The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-22

alligator bag indicated that. He asked for the best room in the house and paid for 1t in advance The morning after his arrival he set out for the parson- age, and through the volubility of the minister's housekeeper, 1t soon leaked out that he had come to inquire about Mrs. Rossiter. The parsOn took him first to the little graveyard and showed him the mound beneath which the old char-woman lay buried. Then he ac- companied him to the orphanage to see little Bee.
 Lizzie Macready was busy at a win dow, when the stranger and the parson walked up the gravel path. The bronzed face of the former was aglow with excitement Lizzie had never seen a more pleasing face, she thought 1t. was.a good, honest face, too, and when a moment later she was requested to bring little Bee to the eception-room, her heart throbbed wildly. Perhaps her prayer had been heard!
 The woman and the chlld entered the room, and the stranger came forward to greet them. He caught the little girl in his arms and kissed her Bee, who had never before been earessed by man, wound her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder. A good omen, thought Lizzie, and con- fidingly shook the strangers hand. The minister introduced the visitor as Mir. Correll, little Bees half-brother. His father, a wild. reckless fellow, had left his wife. He had taken their child, boy, with him The boy was the man, who now stCod before them. They had drifted to the mining camps of Colorado and there Correll had amassed riches. A few months ago he died, leaving everything to his son and imploring him to find his mother. This the son did. He had learned of his mothers divorce and marriage to Ros- sitter, and of the birth of q baby girl. Their trail led to the little mountain town in Vermont, and here he found one in her grave the other a public charge in an Orphanage Now he would take her away with him and spend his riches upon her. In a day or two he would be ready to depart.
 Lizzie Macready grew pale as death, when he announced his intention. The child, still nesting in his arms, held out her hand to her foster-mother.
 Dear Number Six, she cried, q can never leave your
 I1I fv, cheek at this ayowal of affection on the part of the child. The stranger stopped and kissed her hand.
 How can I ever thank you for what you have done for herr'
 For days MT. COrrell, the rich young miner, fingered Tn the little mountain town. Again the gOssips got together, wondering what kept him in place so devoid of attraction to people with money. There was nothing in the way of little Bees departure Surely that foolish young woman, Lizzie Mac ready, would not again interpose silly objections.
 Every day the stranger went to the orphanage to spend hours with his lit tie sister and her beloved Number Six, for he insisted that Lizzie Macready should accompany her charge on all their strolls through the garden.
 At last he informed the landlord of the little hostelry that he would depart the next day. He ordered a four-seat carriage instead of the single fly to take him to the station.
 q am not going alone this time," he said, with happy smile.
 Going to take the little girl with you, I see," answered the landlord, saying to himself that there would be one less for the county to feed.
 "Yes, and wifep' continued Correll.
 "A wifeT gasped the innkeeper. "Where did you get herT
 lover at the orphanage. I am going to be married h the morning to Lizzie Macready-Number Six-you knoww- St. Louis Republic.