True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-07-02
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LAURA GRAHAMME; OR THE
RESULT OF A REVERE.
BY VIRGINIA DE FOREST.


uU4 lar lpi h.. - .i... '..t sr.
Laura stood where they had left her !;
Walters grave and hercousin's gay fare
well still rang upon her ears, and Grace s
warm kisses still burned upon her lips !;
she returned their farewell with her usual |
smiling dignity, and stood molionless,
watching their relreating forms until the
trees hid them from her eyes. Gradual
" the smile faded from her lips, and a
look Of deep. settled sorrow clnuded her
young lace; the easy digniied attitude
was lost in the dropping figure and dejec.
ted expression. We will leave her thus,
lost in painful reverie, and sketch for our
readers her previous history.
Laura Grahamme was left an orphan
when only three years of age her father
died Of consumption. and her mother soon
followed him 10 the grave. Mr.. Dan.
vers, her mothers brother, adopted the
orphan, and no parents care could be
more teader than her uncle and aunt Law
ished upon the little Laura. Her father
Owned large estates in Malanzas, which
n"w became the property of the orphan.
When she WIS about ten years old, her
uncle and aunt removed there, with Lau-
ra and Their only enid, Grace, then just
seven years of age.
They had been but one year in their
new home, when Mrs. Danvels was Ia.
ken dangerously ILL.,, and The physician
soon pronounced her case hopeless. "
1t was darkened room, in which NO
sound, rave the low breathings oi the in
valid, aud the sleallhy movements OF
Mona, The old nurse, could be heard
Laura sat by her aunt's side, holding her
fevered hand IN one of her own cool ones,
while the other was pressed upon the in
valids burning brow. A strange feeling
Of awe, vague presentimeut of evil, kept
her silent.
Laura said Mrs. Danvers, in a low
feeble tone.
- am here, dear Aunt Emily. Wha
can d" for you?
Nothing darling. My poor child,
you have lost your own mother, aud now
|, who have tried 10 fill her place, am
about 10 leave you too
H.Oh, aunle, how can / do without
you! sobbed the child, all her long-res
trained grief bursting forth. " ..s
You have been good, du'iful child,
Laura darling, and great blessing to
me; now, you must be "a double daugh-
ter to your uncle George. and a dear, ol-
der sister to my Grace r
- Oh, ifI were but older, | would be
her mother, as you have been mine!'
'd'You are old enough, Laura, to exert
a great influence over her. She loves
you fondIy, and you can, by example ant
affection, lead her 10 good or evil. YOU
are serious and thoughtful beyond YOU
years, while Grace is light hearted and
gay, but alfeclionate and frank. Gently
guide her, Laura, by love, as would
wish her'to 60 were here ..f
Il will, will, dear aunle! My own
qualification and interests shall always
give way before her good
Poor Laura you are young enough
to still need a mothers care yourself
but trust her to you. She has only you
and her father!' - .,;." ... ~
p" Faithfully did Laura keep the promise
made to the dying. Young as she was
she understood the obligations it imposed
upon her and, as she had said, her own
interests always gave way before hel
cousins. Laura's tasks were learned
with double diligence that, when Grace
needed assistance in hers, it should ht
ready for her. There was warm love
between these two motherless ones that
naught but death could destroy.
When Laura was about nineteen years
old, there came 10 Malanzas, for his
health. a young man in whom Mr.. Dan
vers was much interested. His father
bad been for many years Mr.. Danver's
partner in business, and Walter Elliot, on
the death Of his own father, sought anc
found firm friend in his former partner.
He was a handsome, intelligent young
man, student in a medical college il
Philadelphia but, by two close applica
ton to his books, he had injured hi
health severely, and the physicians or.
dered a winter in the South. An invita-
tion from Mr.. Danvers to pass i, will
him was gratefully accepted, aud Walter
was expected every day, u. ~
II was a bright clear DAY in the early
part Of November, when Walter, pale
sick. and weary with his long sea voy
age, arrived at his friends house. Grace
was spending few weeks in Havana
with Mrs. Ellis, an Americon friend, Mr.
Dahvers was taking his daily ride, and
Laura was alone to receive him. The
ride and the exertion Of getting from the
carriage were too much for the invalid
and,he tainted at the door. Laura, terri
fled at his death like appearance; stood
watching, while Mona had him carried
into the narlor. aud lastened aWay TO fine