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108 LITTLE GOLDEN’S DAUGHTER. . oO
‘Poor Bert,” said Mr. Desmond, ‘‘and all the while she was _
in his sister’s employ, and in reach of his hand, if he had only
known it.” - oN -
There was a moment’s heavy silence; then Richard Leith rose
hastily. Oo / Bey
‘©T must go home now,” he said. ‘‘I—may God forgixe:me— —
I was so maddened by my child’s wrongs and my own suspicions, ©
that I refused to own her; I drove -her. away from. her rightful
home. Pray God. that she be not gone. “If she has,.I_must.bring
‘her back and tell her that I know her whole sad story; and I must’
make the best I can of her poor, blighted life.” CO ee
~ ‘¢Shall you write to Bertram Chesleigh?” inquired Desmond.
‘“‘ Yes, for they must know that they have wronged you, and
that you are innocent,” replied the lawyer. - ‘* And, Desmond, ©
_you must write to your wife. Iwill inclose your letter. with |
mine, otherwise, in her pride and anger, she might return it. un-
opened. I thank God that your fidelity is vindicated, and that -
your reunion is now insured,” : _ mo , a
‘‘T have a better plan than writing to her,” said Desmond,
‘blushing like a school-girl. ‘*I will follow your letter: to her
brother, and plead my cause in person. I cannot wait, Leith;-1
am too impatient. I long to meet my wifeand child again. You
will give me their address? The Huropa sails to-night. I must
go with her.” a
_ Mr. Leith saw no objection to the plan. He was sorry for the
impatient husband who had received a lesson that would last a.
life-time. ;
He gave him his wife’s address in Italy, with his cordial good
wishes, and went away to seek his wronged, unhappy daughter.
‘*She cannot have gone yet. She was too weak and ill to have
one to-day. She would have waited until she was better,” he
sept whispering to his reproachful heart as he hurried along.
__ Then he thought of the beautiful, fashionable woman who
had taken the place of little Golden’s mother, and worn her —
name for twelve long years. ee
‘Poor Gertrude,” he murmured, sadly. I wonder how she
bears it. Perhaps she will not grieve much. She does not love
me as she did when I first made her my wife. Perhaps Iam to
blame. I have chilled her tender nature by my carelessness or
coldness, for I have never loved her as I did my lost little
Golden.” __ , | :
He hurried up the marble steps and ran impatiently along the
hall, stumbling egainst the housekeeper, who was pacing sedately
along with a little basket of keys.
— ~ As he was rushing past her she stopped and called to him.
‘‘ Mistress and her maid are gone away. sir.”
“Where?” he inquired, pausing and looking back in bewil-
dered surprise. os -
, ' “T cannot tell you, for I do not know,” the woman replied, re+
spectfully. ‘*‘ But she bade me say that she left a letter for you on
her dressing-table.” tt
te
- He ran up to Mrs. Leith’s dressing-room, and found it in some
_ slight disorder, as if traveling bags had been hurriedly packed.
a