Year: 1875

expected apparltlOn, III tne snaPe VI you"S
girl, near her own age, but so pale, tattered
and forlorn looking as to excite compassion,
standing within few yards of the steps.
She had no wrapping over her worn calico
dress, and her hands we're blue with cold. But
from beneath her shabby hat, lovely mass
of fair hair fell over her shoulders, and the
face, upturned with wistful blue eyes to Es-
telle, was as beautiful as an angels in its inno'
cence and purity of expression. Estelle was
involuntarly struck by it, as she stopped and
accosted her.


"What is it you want?' she asked, suppos-
ing that she wassome wandering beggar come
at this early hour to ask aims.


81 am very hungry and tired" was the an
swer, in a pitiful, childish voice. 81 have
come a long way, and can hardly walk. Please
let me rest here little, and give me piece
of bread" ?"


"You are very young to be going about in
this way alone" rejoined Estelle. "Where
have YOU come from this morning?"


81 slept in barn last night; but l was so
cold was glad to get up and walk as soon as
it was light enough to see"


"She doesn't look or talk like common
beggar," thought Estelle, observant of her re-
fined manner and correct speech and opening
the door, she bid the young stranger follow
her into the house. The servants were up,
and calling one of them, she briefly stated the
case, and desired that the girl should be ia
ken into the breakfast room, where the fire
was already burning, and that good meal
should be given her.


To her great discontinue, however, no
sooner had the poor little wanderer expe-
rienced the warmth of the room, than, over
powered by the sudden transition from the
extreme cold to which she had been exposed,
and probably also by weakness and fatigue,
she swooned away, and remained for some
time in an unconscious state, Notwithstanding
all the efforts made to restore her.


Fortunately, DR.. Sydney had ridden over
very early to inquire after Mrs. Blandfords
welfare, and came upon the scene of acton
Just in time to give efficient aid. He declared
that the child was quite too feeble to travel
any farther, and that whoever she might be,
it would be simply an act of Christian charity
to allow her to remain for short time at
"The Cedars' in order to recuperate her
strength.


81 suppose Flora can attend to her" said
Estelle, who did not fancy playing the part OF
nurse to new patient.


"Flora can attend to her perfectly we'll ;
you need give yourself no trouble in the mat
ter" said the doctor, rather curtly; for Estelle
was no favorite of his Flora was steady
middle.aged domestic, Of few words but kind
heart, who undertook without comment, the
duty assigned to her, and fulfilled it faithfully,
having been drawn toward the forlorn little
stranger from the moment that she was placed
in her charge.


The child's strength returned but slowly,
and it was some days before she could leave
the bed to which, by the doctors orders, she
had been consigned. Thus it happened that
she was lust able to walk about again, and
had for the first time been brought to Mrs.
Blandford, who had expressed wish to see
her, and to hear her history from herself, on
the morning Of the day on which the master
of the house returned, bringing with him
another unexpected guest. This was no less
parsonage than Mr.. Daniel Parkinson, who
had found himself, on Mr. Blandford's arrival
in New York, so much better as to be able
(though not without considerable difficulty,
to accompany him home, they having sue
ceeded in tracing Zanita to Charleston, ano
intending to proceed there as soon as Mr.
Blandford had assured himself Of his wife's
well.being, for which purpose he had stopped
on the way.


Husband and wife were closeted together
and the young stranger, roaming slowly along
one of the lower passages toward an oper
door, suddenly caught sight Of a burly, though
somewhat broken-looking figure, sitting in
detected attitude in the piazza outside. She
stopped -hesitated- prolonged, eager
gaze-then glad, tremulous, uncertain voice
and cried out


Uncle Dan-uncle Dan Is it you ?"


The individual thus accosted turned-ut
tered an exclamation Of joyful recognition
and lmped step forward to meet the child
who bounded into his arms.


"Nita-my little Nita my darling one
my pretty, my own lost child Thank Goo
I've got you again.


And then followed mutual questioning anc
explanation, until the full recital of the ad
ventures of each had been given. But uncle
Dan, holding her with wistful looks and low
ing caresses in his arms, could not bring him
self yet to tell her the grand secret he had tt
reveal-could not bear to tell her that it wa
his duty to give her up forever!
! Mr.. Blandford presently came down, ane
drew back in astonshment at the sight of th'
pair. Then uncle Dan put Nita away from
his knee, and still holding her hand in his
rose up and spoke with steady voice


"Mr. .Blandford, sir thank God your wrong
are redressed at last. Your search is endet
and your child is found !!


"How" stammered Mr. Blandford, not full.
comprehending, yet with the light dml.
breaking upon his mind, as he looked from
the agitated old man before him, to the beau
tiful child at his side, whose innocent eye
turned enquiringly upon them both, as if t.
seek, in their faces, solution of the problem
so suddenly presented to her. "Do you meal
that this"


"This child, sir, whom the mercy Of Heave
has brought under your roof is the one who