The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-07-17

embroidered with q design Of ross
buds and fuchias in green and GRIM
son silk. A necklace of coral fas-
tened with q clasp Of rubies and tiny
bracelets Of the same material.
added to the effect Of the tasteful
dress. A locket, set with rnbies, and
containing a braid of dark and light
hair. vas suspended by a strong
though slender chain from her neck,
and though the stockings that en-
cased her chubby feet and legs were
OF l~ambswool. rather than of silk,
the little boots she wore made OF
crimson kid, beautifully stitched,
and buttoned up the front with little
gilded stars.
On further examination her under
clothing was found to be of the rich
est material and the most delicate
workmanship, while to the breast of
the little frock was stitched an en-
velope. addressed in a feignedly
awkward and unfeminine hand:
80 the Child's Preserver."
"Open it, Rudolph, since you
found her and are going to care for
her." SAID Mrs. Irotter, who was
looking quite overcome with w
and wonder at the unexpected dis
covery. The boy broke the seal. A
bank note of fifty pounds and a
folded paper auttered 20 his feet to-
gether. On the paper, in the same
hand, were traced these words:
"Call the child Verona. Be kind
to her and you will be rewarded in
time. DO not try to trace u her
parentage; 1t is a secret never to be
discovered. The enclosed sum will.
for the present, be paid yearly for
her support if she lives"
That was all. But it was quite
enough to build a of sew
eral volumes upon. as they sat look
ing at the unconscious child. who
ate her supper contentedly from the
tin porringcr, and then fell asleep
In Mrs. Irotter's lap, never waking
even when she was laid in bed,
wrapped in n Of that good lady's
night dresses, which swathed her
like a mummy, from head to foot.
"Can you reade"
80 yes, indeed
"And keep a]ccounts??"
s.Yes."
"Then you're the very lad for my
place, If it will suit YOU"
"Any place will suit me, ma'am,
where can get an honest living and
be near her."
"Well, you can do both things
here, if you're lot afraid OF work.
The fact is, the man | had to help
me turned dishonest, and | was
obliged to give him in charge and
appear against him only day before
yesterday. | hated to do it, but
then he had been robbing me ever
so long; and when | found it out I
couldn't quite let him go clear, and
say thank you, too-don't you see?n
81 see." said the boy smiling.
"And SO | have been left all alone
here for two mortal days; and if that
isn't enough to drive any one out of
their seven senses, | don't know
what is. And | sent for Tim, my
sisters boy, down in Hamp-
shire. But if he had been coming
he would have been here to-night;
and ! expect that l shall get a letter
from there tomorrow, saying that
the pigs pettitoes ] ordered a
come up by express, but that Tim
must stay at home to be a comfort
to his lonely old mother-some such
nonsense. The way my sister does
spoil that boy is perfectly outrage
Gus. And suppose [ should have
had ar awful time with him and with
her if | had taken him, so it is lust
as well On the whole. that YOU have
come
''And a great deal better for me,
ma'am."
"les, poor boy, you need a home
more than Tim does, that is very
sure. And | only hope you will be
as good and honest as you look, and
you will find me ready to be a moth
er to you in the place of her you
have lost"
The boys eyes filled with tears,
and he took her honest, brown hand
in his and kissed it.
"And now about your bed. You
won't be afraid to sleep up in the
attic, will you"
ga sailor lad afraid!'
$40 be sure. A fine bold spirit
you have Of your own, my dear.
Well, take the light, and mind you
blow it out carefully. The door OF
your Dom is right at the head of the
stairs. and you'll find a nice little
bed in the room. Sleep we'll, nv
lad, and try to be up early to help
me in the morning"