she asked, hurriedly. "Is it taken from life?"

"This young man says it is his sister," said the clerk.

"Your sister!" said the lady, her eyes bent, inquiringly, upon Jack.
In her tone, too, there was a slight mingling of surprise, and, as it
seemed, disappointment.

"Yes, madam," said Jack, respectfully.

"Pardon me," she said, "there is so little family resemblance, I should
hardly have supposed it."

"She is not my own sister," said Jack, "but I love her just the same."

"Do you live in (sic) Philadelphia? Could I see her?" asked the lady,
eagerly.

"I live in New York, madam," said Jack; "but Ida was stolen from us
nearly a fortnight since, and I have come here in pursuit of her. I have
not been able to find her yet."

"Did you say her name was Ida?" demanded the lady, in strange agitation.

"Yes, madam."

"My young friend," said the lady, rapidly, "I have been much interested
in the story of your sister. I should like to hear more, but not here.
Would you have any objection to coming home with me, and telling me the
rest? Then we will, together, concert measures for discovering her."

"You are very kind, madam," said Jack, somewhat bashfully; for the lady
was elegantly dressed, and it had never been his fortune to converse
with many ladies of her rank; "I shall be very much obliged to you for
your advice and assistance."

"Then we will drive home at once."

Jack followed her to the street, where he saw an elegant carriage, and a
coachman in livery.

With natural gallantry, Jack assisted the lady into the carriage, and,
at her bidding, got in himself.

"Home, Thomas!" she directed the driver; "and drive as fast as
possible."

"Yes, madam."

"How old was your sister when your parents adopted her?" asked Mrs.
Clifton. Jack afterwards ascertained that this was her name.

"About a year old, madam."

"And how long since was it?" asked the lady, bending forward with
breathless interest.

"Eight years since. She is now nine."

"It must be," said the lady, in a low voice. "If it is indeed so, how
will my life be blessed!"

"Did you speak, madam?"

"Tell me under what circumstances your family adopted Ida."

Jack related, briefly, the circumstances, which are already familiar to
the reader.

"And do you recollect the month in which this happened?"

"It was at the close of December, the night before New Years."

"It is--it must be she!" ejaculated the lady, clasping her hands while
tears