The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-30

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dress MS 'auntic.a managed to pnss
ana ropass them several times. and
fancicd the brown eyes glanced Mt me
rather intercstedly.
Without being obtrusive, i kept them
in sight, and returned to the city on
the same train. secured seat lust
behind them, and devoted myself to
studying her every detail of dress and
manner. Arrived Mt the depot, they
entered Il cab, and were driven away,
and returned to the hotel, more inter
ested than l cared to confess. For
years had been so devoted to my
mother. and to business, that no thought
OF marriage had seriously entered my
mind. Now / suddenly realized that
gray hairs were creeping among the
black, and if ever intended to marry
IL was high time l gave the matter my
attention. How much thc thought of
pair OF brown eyes had to do with
TINS resolution cannot say.
week passed withe,ut INV SEEING her
again, though haunted tho principal
thoroughfares by day and the theatcrs
by night. was beginning to despair,
when in strolling through, the conser-
vntory ut Golden Gate Park one day, L
again met her. accompanied by the
same elderly lady. They were exam
ming some rare orchids When her
eyes met mine, 1 distinctly saw u pink
flush steal over her lovely face, and
fancied saw smile in tile brown eyes.
out she bent over flower and passed
on, mentally cursing my l,rcit a my i'm
ability to obtain All introduction.
They soon went out and too1e a shady
seat In tire park l sat DOWN as near
as possible without being obtrusivc,
and taking out n paper, pretended to
read I'm reality, / watched her over
the top Presently they arose, and
SAW with a thrill of delight, that my
divinity had left her portmonnaie ON
the seat Instantly spirit of eovct-
BUSINESS took possession OF me. must
have that purse at all hazards. i'm
mediatcly appropriated it. and dread
ing lest should be seen, strolled into
another part of the park, feeling de-
lightfully guilty. Arrived at n place
free from observation, l examined nv
treasure. 1t contained u twenty-dollar
gold piece, some silver, and few cards
af"t memoranda On one of the cards
WAS written name and address,
Jessie T.. Stewart, No. as, -
street"
felt elated. I had heard her COM
panion address her as Jessie that dny
in the conservatory l determined to
wait till the next day, call at the nd
dess, and return the property.
In the next mornings paper | saw
an advertisement of the lost purse, with
a request that the finder would return
it to the same address as that on the
card and receive reward.
l wondered if should receive the re-
ward so much desired--an acquaint-
ancc with her-and determined to re-
turn it that morning.
About ten o'clock rang the bell of a
pretty cottage in the prettiest residence
portion Of the city A neat servant
maid answered my ring asked for
the lady who had advertised lost
purse. .'Ah, yes" said She step into
the library. She will be down in
moment"
She ushered me into lovely little
room and ran upstairs, leaving me
staring stupidity at life-sized portrait
of my sister Alice, which hung on the
opposite wall In an instant it all
flashed across me. The resemblance to
some one l had met puzzled me no
longer. / saw as in dream the low
ceiled room in the old house in the
Sicrras, the rough faces of the miners.
the eager eyes of the young girl, as she
sat there playing for my life.
AS gazed at the picture light step
sounded behind me, and turning, /
stood before the woman had been fol-
lowing for weeks, to find in her the
heroine of my early California expert
cncc
She laughed musically and held out
her hand. ''Ah, Mr.. Elliot see You
recognize me through your sisters
portrait Now, my memory is far bet
tcrthan yours, for remembered You the
day saw you at the Cliff House Have
i, then, changed SO very much since
that night? Let me see, it was four
teen years ago, was it not?"
| seized both her hands in an impul-
sive clasp. Though rcmem bcred her
y thin slip of II girl like anew MOON
Sure to be rounded into beauty soon,
/ had no idea she would develop into
such n beautiful woman.
Changed? Yes. You have changed
very much; but it is strange l did not
recognize you. ] ought TO have done
So
There is nothing strange about it.
have changed very much-for the
better, | hope. l have had a strange
story. Sit down and let ME tell it to
YOU
i did so most willingly, and She went
on:
sin the first place am not old man
Browns daughter. ] know nothing of
my parents except that both died of