St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-04-02

He was out of his head when the doc
tor called to see him on the morning
after the assault, and had considerable
fever. For week after, fears for his
life were entertained. But healthy
system reacted on the disease under
which he was suffering, and he slow
ly recovered. 1t was month before
he was able togo out. Layton was
never suspected.
After the lapse Of several weeks
Mr. Markland suggested the propriety
Of having the notice for heirs publish
ed in two or three western papers
Mason Grant thought it unnecessary.
The other did not press the subject on
him, but quietly cut from two Of the
newspapers, which he had preserved,
the advertisement and sent a copy to
a paper in Cincinnati and to one in
Pittsburg, accompanying each with a
five dollar bill, and request to pub
lish the notice three times a week for
five or six weeks.
Nothing more passed between the
old man and his brother and sister on
the subject. The latter thought them
selves safe, while the former was wait
ing in anxious expectation for some in
telligence from the West.
One day Mr. Grant found among his
letters by the last mail one addressed
to Joseph Markland and Mason Grant
Executors of the late Thomas Mark.
land" 1t was post marked, Cincin-
natl" Hurriedly breaking the seal,
he opened and read it, Itwas reply
to the notice above mentioned, and
stated the fact already too we'll known
to Grant, that a daughter Of Anna
Gray was in Philadelphia, and sug-
gested the propriety Of the Executors
advertising for her in that city.
Confusion !" muttered the mer-
chant between his closed teeth
" What does all this mean ?" and he
crumbled the letter in his hands,
" Can there have been any deception
about that advertisement? Is it pos
sible that Joseph has given it an addi-
tional circulation without my knowl-
edge? will know the moment | see
him. What right has he to act in this
matter without my concurrence
"No, no. he said, in less agitated
manner, after thinking for few mo-
ments, Il will keep my own counsel,
at least, for the present. This letter
never meets his eyes-never !"
To put all chances of such an occur.
renee out of the question, the letter
was Immediately destroyed.
Two other communications of sim
liar character, were received, and, in
a like manner consigned to oblivion.
What Grant most dreaded, was, that
some one in the West would write di-
rectly to the girl, or send her the ad-
vertisement, marked If this should
be done, and she receive it, and pre-
sent herself, all would be at an end.
Weeks and months passed away,
and no one came forward to claim the
legacy. Old Mr.. Markland had walk
ed the town over and over again, at
all hours Of the day and evening, in
the hope of meeting once more with
the stranger who had interested his
feelings 50 much, and awakened in his
mind SO many memories Of the olden
time. But no trace of her was seen.
And he began to fall into the belief
that all had been a mere temporary
excitement of his imagination. That
Anna and her children were in anoth-
er and a better world. At length he
ceased to speak on the subject if he
thought much about it, it was not with
sufficient force to lead to any further
action.
Five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten and
eleven months passed away Mr..
Grant and his wife breathed more ca
silly. Still they felt anxious. Until
the expiration of the period limited by
the will, there was danger. Annals
child was, in all probability, still in
the city, or, she might have gone back
to the West, and there received infor-
nation Of the good fortune that await
ed her. All was afoat, until the long
looked for period, and might be wreck
ed in an instant.
Of one thing they were careful, and
that was never to speak Of the subject
in the presence of the brother. If he
casually alluded to it, but little was
said in return, and the theme of con-
versation changed as quickly as pos
sible.
CHAPTER XIX. s.
Meantime, Anna Gray had found a
home with one who loved her and
cared for her as tenderly as mother
could love and care for her child
But very short period elapsed before
Mrs. Grand saw the purity and truth
Of her character, and gave her to feel
that she had the fullest confidence in
her.
Anna devoted herself with feelings
of grateful affection to the task OF
Tightening the burdens of her mater
nal friend. She worked for her and
with her diligently, thus adding to
her little store instead of abstracting
from it. Weeks and months went 81
lently, and almost unnoted, by, with
out any further effort on the part OF
Anna to make herself known to her
relatives. 1t often crossed the mind
of Mrs. Grand that it would, perhaps
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