True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-12-24
! Gooa Storpy..
From Arthrr's Magazine.
EvA'S THREE HOMES.
BY MRS. s. A. wENTZ.

Eva Daysoftly moved about her luxuri.
ous dressing room. with the rose cloud Of
tumulluous feeling rising over her beau
teous face then melting away. Her toll.
ct was completed her waiting maid was
dismissed but ever and anon, she left
her cushioned arm chair, and with hush
ed footsteps paced her room she stood
before the mirror that reflected her, and
she was lovely as the break of morning
but hope and anxiety allernated upon her
features.
1t is a very fair vision = she murmur-
ed, as her eye swept down at the full
length figure so airy, so dainty in its
bearing, SO exqnisitely graceful, as,,it was
draped in waving folds Of lace and satin.
But he cares for inward wealth and
beauty-and have so little of these he
is too good, TOO wise, to be caplvated by
fashionable girl like me. He does not
know the hard and long struggle Of my
life between show and actuaIny; he does
not know how many times | have been
on tho point casting my lot with poor
Martha. and abandoning all this magnii-
cencc, o, Martha Martha ! if it had not
been fol you, the last link between NE
and heaven would have been broken
Martha Martha how much better of
have you been for these passionate gush-
ings of gratitude That little dreary
room-those loiling hands-and the sud-
den lighting up OF herface when | enter
the cruel ban upon her coming here
it kills me 10 think of it, my noble' sis.
ter! This costly dress alas it would
buy her wood, and food, and clothing foi
year then she could rest her achiug
eyes-but they will not give me money,
because they know it will 60 to her
Poor Martha why did not God give you
a measure of the beauty which has bought
me this grand home f! But in the upper
world there is a law of compensation
Eva raised her arms prayingly-" and
there. beloved, you will far oulsllne me
in the sweet beauty Of your hoka-there
loving eyes will turn upon YOU, attracted
by The magnetism Of your being, and
sh all be an humble companion beside you
in your pcerlessness ! Amen |! it should
be so! Oh oh my God, what lies in
my future SpIpe grea, and terrible sac
rlfCes know-a road beslrewn with diff
fculties-(or things must not be as they
have been. He Dies not love me, and
cannot, dare not, marry any other, even
to rescue Martha from her poverty--he e
clear eyes would instantly pronounce i
wrong. From this home must go! yes
have said it! ,. .r.. I'D.
Eva dropped upon her knees, he'
great blue eyes npilled with solemn Ter
vor; the tossed ocean of her heart became
suddenly calm under the still light of
great resolve often she had combated
and wavered as to her duty, but now i
was as if the heavens had opened, and
dove bad descended, saying: { 1t is wei
your baptism into generation Lille has
commenced you have seen the Divine
countenance hich is to be your strength
The young girl dared not linger in the
holy hush Of feeling that flooded The al
mosphere around her, for the hum ofavoi
ces ascended from below she opened
her Bible, to read but one word Of prom
ise or ptophecy-her soul yearned for
spoken word from the great Father. J
came for her eye fell upon this passag
-" Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel
and afterward receive me by thy glory.
The door of her room hastily opened
and a stately lady entered. 'What d.
You mean, Eva, by moi being in the par
Tor! have come up myself 10 learn tn
reason half The company is here alrea
dy!' The lady spoke sharply. '
am going this moment, mother,
returned the maiden. ..l, -... O..
How perfectly enchanting you look
and q smile broke over the handsom
face Of Mrs, Vale; you will bring Nj
Brennan to your feet to night nature in
tended you for a lady, that is evident. h.
see you presiding in his splendid hom
already What luck for The shiveriu
Eva Day, who came to this houss eigh
years ago Mrs Vale invariably Gale,
her adopted child Eva Day, instead G
Eva Vale, when she desired her To ar
spreciate the advantages that had acrue
ia. her by her adoption. 49,. 0a't 'n
NJ The words awoke the pang in Eva
heart: they preSaged the difficult pat
which she waste tread--the hard storr
ithroughlwhich she must battle in he
weakness. The pair descended TO III
iparlors, and the insipid Mr.. Brennan wa
the fret to lift upon the beautiful girl III
homage Of an admiring glance man
Others gathered around her, aud the
adulation was pleasant incense--,-plea'
ant but not inspiring, for Il is passe
over the surface Of her soul, and lefl \
deep places all . untouched; she wa
sparkling and animated, ever ready wit
a piquant reply and gay expression, ft