The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-07-14


fortune awaiting them, if they can
only be found"
l wish they could, replied his
wife, earnestly; ''poor, dear ELL
en- l wonder if she is living? It
seems SO strange, l should have
lost all trace of her, SO entirely;
and we were like dear sisters
once, I wish you'd give the mat
ter some attention, Charles"
81 will; I'll hunt them up vet.
Never fear, my dear"
MIR. Goldthwaite returned to his
paper, and his wife to her work.
but in little while, there came a
shrlll tinkl;ng of sleighbells, and
Flora rushed in, exclaining:
"Oh, Mamma here's Fred back
again. Something's the matter
All hands hurried to the pi-
azza. The sleigh was at the gate.
Fred leaped out, and taking some-
thing in his arms, hastened
through the driving snow.
"Why, it's a child" screamed
the girls.
81 found her right beyond the
brldge,,' explained Fred, quite
out of breath. "Black Bess SHE'D.
and the reins broke, and I jumped
out, and there she lay in the
snow. Mother, hope she's not
dead"
Mr.. Goldthwaite took the little,
snowy form, from his son, and
carried it into the warm sitting
room.
"Lay her on the lounge,
Charles; and Flora, ring for Jane,
and order hot blankets. Poor
little waif, 1 wonder who she can
be-"
The Christmas merriment WAS
all hushed, and for an hour,
Mrs. Goldthwaite and Jane worked
earnestly. At last, Nellie opened
her eyes. The room was warm,
and bright, and luxurious. In
one corner stood a glittering
Christmas tree. She looked from
one object to another, and sud-
den smile lit her white face.
''This is Heaven" she said,
softly, "and, OIL where is Ma
map"
Mrs. Goldwaite bent down and
kissed her, her tears falling.
'No, dear, it is not heaven.
But you are with kind friends,
who will take the best care of
YOU"
For minute the child looked
troubled. Then she tried to
rise.
II must 60 on, want to get to
Grafton, and try to find Mr..
GOldthWaite.
"Why, my dear there is Mr..
Goldthwaite, and I am his wife.
Were you coming to see us?"
Nellie's eyes widened, and her
little face frightened again.
II am SO glad. Are you Mrs.
Goldthwaite? Mrs. Alice Gold
thwaite?'
Eyes, dear"
''Then, I've letter for you.
Mama wrote it before she died,
and I've kept it so long"
Nellie struggled up, and drew
forth the worn letter from her bo-
som. The lady took it eagerly,
tore it open, read a line or two,
aud then caught the child in her
arms.
ooh! Charles, come herel' she
cried. "Read this letter? She
is poor Ellen Coburn's child. She
was coming to u.s."
"Mr. Goldthwaite read the let
ter, with lawyer-like precision
then he held out his hand to Mel.
lie.
"You come just in the nick of
time, my DEAR" he said, genially,
"and have saved me the trouble
of hunting you up. There's q
fortune waiting for you, my little
girl. Do you know you are an
heiress?"
Nellie made no answer; she
turned to the lady, and put her
arms about her neck.
"Will you be my second mo-
ther?" she asked, her eyes filling.
"Mama said you would; and I'm
SO tired, and I want q mother 40
bad"
''Indeed, I WILL" cried Mrs.
Goldthwaite, "Your loving mo-
ther. You shall never be tired,
or sad again, my little Nell.
Children, come here, and kiss your
new little sister"
The girls came willingly, but
Fred, flushing to the roots of his
curly hair, hurried out of the