"Typhus! I'm sorry for you, Teddy, and sorry, too, for your mother,
who is an excellent woman; but the little girl may yet recover:
while there is life, there is hope, you know. Even if she dies, it
is not so bad as--I am going to New York, Teddy, to look for a little
cousin of mine whose parents do not know if she is living or dead,
suffering or safe: that is worse than to have her ill, but under
their care and protection, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir, perhaps. Is the little girl in New York, sir, do you
think?"
"We hear of a child found astray there, who answers to the
description; and I am going to see her before we mention the report
to her mother. Have you never seen Mr. Legrange here, Teddy? It is
his little girl. I wonder you haven't heard us talking of the
matter."
"I don't mind the name, sir; and I haven't heard of the little girl
before. Is she long lost?"
"Ten days yesterday. I have been busy all the week in the search for
her. The clothes she had on when lost were found in a pawn-broker's
shop; but we have no trace of her yet."
"What looking child was she, if you please, sir?" asked Teddy after
a short pause, in which he seemed to study intently; while Mr.
Burroughs went on glancing at the newspapers in his hand.
"'Toinette? Here is a description of her in 'The Journal,' and I
have a photograph in my pocket-book. Here it is. It is well for you
to study them both; for possibly you may discover her. I didn't
think of it before; but you are just the boy to put upon the search.
If you should find her, Teddy, Mr. Legrange will make your fortune.
He is rich and generous, and this is his only child. Eleven o'clock.
Shall be in at one."
As he spoke, Mr. Burroughs threw the paper and photograph upon
Teddy's table, and hastily left the office. The boy took up "The
Journal," and read the following advertisement:--
"Lost, upon the evening of Oct. 31, a little girl, six years of age,
named Antoinette Legrange; of slight figure, round face, delicate
color, large blue eyes, long curled hair of a bright-yellow color,
small mouth, and regular teeth. She was dressed, at the time of her
disappearance, in a blue frock and brown boots, with a lady's
breakfast-shawl; and wore upon the sleeve of her dress a bracelet of
coral cameos engraved under the clasp with her name in full. A
liberal reward will be paid for information concerning her. Apply at
the police-station."
When he had studied this, Teddy took up the photograph, and examined
it earnestly. The dress, the long curled hair, the joyous
expression, were very different from the pale face, wild eyes, and
cropped head of the little sister at home; but Teddy's heart sank
within him as he traced the delicate features, the curved lips, and
trim little figure. He dropped the picture, and, leaning his face
upon his arm, sobbed aloud.
"I'll lose her anyway, if she dies or if she lives; and it's all the
little sister ever I got."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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