The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-11-25

hotel of Marseilles, | encountered
there, i'll the act of inquiring for me,
! the doctor vino had written on NV
sister-in laws behalf. As had not
replied to his letter, the good man had
said i'll his simplicity: He will be
here in person" and had looked for
me every day. You have lost no time.
sir, said he. Doubtless you thought
and rightly, that did you delay, death
might forestall YOU. All am indeed
glad to see your
Il WAS completely nonplussed. Ny
sole object III visiting Marseiles haG
| been the profes -ional one, but how
| could | aVOw such q fact to such q
man? For very shame | could not do
so. Accordingly, instead of going
straight to the theatre. as l had I'M
tended doing, | walked away with tho
doctor 20 my sister-ln-law' pool
abode.
lit was a most wretched room. Yet
the first object in that caught my ey5
Was Il VerF beautiful one Near .th4
inyAIid's bed stood her iittSe girl, with
i"r.:e mack eyes, pretty curry hair, and
face whose expression was pathetic
combination Of youthful brightness
ami premature sadness. At the first
glance i could have taken the lovely
creature into my arms; then | sternly
represSed this alien emotion. The
doctor, after he had spoken a few
words to his patient, beckoned Inc to.
approach. AS did SO the poor wo-.
man tried to raise herself. The mix
tnra OF sadness and pride upon herr
faded countenance tod me plainly
how great an effort it had cost her to
appeal to me. Using the strongest
pea that she knew, she pointed to heI
child with weak, remb'lng finger, and
said in low tones: See here. She
will soon be alone in the world
Even this touching appeal pro-
duced q blush to say it) no effect upon
my hard heart. l answered coldlyE.
why give away to such fears? You
are young; you have a good physicianI
why lose all hope?" A less selfish
man would have added: You have al
brotherinlaw also, who means to dol
the best for YOU But l said nothing
of the sort. My only thought was
how | might easily escape from the
who had been gazing at me with wont
dering eyes, now came TO my side and
said: VIII you please sit upon theE
to kiss you if GU stand
81 sat down, and the child climbed
upon my knee. Her mothers eNesk
were closed, and her hands were clasp
ed as if in prayer. Unaffrighted byk
my black looks, the little one thre "
her arms around my neck, and press
ed her lips to my cheek. Will you
be my papa?' said she. L will loveEs
you so dearly You are so like papa.
He was very good. Are you good, L.
too?
My only answer was to unclasp her
arms somewhat roughly from my
neck, end set her down upon the floor. II
she cast upon me II glance of mingled
,urprise, disappointment, and fear,
and tear rolled softly down her
cheek. Her silent sorrow worked the-5.
miracle hat her pretty, fond prattle
lad failed to effect.
AS by an euchanter's wand, the
lgllness of my character, the utter
of my conduct was revealed
o me in that moment. l shuddered
Il horror and self disgust, and yield
ID at once to my goou angel. | lifted
he disconsolaJe little maiden into my
arms, and laying her hand upon my
lead, said: Yes, my child, promise
o he father to you; you shall be M
lear little daughter, and | will love
md take care Of You always
How happy this promise made my
lister in-law, words fail me to de-
cribe. Her joyful excitement alarm
d both the physician and my self
10y, however, seldom kills. Brother,
,rothern she murmured. how my
thoughts have wronged you? Forgive
nen her gratitude stung my newly
walked conscience more sharply than |
my reproach could have done.
fastened to change the subject to that
# the sick woman's removal to q
letter d" elling. The doctor, with
eady kindness, undertook the task |
f househunting, for which |, u
ranger to the place, was not so well
Qualified.
He found for us Il delightful cottage
II tie neighborhood of Marseilles. |
here we three, M sis,er,in- aw, my
.iece, and myself-liged for thre"
months. At tie eud of that time the
lother passed peacefully away, leav
uc he child 10 my care, with full
ontiG"nce in my affection. Marie
las been with me ever since. Her joys
ave been my Joys, her life has been
~ life. Do 1 not owe her much?
hat tear of her's--a precious pear
by my heart-has been TO it
What the dewdrop of morn is to the
ilower-eXpanding it for
lie entire day of its existencem