A ROMANTIC STORY FROM ST. KILDA, DUNEDIN.

West Coast Times, Issue 3846, 5 August 1881, Page 2

A ROMANTIC STORY FROM ST. KILDA, DUNEDIN.

The following romantic story has been brought under the notice ot the police :— Mr Hector M'Kenzie, wbo resides with ' bis sister in Cargill road, S. Kilda, was sitting in the back kitchen of his house oa Tuesday evening, July 26, at 8 o'clock, when he beard a noise at the door. He immediately afterwards saw a little girl, about three years old, standing in the porch, with a doll in one b<md and the following letter in the other : - Dear Miss M'Kenzie— l am leaving my child ia your care, as I am driven to despair to know what to do with her. My husband is dead, and I bare struggled ou with her for a year till I was laid up with sickness, which has taken all mv money. I hare tried to get something to do, but cannot with her— iv fast, I m awrly driven mi to know

what to do. I hope you will not turn her away, and if I get work soon I will send you swne money to help to keep lier. Her father ■Bras a distant relation of yours. I bare often heard him talking of you all, although I do not know you; and in my despair I thought of you. Bbr God' 6 sake do not tarn her away, and I will do what I can, if I keep my health, to Bend you money mow and again. Her name ia Isabella Stuart.- She is sure to cry for me for a while, but she will soon forget me, and I hope she will not be too much trouble to you. Pear Mias M'Kenzie, I hope you will be as a mother to her, for you do not know- the pain it gives me to part with my child. May God bless you if you keep her, and I will do all in my power to repay you if ever I can. Excuse my scrawl, as I am nearly driven mad about my child.

Mr M*Kenzie asked the child what she wanted, and she said " Mamma," and pointed round the corner of the house. On making further inquiries, Mr M'Kenzie was informoJ by some boys that they bad seen a woman walking at a quick pace towards Dunodin, and that ehe had a lsrge white feathor in her bat. Mr M'Kenzio then returned to his house, and near where he first obseired the child be found a bundle of clean child's clothes, but without any name or initinlsupon them. Miss M'Kenzie kindly took care of the child, whoEe account of the mystery is very vague. The child, who seems to have been carefully looked after, states that her father went away in the tram, and that her mother is from up-country. Her own same, sh e (-ays, is Eliza, and not Isabella, as stated in tbe mysterious letter, but she knows nothing of her surname. She appears to be clear in her statement that she and her mother came into Dunedin by the train from Balclutha. As regards the letter, Mr and Miss M'Kenzie say they have no distant relations in the colony ; nor do they know any one of the name of Stuart — which name is blotted in the letter,— We are informed that Mr M'Kenzie has promised to keep the child for a month or so, and he will then take steps to have the child permanently taken care of, provided no further tidings can be heard of the mother. Constable Dudley has made inquiries, but he has been unable to trace the mother of the child.— Otago Times.