The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-08

only children Dora had ever known famil-
iar.y and they, like herself had no
mother, they had granny. and Dora had
inquired ~ her father about her own
granny. who was dead long ago.
"NOu have only me. my poor little girl
hc had said. But Dora had been quite
satisfied
Jamie and Molly have no papa, she
answered. with little pride. 10 was a
great superiority, and made up for every
thing and she inquired no more. Nature
Mr. Manuering knew, was by no means so
iufallible as we think her. He did not
know, however. what is a still more re-
condite and profound knowledge, what
sweet things are in a child's heart.
/ have known a widowed mother, who
wondered sadly for years why her child
rem showed so little interest, and asked
no questions about their father, and then
found out. from the lips of one grown into
full manhood, what visions had been
wrapt about that unknown image, and
how his portrait had been the conidant
of many a little secret trouble hidden
even from herself But Dora had not
even portrait to give embodiment to
any wistful thoughts Perhaps it was to
her not merely that her mother was
dead but that she had never been. Per
haps, but who knows the questions that
arise in that depth profound, the heart
of a child?
1t was not till Dora was fifteen, that
she received the great shock, yet revela-
tiOn, of discovering the portrait of a lady
in her fathers room.
Was it her mother? She could not tell
1t was the portrait of a young lady,
which is not child's ideal of a mother.
1t was hidden away in secret drawer of
which she had discovered the existence
only by a chance in the course of some
unauthorized investigations among Mr..
Mannering's private properties.
He had lost something which Dora was
intent on surprising him by finding, and
this was what led her to these investiga-
tiOns. 1t was a second Italian cabinet
which was in his bedroom, an inferior
specimen to that in the drawing room, but
one more private, about which her curiOs-
ity had never been awakened. He kept
handkerchiefs, neckties, uninteresting
items of personal use in it, which Dora
was somewhat careleSsly turning over,
when by accident the secret spring was
touched, and the drawer few open. In
this there was a miniature case which
presented very strange spectacle when
Dora, a little excited, opened it. There
seemed to be nothing but blank at first,
until on further examination, Dora
found that the miniature had been turned
face downwards in its case. 1t may be
imagined with what eager curiosity she
continued her investigations.
The picture, as has been said, was that
of a young lady-quite young lady, not
much older, Dora thought, than herself.
Who could this girl be- Her mother?
But that girlish face could not belong to
any girls mother. 1t was not beautiful
to DOra's eyes, but yet full of vivacity
and interest, face that had much to say
if one only knew it's languagel with dark
bright eyes, and tremulous smile about
the lips. Who was it; oh, who was it,
Was it that little sister of papa's who
was dead, whose name had been Dora
too Was it
Dora did not know what to think, or
how to explain the little shock which was
given her by this discovery She shut
up the drawer hastily, but she had not
the heart to turn the portrait again as it
had been turned, face downward. It
seemed too unkind, cruel almost. Why
should her face be turned downward
that living, smiling face! 81 will ask
papa" Dora said to herself; but she
could not tell why it was, any more than
she could explain her other sensations on
the subject, that when the appropriate
moment came to do so she had not the
courage to ask papa.
no BE CONTINUED