Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-26

bis tuink. lOu can Z lHdHinb now
surprised ! was. Old Lady Berry had
Just left after having told me we were
too poor to keep a baby, when, it
seemed in answer to her very words, l
went to the basket TO shake out the
little clothes | saw there, and after l
had taken out one or two what do you
think foundY These, these" she ex-
claimed, pulling out of her pocket a
package of government bonds. And
a note saying that whoever took the
child should use this sum for her ex-
penses and in compensation for the care
given. Isn't t wonderfully" asked the
breathless Anne.
Well, l should say So" answered
Archie, as ho examined the bonds and
the note. never thought there
would be s., 600 at once underneath our
roof, but it is certainly for U.S. "
been found in the basket, he demanded
the return of the baby with the money,
but Mr.. and Mrs. Brown, who had
grown truly fond of their little ward,
were loath to give her up and Justly
felt that the only attraction to Ashton
was the money. So they refused tc part
with Muriel and the case went into the
courts, and she and the money were
awarded to Brown.
n
Muriel grew into a beautiful young
girl. loving Mr.. and Mrs. Brown with
all the force of her sweet young nature.
Though they had thought best to tell
her the exact truth in regard to her
adoption, she looked upon them as her
parents and they cherished her as their
own child. She was now Is. They
always celebrate the anniversary OF
the day she came to them as her birth
day. She now had sweetheart. Her
father had become station agent and
her lover was Tom Andrews, the young
man who filed the place that Mr..
Brown had occupied before Ashton left
which he did in modification after the
case was settled in favor of Brown.
Tom was an ambitious youth and had
for many months been reading law in
his leisure moments, and had now
made up his mind to accept an offer he
had received from a law firm in
Chicago He was about to leave the
quiet village of his youth, where he
and Muriel had grown up together.
Tom, why can't you be contented
to stay herey don't know what |
shall do without you. "
l hate to leave you, Muriel dear,
but want to mako my way in the
world, so when we are married | shall
have something to offer you. can
never advance any in this sleepy little
town.
So he went away, full Of hope and
courage. leaving Muriel sad and lonely,
but also full of hope, for she believed in
Tom. Time wore on; they correspondent
vigorously and he wrote joyfully of his
success. One day she received letter
from him asking for a full account of
how she was found, Just what was in
the basket and, in fact, every detail Of
that strange event of nearly 10 years
ago.
Why, mother, what do you suppose
he can want with itgn she asked Mrs.
Brown.
- can't imagine, Muriel, unless he
thinks he has some clue to your birth.
For my part I'd rather let we'll enough
alone. If | were you | would not send
the information answered Mrs.
Brown, who dreaded any revelation in
regard to Muriel's identity.
But surely, mother, 1t must be all
right or Tom would not ask to know
all about my being found. Don't say
no to me. You and father have been
SO kind and loving that l more than
grateful to the good fortune that
brought me to you. And yet mother
dear, you won't think it strange il l
confess to you that l have always felt
a longing in my heart to know who
really am. - As Muriel finished this
long speech she threw her arms about
her mother and laid her soft young
cheek against the dear face which had
always shone with love for her
OF course, child, do as you wish.
Your father can never say no to you
and l am just as bad, | suppose. "
Muriel wrote Tom all she knew of her
finding. He answered thanking her
for the trouble and said that her case
was SO much like ono he had come
across that he wished to compare the
two, and he requested her to send the
note which Mrs. Brown had found in
the basket. "Well, dear child, am
afraid there is nothing in it, after all.
Tom should not have raised youf
hopes.
50 He didn't raise my hopes and am
no worse off than was before, mother, "
answered the loyal girl.
The subject never came up again.
The time drew near for the Christmas
visit of Tom, to which he and Muriel
had so long looked forward. In the
happy preparations for that Muriel for
got all about the matter The day came
at last for his arrival. Murlel stood
at the station wrapped in her soft, be
coming furs her face glowing with
happiness She was sight to gladden.
any one'e heart, much more so the
heart of Tom. who jumped off the train
excitedly and found his little sweet
heart there, not changed during his 1S
months absence, unless she was pret
tier. That evening as they sat before
the open fire Tom said:
"Muriel, l have a story to tell you,
and l want Mr.. and Mrs. Brown to
listen, too. !"
"Is it fairy story, Tom, like you
used to tell me?" asked Muriel.
''No, dear, but it sounds like one.
Now here goes in the same old way.
Once upon time there was rich old
gentleman and he had two children,
both boys. The home life at their
grand old English mansion was not
very cheerful one and as soon as the
sons were educated they wished to leave
the home of their childhood, where
every wish they had ever had was de-
MED them. and no liberty was allowed
by their cranky old father. His ma +.
ture had become warped at the death
of his wife, whom he lost when the
boys we're little fellows. This is long
story and wish to tell you all the do
tails, SO don't be impatient.
1.-THE eldest son, Douglas, went to
the United States to travel, and there
fell in love and married young and
beautiful orphan girl, who was hold
ing the post of governess in an English