Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-11-17
ests - ts4* $3.50 ssgass
Convinced
Story Of a Well Kept
Secret.
By F. 4. mitchell

49, 2 -
$>%>><%%>>%>%%s$>%s%>>>>>s
Rosamond Deane was sitting at
breakfast In her home In the center Of
a Georgia plantation. She was a spin
ster, and as Queen Elizabeth was mar
ried to the state SO was Miss Deane
married to q girl friend That friend
had left her some time before to take
her invalid mother to Europe. Letters
were received from the traveller post
marked Naples, Rome, Florence, Luz
cerne and other points. The last, re-
ceived from little seacoast town In
England, announced that the writer
would be at home within few weeks.
While Miss Deane was breakfastihg
that morning it was fated that she
should receive the surprise Of her life.
Chloe, an old darby woman who was
born on the plantation, came into the
room carrying a basket and exclaimed:
go de Lawd. Missy Rosa, wha' yo'
s'pose found on de po'ch?"
Placing the basket on the table, she
turned down an embroidered blanket
and exposed the face Of a girl babv
that appeared to be three or four weeks
old.
poor dear little motherless childr'
exclaimed Miss Deane. bending over
the baby and kissing her.
"Wha' yo' t'ink O. dat woman who
lef' her baby to some un else?' grum-
bled Chloe.
But Miss Deane heard not. She was
busy uncovering the child with a view
to examining the clothing for a mark
OF identity. The apparel was Of fine
texture, but there was nothing on 1t to
give a clew.
We'll, Chloe" said Rosamond, Pm
sorry for Its mother, but her loss Is our
gain. We will keep 1t. The house won't
be so lonely hereafter"
lei 70 do when yo' come to Tub 1t
SOMEBODY come along and tax 1t away
from 70 sho.
i cant help tnat. l can't turn the
little stranger away
But nckle rate, having Drought JOY,
turned ABOUT several days later ANA
brought sorrow. A letter came an
nouncing the death OF MISS Deane's
bosom friend. 1t was dictated by the
dead girls mother, but was written by
man. The shock to Rosamond was
severe and was the more intense that
she had expected any day to receive
word that her friend had arrived In
America. For a time she forgot the
little girl who had come to her In her
grief; then suddenly it occurred to her
that the child had been sent by Provi-
Gence as a compensation for her loss.
Taking the little one In her arms, she
covered her with kisses.
In due time letter was received,
written in the same hand as the first
and signed Edward Warick, stating
that the mother had survived the
daughter but few days and both
would be buried in England. This was
a disappointment to Rosamond, who
had hoped for the satisfaction of at
least keeping her friends grave green.
The clothes in which the founding
had been received were put away that
thev might possibly serve. as an iden-
tification in the future. Chloe was in
sta,led as nurse Miss Deane acted as
mother. Months passed without any
intimation as TO the baby's parentage.
and what was at first desired came to
he dreaded By the time little Wini-
frad 40 her foster mother named her.
reached the age of six months she had
60 completely wound herself around
tba heart Of Rosamond Deane and
chloe that any one appearing to claim
~ would have haan regarded "a an
enemy
uh.,, yu,r,frad ,,as o,ohtaen months
IA - ,os.nr mothor roceived a letter
~ phiIodalnh;o that aston
is.o1 ~ T. ,ros u,r;ttan In a mans
80 80 otto,n+ saar,od 70 hove
han' I'D 80 d,saniso ~ II stated
that chils had been left at Miss
..4.A