Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-11-27
VOL. 4.----NO. A;

iciI Hef properly, amounting 10 some
eight hundred dollars TO yourself; and
exacted promise from me that would
visit you in person, and explain some
particulars which she feared had been
purposely withheld from your, knowl-
edge. She had written TO you several
times but received no answer, and con-
cluded you was dead, until short time
before her death she received intelligence
Of you through person who had resid-
ed in this city, which was far from being
satisfactory, and aroused her suspicious
that all was not right "
..Indeed! this then is the mystery
which de6ed all my attempts to solve.--
But how could MIR. Langley have sus-
pected your business!''
"Guilt is always attended by mistrust.
When you have heard all you viii not be
surprised al his keen penetration: know
then that the immense wealth which your
guardian claims, belongs Of right 10 your
SELF
a'ro me! surely you are not in earn
est?''
"Pardon me Miss Williams, my mis-
sion here Is not to deceive you, but
should you desire il, as friend 70 re-
dress your wrongs. The facts which |
ain about to disclose are the true cause
nf all your suffering. Your. wealth had
nearly cost your life; but an All wise
Providence had otherwise ordered il; and
may your future days be as happy as the
4 past have been miserable"
.What could be the cause of my auni's
letters not reaching mel"
ii presume your guardian could ex-
plain all were he 50 minded, yet II would
be ofliiile consequence now"
.Did she become acquainted with the
particulars Of my sitnation in Mr.. Lang
legs iamily?'
.She learned this much. that you was
regarded as poor bound girl, ant. treat
ed as such by the family; but she had
not even dreamed that the little property
left by your father had increased in val
ue untilit is worth thousands. She had
no conception OF city, which had planted
innumerable walls of brick and mortar in
,hevery midst OF your father corn fields;
and consequently the little farm which he
had purchased some twenty years ago,
lfnr "A few hundred dollars, is now worth
thousands; yet such proves ,o,be The fact.
/ carefully examined the record, and find
there viii be but little difficulty in eslab-
fishing your claim"
II have no knowledge Of my parent
age, or early history said Louisa, '.yet
have faint recollection Of an old lady
taking me into her arms and kissing me.
and lhen going away in carriage. Did
she tell you OF ever visiting this plaee!"
20 yes, she came on, TO this pari of the
country with your parents before you
were horn. She explained 70 me all the
particulars Of her sujourn here, together
with Your history until she left; you
j were then about fnur years OF age. The
facts as she told me are these: Your
/ father, whose name was John Williams,
| was among the first settlers of this place.
!, He was a farmer in moderate circum-
stances, and on his removal here from
Pennsy lyania, he brought with him Mrs.
Dennis. your mothers aunt. and the on
Ily relative they had living. They had
been here but two years, when fever
carried them of within a few weeks oi
each other. You. their only child was
left to the care OF your mothers aunt,
who was then far advanced III life. Mr..
Langley, then a thriving mechanic, was
unremiliing in his Kindness and attention
10 her, and consequently deemed her
bestfriend. Through her. he was ap-
|poin,ed your guardian. Your property
al that time did not yield an income suf-
ficicnt for your maintenance; your aunt
A was therefore prevailed upon to have you
bound TO him until you were Of age.
This was only accomplished by solemn
promise that you should be raised, and
educated, as his daughter. he being
childless. | need not explain TO you
how that promise has been kept. Your
aunt's health was rapidly giving way in
this new country, she was therefore per-
suuded 10 return 10 Philadelphia, where
she resided until her death. which hap
pened abou, six months ago. She con-
liBued to receive tie most flailering nc
counts of you from your guardian, until
! yon became old enough 10 write, when
a|shc had her letters addressed to you; for
she had become tou intirm to write her
l|sclf; but after this she received no more
letters either from you, on your guardian.
Al length thinking herself forgotten she
discontinued wiring altogether. A few
weeks before her death, gentleman
with whom, shoswas slightly acquainted,
and who had spent several years in this
city, returned 10 Philadelphia, and from
him she learned that Mr.. Langley had q
seryant, . bound girl, he believed, which
answered tohef descriptionoi you. This
aroused her suspicion that there was some
foul play, when she sent for me and re-.
lated wha, | have now fold you. like
wise drew up new will. which gave
to you her little properly, and promised
her to visit Cincinnati on her demise "a
look after your welfare should you prove
Ito be living; yet | little dreamed what
would be the result. The course which
Ihave pursued in regard 10 Yourself since
uin hcrn oVtss1l ,,rxs - a.