Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1849-11-23


The name'
Williams ah 1888 t#H9
What, Emily Williams!'
Yes said the young gentleman, .you
know her them ..,.s, u, .r......
I'VE used to be school mates replied
Catharine, but she does not remember
me- .Ett5Na#i Ett r A'i0iaa tfsi@
will you favor me with your name"
.Calharine Brainard' g ..-,..t
We'll, | shall tell my sister you will
call in the morning, Miss Brainard. > } .
Yes, SIR auol --- esaz ~ +.
John now took his leave, and hurried
home to communicate the result of his
visit to his sister.
/ At twelve o'clock that night, the widow
and her daughte had long been retired,
but the nephew, unconscious of the lapse
of hours, sat in his room, pouring over
a number of old letters. bills and man
uscri pts, which covered his table.
The eager attention whichhe bestowed
upon each paper, the unusual sparkle OF his
eye, and the smile which played upon
his mouth, denoted that his task was one
of no ordinary interest. Before we ex-
explain the nature of it,however, we must
introduce him more fully to the reader.
Robert Jordan was an orphan. His
parents had resided in village some
miles from New York, and at their death
had left him little property, the income
of which was two hundred and fifty dol
lars per annum. With this small sum
he came to New York to pursue the stu
dy OF law. He found his aunt keeping
boarding house, and, went of course, to
board with her. The old lady knew but
little of the management of a boarding
house, and consequently was unable to
get along at it. The greater portion of
her furniture was seized for debt, and she
was compelled with what was left, TO take
rooms il an old house near North Riv-
err Robert stuck by her. through all her
misfortunes, and the little sum he was
able to give her, and the scanty earning
of Catharine's needle, she was enabled
barely to live. Robert had just few
weeks prior to the date of our story, been
admitted to the Bar, and was daily ex-
Fectfng to rmake,an arrangement to get
into business with some 'a,bS practiilon-
er, which would enable him u. better the
condition of his aunt and cousin What
the old lady had told him at the tea-table.
that evening, of Renwick's connection
with his uncle had made forcibie i'm
preston on his mind. There was an old
fashioned secretary in his room, and in
examining il, he found secret drawer,
filled with papers. A suspicion flashed
upon his mind that these papers might
ttnRw some light upon his uncle's bust
ness. He rellred Immediately to his own
room, and upon examining the papers,
his suspicious were confirmed. They
.wersnprivate. papers relating to Mr..
Brai kd' , Mairs and contained evidence
that at the time of Htkdeath, he had pos
'seesea - large amount of property, out of
whictsit WIS plain that Renwick must
have swindled the widow.
Nearly the whole night was Robert
closely engaged, making himself acquain-
with the contents of the papers, and
When at length he threw himself upon
his couch, his breast was throbbing with
hopes, and his head aching with excite
ment. ft rf
When Robert arose late in the mora.
ing, he found that his cousin was gone to
keep her appointment with Emily Will
Hams. He communicable his aunt the
discovery Of the papers, and his hopes,
and begged her TO place the, whole affair
in his hands, as her attorney. The old
lady, nearly beside herself with Joy,
gladly consented. Hernext thought was
! 10 send for Catharine, and communicate
to her the agreeable tidings. This Rob-
ert opposed, and advised his aunt to keep
the affair perfectly secret. He stated
that the recovery Of the property would
be both difficult and uncertain, and that
il might be dangerous TO excite Catha-
rine's best hopes, the disappointment Of
which would be too great shock for her
feeble health to bear. The old lady saw
the business of the remark, and however
10th, acquiesced in Roberts wishes. The
latter went Immediately to work with a.
lacrity, to put matters in train for bring
ing suit against the swil,dler.
Catharihe, in the meantime, had mel
with reception from Emily Williams
as gratifying as unexpected. The latter
as soon as she had heard the name Of
.Catharine Brainard, remembered her old
school IN ate, and with her natural kind
ness OF heart, strove to make her forge
for one day at least, her poverty and hel
sorrows. She made her lay aside hel
sewing at clock, and insisted on hel
spending the evening with her in the par
Tor. Here with her brother, she strove
to assure and render the poor girl cheer
full, and succeeded SO well, that Catha
rine felt happier than she had for many
months. She did not feel embarrassed
or out of place, in the splendid parlor o
the wealthy merchant, Tor she had beer
reared in just such splendor, and wa
scarcely behind Emily Williams herself
i'll education and accomplishments. Sh,
had that morning arrayed herself il
her best apparel, which, plain as it was
displayed her delicate and graceful form
TO advantage, and the pleasurable excite