LICE.'

"I searched for her night and day," repeated the old man, with a sob in
his voice. "Alice died at sea, and the fate of the little one could not
be learned, nor that of the father. I never ceased searching until the
last year. Then I said to myself, 'It is useless--useless. Alice's baby
is dead.' But I have found her most miraculously at last, thank God!"

This revelation created the most intense excitement among the women, who
had listened breathlessly to the _denouement_.

He had scarcely ceased speaking ere Dorothy opened her eyes. She found
to her great consternation a crowd surrounding her.

But in an instant memory returned to her, and with a startled cry she
struggled up to a sitting posture, gazing in blank bewilderment upon the
crowd that had gathered about her.

"I--I fainted and fell backward," she began; but the old gentleman bent
quickly over her, interrupting, hastily:

"Yes, you fell backward and down into the water, my child, and came near
drowning. Where is the young man who saved her?" he cried. "Will some
one fetch him here at once to me, so that I may thank him? Oh, child,
child!" he cried, again bending over Dorothy, "I would have recognized
you among ten thousand! You look at me with your mother's eyes!"

"My mother?" cried Dorothy, in awe, thinking that she had not heard
aright, or that the gentleman had mistaken her for some one else. "I--I
am an orphan; my name is Dorothy Glenn."

The old gentleman did not utter the words that sprang to his lips when
she mentioned the name Glenn, though his face darkened for an instant
with bitter memory.

"But will you tell me," cried Dorothy, with a piteous sob, "what has
become of my escort, Mr. Langdon?"

Nobody seemed to know, and it soon became apparent to everyone--even to
the girl herself--that in her peril he had miserably deserted her rather
than risk his life to save hers.

"Another young man periled his life for you," some one answered; but who
it was Dorothy could not learn, and in that moment she was glad enough
to call for Jack--poor, faithful Jack Garner.

But he did not come this time at her bidding. No one told her that he
was suffering from a severe contusion on the side of the head, and was
scarcely conscious of the message that was sent him at that time.

"You have no need of their protection. From this time henceforth you
shall be under my watchful care, little Dorothy;" and very briefly, and
to her intense amazement,