Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 367: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘no more strange than my own, for manna saved me from, perhaps nr worse fute even than she was resoved from.” “Why, what do you mean, Marie Enrlescourt,” de- -matided Belle, sitting erect and regarding her friend {nastonishmeut, “aren't you Mrs, Earlescourt’s own daughter?’ “No; I do not even know my own natue.” “Why! why! why!" said Belle, breatilessly. “ suppose, silee you are an Americau, that you liave beard about the dreadful Chicngo tire,” Marie remarked, tnquiringly. ? “Yes, iudaar and, oh!—" Belle begun, excitedly, but her friend went on : “Well, mamma was in Chicago at that time: she has alwnys said that she belleves that she would have lost her life then but for papa, who, though he was Not married to ler at thut tiine, saved her when ghe was in reat dauger, Wiiile they were trying to vet out of thehuruing city tozebler, they came Across me—I was all sloue in that frightened, shriekiuy crowd, nnd crying is if my heart would break for my own inamuia, trom whom [must lave been sepirated ju the panic. Mami suys they took me into the cherie with them nnd afterword to some friends of hers, where she took refuge, and where for weeks she advertised in (different papersitrying to find inv parents. But uobody ever crme to claim me. and she tlnally concluded thut they must have perished in the flames. Miramima had lost her own-litthe girl only the year before, and so she adopted ime in her plioe, and his been the dearest mother to me that ever lived. I do uot, of course, reinember much about thnt drendful time, and [lean hardly realize that Pdo not realy belong to her, for IT love her with iny whole heart—every bitws well ns if she were wy very awn.” Belle drew a spasmodic breath as ler friend con- cluded, while her face was very paie and her eyes big with repressed excitement. “Twas in thatChicawo fire, too,” she said, “aid——" “You!” exclaimed Marie, in turn astonished. “Yes, but of course I donot remeurber anything about it, for I was ouly xv baby. Maruman was visit- ing there withiny sister md me; nnd it was only a little while after papa died, and she could tell you whata dreadful time it was. The fire came upon us like a hurricane, in the middle of the night, and we had only tine to hurry out of the house before it was ip ilnines. Mamma seized me inher arms and shrieked to the nurse, who wagsin the next room, to bring my sister. She says that they all left the honse together, but, in the lurrying. TS eof ual tle nurse and iy sister got separated OHS yes,