woman as this.
"Changedf Yes. You have changed
very much, but it is strange I did not
recognize you. ought to have done so."
"There is nothing strange about II. ]
have changed very much-for the better,
hope. / have had astrange story. Sit down
and let me tell IL to you"
/ did SO most willingly, and she went
on:
"In the first place, am not old man
Browns daughter. know nothing of
my parents except that both died OF vel.
low fever in New Orleans, when was .
baby. Mr.. and Mrs. Brown adopted me
and brought me to California. They built
that house and was brought up there.
with no advantages > except to lay up
an abundant supply OF health. 4 was as
wild as hawk, and almost as fierce, i think.
"When l was ten years old, Mother
Brown died. After that ran completely
wild. Father was always good to me, but
always let me have my own way to
shocking extent. However, can say this
much-though thrown with a rough
crowd, was always treated with the
utmost respect. I sometimes think they
were trific afraid OF my ungovernable
temper-dont be alarmed; 1t has been
under my control for years now.
"The year after you were there, Father
Brown had the luck to strike rich gravel
In land that he owned. He took in part
ner, Mr.. Stewart, and at once brought me
down here and put me to school. What a
time i did have at first! was like Gagged
hawk. i know gave my poor teachers
no end Of trouble, but they were kind and
i soon began to take an interest. Besides,
] always kept that picture you gave me,
and know the sight of her sweet face
somehow kept my feet In the path OF duty.
i became very much attached to one Of
my teachers, Miss Ross. She Is the one
with whom you have seen me.
"Father Brown died the year after
was put In school, leaving me in care Of
his partner, Mr.. Stewart. When was old
enough to leave school I had no home, so
Mr.. Stewart kindly got me out OF that
difficulty by marrying me.
"He was very kind TO me and missed
him greatly when he died. induced Miss
Ross to make her home with me, and she
has been with me ever since. Wetraveled
a great deal for some years, and have not
been here very long. have often Thought
that should meet you again. The picture
You gave me has been great comfort 10
me. When Igrew restless and discouraged
at school, I always imagined her sweet
eyes looked at me reproachfully, and when
] had won an unusually hard battle with
myself, seemed TO read commendntion
in them. ] had IL enlarged, as you see,
and you don't know what comfort II has
been to me-"