The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-08-28


astonisheG.
Jennie. Mamma called me Jennie
darling
81 thought you hated little girls, -
she added, looking up, wonderingly,
into the kind, plying face that was
bending over her.
mo, indeed; love them, dearly! I
only wish l had little girl like you"
do you? 1 wish l was your little
girl I'm nobodys little girl since
mamma died"
Moved by an irresistible impulse, Mr..
Plympton put his arm around her,
drawing her closely to him. And, as
the child nestled there, she said, with
a mysterious aif:
IF you'll promise not to tell any one,
I'll show you my mammals picture"
"You may be sure that l won't"
"You won't tell Mrs. Plympton? She
don't know I've got it; she'd take it
away from me, if she knew"
mo"
The child thrust her hand into her
bosom, taking from thence a small
package. She carefully unrolled it's
numerous wrappings, the inner one of
which was the fragment of a hand
kerchief, worn, indeed, but of the finest
linen.
Mr.. Plympton's eye caught name in
one corner: MARY Carlton" He
started.
"Why, how came you by that?"
cit was my mammals; they took
away from me everything but that. But
just see mammas picture! Isn't she
pretty, and don't she look kind and
good?'
AS Mr.. Plympton's eyes fell on the
fair, sweet face that was held up to
him, every feature of which was craven
so deeply upon his memory, he turned
pale.
Great Cod" he calculated, '1s that
your mother? Yes, it must be. l see
it all now! Tell me, did you ever
hear your mother speak about her
brother, and your uncle Charles?"
about Uncle Charley? Oh! yes. She
told me all about his sailing across
the great sea. L used to pray, every
night, that God would bring him back
to u.s."
Mr.. Plympton took the child up in
his arms, covering her little face with
kisses.
God has answered your prayer!"
he said, in voice tremulous with emo
ton. Il am that uncle! Strange, in
deed, are the leadings of His provi-
dence'
Just then harsh, discordant voice
screamed from below:
'Betsey janet"
ooh! there's Mrs. Plympton!" ex-
claimed the child, clinging to her new
ly-found uncle in an agony of terror.
"She told me not to speak to you.
Don't let her beat me and put me down
in the dark cellar, where the ugly rats
are!"
"My darling, don't tremble so. She
shall not touch you Nothing shall
harm you any more. Good heavens! to
think of Mary's child being treated
thus!"
Steps were now heard ascending the
stairs, and then the door was flung
open, and, livid with rage, Mrs. Plymp-
ton painted:
"You little wretch! I'll teach you to
make me come all the way up these
stairs after you!'
She stopped, aghast, as her eyes fell
upon Mr.. Plympton.
"Good gracious! who'd have thought
of finding you here!"
Betsy Jane" she added, in tone
of suppressed fury, chow dare you an
noy the gentleman SO! Get right down
off his lap and come to mel"
Here Mr.. Plympton's indignation
found vent in words.
Base woman! how dare you call my
dead sisters child by that name? How
dare you impose upon me by the story
of her death, and treat her in such a
shameful manner? Don't you deny it,;
it's all as clear to me as the noon
day sun. If you were not my brothers
widow I'd make you suffer for it dear
ly; as it is, I'll have nothing further
to do with you from this day.
Come, Jennie" he said, turning to
his little niece, put on your things
and we'll get away as soon as possible.
I shall never breathe freely until I
get out of this place.
"No matter about them" he added,
viewing with disgust the soiled and
torn garments. 'I've got a shawl,
and can wrap you in that. l am going
to take you to a beautiful home, my
darling, where kind old woman lives,
who will take good care of you. There
you will have a pleasant room all to
yourself; pony and carriage, and
many other things besides. Nothing
shall be too fair or costly for you, my
pet; for you are to be heiress to Locust
Hill and all its belongings"
This was said partly for the benefit
of Miss Julia, who was peering over
the banisters.
81 told you just how it would be,
ma" was this young lady's consoling
observation to her discounted mother.
When the carriage came round to
the door Mr.. Plympton came down.
stairs with Jennie in his arms, nothin g
but her head being visible from the