St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-02-19

| II wonder for whom he is looking
I will step to the door. Perhaps car
direct him."
"No--no-please DON'T was quick
ly said by the maiden, as she laid hel
hand upon the arm Of her elder com
panion.
"Why not ?"
He may be looking for me-"
"Why for you?' This was saio
with a glance of inquiry, so earnest
that the blood mounted to the poo
girls face.
You know l have just come in
"Ycs.'
"Perhaps he saw me in the street
and remembering me from the glanc,
he had of my face last night has
sought to discover my place of abode.
No reply was made to this, othe
than a long, searching look into tn,
maiden's face-a look that had in i
something of suspicion. The ef1cc
produced was a gush Of tears.
"Anna, child, what distresses you? 2
This was asked in voice Of kind
ness and sympathy, that seemed to
say" Forgive me if | have wronged
you by suspicion.'
The girl retired from the window
without replying, and sinking into q
chair, covered her face with her hands
and continued to weep bitterly.
The room in which We're the two in
dividuals last introduced, was small
front parlor, or sitting room, in small
house situated in Callowhill street.
The furniture was poor and scanty
consisting merely of small old-fash
ioned mahogony table, placed under q
looking glass with frame as old-fash
ioned as itself-four wood-seat chairs
much worn-a rag carpet-a shovel
and pair Of tonGs beside the fireplace
where few sticks Of wood were burn.
ing-with a few other trihing articles
needless to mention But everything
was in order, and faultlessly clean
The elderly female who occupied this
room was neat in her person. although
her garments were Of common mate
rial. Her face was mild and bcnevo-
lent, and her voice, when she spoke to
her Younger companion, gentle, yet
firm. No one, at first glance, could
fail to discover that she possessed a
good heart, and had, with it, good
sense and discrimination.
She did not speak to the weeping
girl for some minutes, during which
time she stood thoughtful, sometimes
with her eyes upon the floor, and some
times with them resting upon heI
young companion. At length she
went up to her, and placing her hane
upon her shoulder, said
Anna, You are aware that it is moi
two days since | first knew you. That
we met under very singular circum.
stances, and that it is but right for me
to be we'll satisfied with regard to you
before give you my entire confidence.
Lay aside all weakness, and think so,
berly and rationally. Be a woman,
evqQ if you are very young, for, here
after, i'll life, you will have to act a
woman's part, if all you have told me
be true, which | cannot really doubt,
although your story is strange one.
Think how much falsehood and impos-
ture there is in the world, and how
necessary it is for me and every one
else to be fully on our guard. If you
thus reflect, you will not be too deep
ly panied should l observe you close
ly, and notice every look, and tone and
word. Your innocence will only bel
come the more apparent, and my re-
gard for you and confidence in you
stronger. | am thus frank in the out
set, because Il see that you are too SEN
sitive for one in the situation you rep
resent yourself to be in. You will
meet with much, very much, to wound
you sharply, unless you rise above
mere natural feeling, into reason, and
act from its plain dictates. From my
suspicious if you are all that you say
you are, you have nothing to fear.
will be your friend, and the little !
have you shall be welcome to share
You shall fill for me the place made
vacant by the -"
The woman's voice faltercd, and she
became silent. The girl looked up in.
to her face, and even though half-blind.
ed by tears, she could see its muscles
convulsed by strong emotion. This
quickly subsided, and her new found
friend resumed
You shall fill for me the place OF
one that | wish it We're in my power
to forget. Of one who left her moth.
er's side and wandered away into
strange and forbidden paths. But no
even if you take her place, it will
only be for a time, and then | shall
lose you as l lost her-no /! no not a,
| lost her. God forbid But your
friends, | trust,-those who have a
natural right to claim you-will come
forward i'll time. They cannot turn
from you ever thus coldly and cruelty
Nature will and must speak, and its
voice be heard"
Annals tears were by this time dried.
Looking with a glance of confidence
and newborn affection into the face of
the woman who had dealt so plainly
with har Sha maraly said