Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-05-19
CHAPTER IY.

AT your peril le; those insolent young
beggars darken my doors again. And
after this rogue commanded, Ryall Marsh
dismissed his servant, and sat moodily
down by the fire. A iiney piece of pa
per lay on the carpet; and the old man,
hardly recking whot he did, stopped and
picked it up. Then he read with misty
eyes, and strange sudden sinking at his
heart, these three words -.Remen,Jer
little Getty This was the paper the
beggar boy had dashed down SO proudly,
and this was It's pleading message-'Re-
member little Getty And memory took
Ryall Marsh back to earlier years. when
he first sat a lonely man in his grand
house. She brought to his side fairy
child with long raven curls aud great
black eyes, who looked up lovingly in
his face, and murmured, when he caress-
ed her-'dear uncle
That was little Getty his orphan
niece, his adopted daughter, and the old
man groaned as the vision faded away.
And memory drew another picture, and
Ryall Marsh's heart smote him as he
looked uponis. kneeling before him, in
the moonlight, was a whie-robed figure
with claspej hands and pleading words,
but he seemed to repulse her angrily,
and when she clung to him he struck her
TO the grouad. Then tall, slender man,
with high, naughty brow, Garted forward,
and raising the weeping girl to his bosom,
soothed her, saying-'We will 60 from
here, Gertrude. cease to plead with your
uncle-am | not your husband; better to
you than all the world!' And when this
scene faded, old Ryall Marsh knew that
he had looked upon his niece, and her
husband, Pierre Keith. even as they haG
sou't his forgiveness afer their marriage.
Then Ryall Marsh sal in his counting
house, and papers lay before him, and as
he looked on them he rejoiced, for he
saw that but stroke of his pen would
make Pierre kelh beggar. As he
hesitated, the tempser stood by him, and
whispered-'Why show mercy on the
man who stole away the blossom of
your heart, your little Getty? Revenge
yourself on him, and punish her disobe-
| dience.' And Ryall Marsh yielded, and
| the deed was done. Now came back
The days OF fearful entreates, and be-
seeching letters, all of which the old man
cast from him with scorniul mockery and
hardened heart: then silence followed,
profound. prolonged-.!ittle Getty had
ceased to plead.
And those little beggars were her chill
dren, that was the reason their black eyes
thrilled me, SO like hers-I drove them
from me. Oh, Getty if had bu.
! known
But Ryall Marsh's heart, as though a.
mazeG atthis unwonted mood, fell sud-
denly and heavily back into his iron case,
the child's play was over-ihe old man
was himself again, stern and unrelenting;
and, with grim smile, he cast the paper
into the fire. " s
Remember lille GETTY Well. had
she not been remembered with bitter
faishfulness for at least weary hour, and
was that not enough!
Like skillful ariificer, who noiseless-
ly doelh his work. Time hurried on,
and wrought marvellous changes. Basil
and Jane Keith went out into the great
world, and, for while, struggled sorely;
hnkiheir path was not at,oays to lie over
the bleak and rugged moor; or by the
bitter waters, and, in due season, came a
change. Pierre Kie,h's oldest brother,
wealthy and childless, 10y wha, some
would call lucky chance, vet, what
was Gods gracious providence,) discov-
cred these children, and adopted them as
his own. Then to Basil and Jane, pov.
er.y ceased to be stern, living reality
which had for so many years walked
closely by their sides; it became only the
misty memory of dark dream. And
10 others came changes. Ryall Marsh
fell suddenly from his high estate. GOLD
took wings, and fled from him, and his
name vanished from amongst the rich
and the strong of the city. And, as
lRyall Marsh's wealth had been so great
so now was his poverty. The old man
became beggar.
| lie who does not see the dread seal oil
nutabiRfy upon all things earthly, has
looked upon life with bur dim mistaken
eyes. Oh, walk ye warily amongst the
high places, and let him that standett
take heed lest he fall