Mrs. Martin opened the package eagerly. Within were several letters from Paul Martin to his sister, and one long one from Helen to her brother, which had evidently been written during her last illness. In it she spoke of having found board with Miss Holsover, to whom she had intrusted her valuable jewels and all her money and her poor little child, Miss Holsover promising to take all to Boston when she was dead.
"There is the secret," exclaimed Mrs. Martin, looking up from the letter with streaming eyes. "The wretched woman kept the jewels and money, and made the child her drudge. Oh, my poor little Jesse, if I can only find you!"
Mr. North had a sumptuous dinner before he and Mrs. Martin started out for B——. Then some time was devoted to making purchases for Jesse's comfort and convenience. Mr. North looked on in mute admiration while Mrs. Martin purchased a warm suit, a stylish little overcoat trimmed with handsome fur, and a warm seal cap, not to speak of shoes and stockings and all sorts of underwear.
Then they were on board the train, and whirling on toward B—— and Jesse.
It had not been a long day to the poor boy. He lay on the sofa, glad of the repose. As the twilight deepened, night and a snow-storm set in. Jesse watched the window, and listened eagerly for every sound of wheels; but he fell asleep before Mrs. Martin and Mr. North arrived, and awoke to find himself in his aunt's arms.
It was a blissful evening. Jesse was too weak to move; but he lay still, holding his new aunt's hands, and half crying with joy. Mr. North had gone over to the farm, and on his return brought the word that Miss Holsover refused to make any explanation, and declared herself well rid of a troublesome charge. A little threatening, however, induced her to give up the key of the tin box. In it were found the money and jewels which the miserly old woman had evidently been hoarding.
What became of Bill and his companion they never knew, and Mrs. Martin declared herself so happy to have Jesse that they could afford to forget the Holsovers forever.
It was about three years later, when Mr. and Mrs. North were spending the 14th of February at Mrs. Martin's house, that Jesse, a very different-looking person from the poor little waif of former times, put his hand on his first friend's shoulder, and, smiling, said,