l's Kid--a wild-eyed, elf-locked, olive-skinned little imp,
nameless, but nicknamed Sal's Kid, who lived in a gutter called Rat
Alley, down by the water-side in New York. I used to be fond of the
child when I was cook's galley-boy, and our ship was in port there. I
haven't seen her for ten years, yet I've never forgotten her. And I
would give a great deal to know whatever became of Sal's Kid. Probably
she has gone the way of the rest. They were all beggars, thieves, or
worse," added Hartman, with a deep sigh.

"And the next?" inquired the minister, with a wish to recall his visitor
from sorrowful thoughts.

"The next girl that interested me," continued Hartman, looking up with a
bright smile, as at the recollection of some celestial vision, "was as
different from this one as the purest diamond from a lump of charcoal.
She was a radiant blonde, with golden hair and sapphire eyes and a
blooming complexion. In the darkest hour of my life she appeared to me a
heavenly messenger! They were leading me from the Court House to the
jail, after my sentence. I was passing amid the hooting crowd, bowed
down with despair, when this fair vision beamed upon me and dispersed
the furies. She looked at me with heavenly pity in her eyes. She spoke
to me and told me to pray, and said that she too would pray for me. At
her look and voice the jeering crowd fell back in silence. I thought of
that picture of Dore's where the celestial visitant dispersed the
fiends. I have never, never seen her since."

"And you do not know who she was?"

"Her companions called her 'Emma.' That is all I know."

"The third girl in whom you became interested?"

"Is my child Laura Lytton, whom I have never seen. During the weeks I
was in Mr. Lytton's law office I never once beheld his son or daughter."

"Then personally you are a stranger to both?"

"Yes, personally I am a stranger to both. But to-morrow I hope to know
them, although I can not be perfectly made known to them. Remember, Mr.
Lyle, I do not wish them to know that I was ever Victor Hartman, or that
Joseph Brent was ever their benefactor."

"I will remember your caution. But I will hope, as I said before, for
the time when they shall know and esteem you as I know and esteem you."

"Your confidence in me has been, and is, one of my greatest earthly
supports," said Hartman, earnestly, as he arose to bid his friend
good-night.

Long after his visitor had left him, Mr. Lyle sat at his window in