The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-12-28


many a year, and there was nothing
more natural than she should come
and keep my house now that | want
young gal to tidy up things a bit. I'm
getting very old, too, and my hands is
crippled with the rheumatism, and the
child would never have known but
what [ was her father"
"Other people know it, however, to
your cost Now, look here, Mr.. O'Reilly,
l don't want to be hard upon you"
Are you magistrate, then, sir %
you'll soon find out what | am, If
you attempt to throw any obstacles in
my way. I don't want to be hard on
you, as I said before; on the contrary,
if you will give us all the information
you can respecting the child which
your wife picked up, | will make it
worth your while; if not"
t'Well, gentlemen, I suppose no one
can have me up for my wife's fault at
this distance of time, and the dead,
poor soul! So, if it is made worth my
while"
IF you will give us the exact date and
place, and circumstances connected with
the finding of the child, you shall have
twenty pounds down."
rs that a bargain, sir, honor bright?"
ct is
Then / can very soon earn it, for
I've got all the dates and ct ceteras
writ down in case they was called for"
He fumbled in an old case of leather
for awhile, until he produced some
filthy documents scribbled in pencil.
my wife found that ERE child in
ditch, on Tuesday, the 4th day of July,
18-," he said, reading it out.
"The very day she was lost!' ex-
claimed Sir Frederic, clutching at his
companions arm.
con the right-hand side of a wood
near Tuition, in Surrey
Seven miles to the north of AbbottS-
vilIe?" interposed the baronet again.
''And it had on a night-gown, and
flannel, and cap, trimmed with lace,
and marked with the letter F. I've got
them clothes by me still, gentlemen"
''Let me have them, and here are the
notes." cried Sir Frederic, hurriedly,
as he drew out his purse.
The discolored baby-linen was placed
before him in exchange. He examined
it in silence.
my wife's own work, Ruthven," he
said, after a pause. "She put every
stitch into these things herself, whilst
I sat by and watched her. Oh! my
child, my child!'
AS soon as they were outside the
costermonger' door, Ruthven turned
to Sir Frederic with the question:
where shall we go next?"
Home, Mr.. Ruthven. Let me go
home without delay, and embrace my
child-my Florence-who is heiress to
Abbottsville and all that surrounds it!
How strange it seems! too good and
wonderful to be true; and yet 1 had
an inkling, from the first day saw the
dear girl, that we should be drawn to-
gether in some wonderful manner. Did
| tell you she was baptised Florence?
She appeared delicate at birth, and the
doctor advised her immediate baptism,
and she received her mothers name.
And how like she is to her in voice,
and style, and feature! My heart recog-
niZed her at once All, Ruthven, I am
too happy! I feel as though | had
nothing more to live for in this world"
ION the contrary, you have your
daughter to live for, and have but just
commenced life anew
They travelled back to Abbottsville
as fast as they could, Sir Frederic's
thankfulness and joy overlooking at
every step of the way. But Ruthven
did not appear to sympathize as heart
lily as he might have done in the good.
fortune of his friend. In truth, his hon
est heart was sore.
Sir Frederic was too happy and i'm
patient to allow his daughter to be pre-
pared for the great change awaiting
her. He ran into the drawing-room as
impetuously as a boy, and blurted out
the truth before them all. And then he
rushed at Margaret as though to en-
brace her, and found, to his great dis
may, that she had slipped through his
fingers and flown to the shelter of
Ruthvens arms instead
Tell me-" she gasped, sis it true?"r
Its all true, my darling" he an
swered, in voice that slightly trem-
bled; I'VE have proved beyond doubt
that you are Sir Frederic's daughter
and Miss Flowers cousin, and you are
very glad of it are you not?"
IF you will stay with me-yesr she
whispered in his ear.
Florence! will you not speak to
your father?" exclaimed the baronet.