would adopt her, and do for her as if she were his own.

I suggested to him the scandal such a measure would give rise to,
and urged him not to place himself in such an unenviable position,
but he insisted that he was willing to let society have its fling,
and that if I would consent to the child's adoption, he would take
the responsibility attached to it.

What was I to do? The man was well off, and had conceived a fancy
for the child. As for the world's sneers, if he could afford to
laugh at them why should I refuse him the gratification of
performing a noble action? I handed the child over to his care,
having first procured from him written papers of adoption, and
little Beatrice was installed in her new home. A nurse was procured
for her, and everything that money could procure was provided for her
comfort. The gossips sneered and wagged their heads as they spoke of
the "adopted" child, insinuating that there were stronger ties than
those of mere philanthropy to bind Mr. Richards and the child
together, but he, quite unconcerned, paid no attention to their
hints and innuendoes, and tried so far as lay in his power to make
the child comfortable and happy. When she attained the age of five
years he procured a governess for her, and had her instructed
thoroughly in all that go to make up a modern education as she grew
older.

But a cloud soon appeared on the horizon of the child's career.
Mr. Richards became ill, and was ordered by his medical adviser to a
Southerly climate. He was obliged to sell his estate and place
little Beatrice in Mrs. Thompson's boarding school, where she
continued for a few years till the return of her adopted father. He