True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-12-05
z. Raglan, Editor and Proprietor.
come for We, Miss Runy I!

anu NO"Oud hau away OALohOu " warm
intimacy.
They had known each other when the
former lived with her widowed mother, in
the little brown cottage in the country,
and the child-a1eclion had strengthened
with their years. Julia was the daught-
er of the village doctor, aud of course
her social position was then superior 10
Rowena's; but this had in no wise inAu-
enced her choice of her friend, and when
the brown cottage was exchanged for the
luxurious city home, Julias disinterest-
edness was fully repaid.
Every year, the people who lived op-
posite, saw the sweet face OF the doctors
daughter beamng out of Rowen as cham
ber windows, and when the wind carried
their voices across the street, it seemed
like a sudden outbreak of music.
Rowena broke the seal, unmind(ul of
its nowery device, and read eagerly the
letter; but the latter part especially at
tracted her attention, and thus it ran -
"You remember, darling Rowena, our
old school,mate, Matte English. Can
you not see her now, with her brouse
brown curls, and her eyes wearing just
the color of chesnuts, when, in frosty
autumn nights they break out of the burs!
Well, I-have sad atory 10 tell you Of
Matte.
After her father died, the property was
found very much involved, and it is known
that for several years past, Mrs. English
and her daughter have lived mostly on
mortgages of their home, which you are
aware was the formers dowry. Las
month she was taken severely i'll in
deed, her recovery is quite problematical,
papa says. The mortgages on the old
place are quite exhausted, and they have
now no means of subsistence. | believe
it would kill poor Mrs. English outright
to leave her old home, though how they
can long stay there is mystery to me
And now have secret TO comhde tC
you, naachere! Matie's beauty has more
than fulfilled the rare promise of hel
childhood, and her face is picture q
sweet, but rather sad one, with its clear
Grecian contour, lis lips like June rose.
buds filled with meadow dew; and hel
hair and eyes of brown-brouse and ha.
eel brown.
Well, Squire Allen-you remember
him-has taken fancy to her! Did yor
ever hear anything so absurd There
are only fifty years difference in thei
ages Two weeks ago, the glay-hairec
gentleman proposed TO Matte, as he dit
for'y-five years ago to her grandmother
You know he is immensely wealthy, ant
would surround Mrs. English and he
dauglnor with all The Injuries which thel
f previous lives render necessary.
/ don't know but for her mothers SAX
Matte English will marry old 'Squir
Allen but do know she had rather di
than do this. Poor girl ! My heart ache
whenever | look into her pale, sad face
: But dear me, Rowena, I've gotten {,
the bottom of my fourth page, and no
commenced telling you all have to say
, So" ..... ......
/ But, reader, we charilably infer you ar
familiar with the conclusions Of school
girl letters. Suffice it, this one did no
/, lack the usual saccharine elements. Ro
J wena read over the last page twice. The
, she resumed her walk.
'How | wish | could help her--dea
: lille Matte English. How clearly he
sweet child-face seems looking down o.
t me now; and can almost feel my finger
r winding through her rich curls TO thin
of her marrying that gray-haired, bent
: over, wrinkle. faced, Squire Allen-giv
ing her sweet youth to his age. ltmake
me shudder. If | could only prevent
! in some way-even a few hundred dollar
might do some good for little while
Uncle Harry would give me this Tor my
9 self, but come 10 asking it for other pee
ple'-and Rowena shook ~her head doub
: fully. y ' 81
> Il haven't but fifty dollars by me :
3 stOp-yes ] have I! There's that five hur
r died uncle Harry gave me to buy di'
It mond set. If ! should tell him I'd COZ
-. rH'.ltl u Ir I'D mol 'gfer tI .att ifur