St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-03-26
Where are you from ?"

| @AiS y you ouIS
eyes ma'am. left there two weeks
ago, and arrived in this city to-day"
"That is a long journey for one like
you to take. Who came with you ?"
"No one. | came alone"
Mrs. Grand looked incredulous. An
ma saw and felt this, and the color rose
to her face.
at may seem strange to you," she
said, in voice that trembled, "but it
is true. My mother died a few weeks
ago, and, on her death bed, made me
promise to come Immediately to Phil
adelphia, and seek out her brother and
sister, if living, and throw myself up
on their protection. l left the west,
with barely sufficient money to bring
me to this city. l arrived to-day, and
found my aunt, but she called me an
impostor, denied that my mother was
her sister, and sent me from her pres
ence. 1t was dark when | left her
house, and l have since wandered
about the streets homeless and hope
less, until, overwearied, l could bear
up no longer, and sunk down exhaust
ed where you found me sleeping"
The simple earnestness of this brief
narrative, more than half satisfied
Mrs. Grand of its truth. She, howev-
er, questioned Anna closely, and led
her on to relate the principal incidents
of her life, and the minutest particu-
lars of all that had occurred since her
arrival in the city. Late as was the
hour, she prepared for her some re-
freshments, and then took her into
small but neatly arranged bed room,
and bidding her good night, left her
alone. -.......
Since she had been aroused from her
brief repose in the market house, the
mind of the unhappy girl had become
clear and calm. After Mrs Grand re-
tired, she sat down and muscd long
over the events of the day. So anx-
ious and alarmed had she been since
she found herself homeless and a wan
dcrcr in the streets Of large city,
that she had been unable tu think So
bcrly about any thing. Now she re-
volved in her mind the occurrences
which have been related, and sought
to arrive at some definite conclusion
in regard to her future course. But this
was a vain effort. Her aunt-shc was
satisfied that Mrs Grant was her
mothers sister-had rcpulsed her with
much feeling. Why should she do
this What motive could prompt so
cruel an action Pride ? 1t did not
seem possible that this could be the
reason. But, what other could there
be Anna could think of none. She
had seen the portrait of her mothers
brother-was he living? And if so,
ought she not to seek him out, and
make herself known to him :? For
hours, before she at length fell asleep,
were her thoughts thus busy But she
could arrive at no fixed conclusion.
1t was long after daylight when An
ma awoke on the next morning. She
was dressed and sitting by the win
dow when her kind-hearted protector
came in. n deep crimson covered her
face as she looked up, and then suf-
fered her eyes to droop to the floor
She felt that the circumstances under
which they had met were such as to
create suspicion in regard to her, and
this thought caused a degree of con-
fusion calculated to awaken doubt in
almost any mind. Mrs. Grand looked
at her closely for few moments, and
then said in kind voice, sx
Did you rest WE'LL Anna ~
Oh, yes, ma'am, very well,"' she
returned, tears coming to her eyes.
"Do you feel better than you did
last night Z"
"a great deal better. My head
ache is entirely gone, and am very
much refreshed
81 am glad of it. Come, breakfast
is all ready"
i Anna went down stairs with Mrs.
Grand, and shared with her her morn
: ing meal. After they had risen from
the table, and while Mrs. Grand was
washing up and putting away the
breakfast things, Anna said,
"The great favor you have shown
a perfect stranger, emboldens me to
} ask still another"
| What is it, child? Speak out
freely" replied Mrs, Grand, with a
look and tone of encouragement.
: 81 have told you, frankly, all the
4 circumstances by which am surround
], ed. l now need one to advise and di
: rect me. l am willing to earn my liv.
D ing by my own labor; but where shall
l go for employment? Will you
l think for me ? | will be governed by
+ your directions, for, besides you, there
0 is not another human being in this
4 city to whom can look for counsel"
a "All that can do, my young friend
G shall be freely DONE" replied Mrs
Grand. .'In the mean time, remain
e where you are, in welcome. If moth
e ing better offers, you can assist me in
+ sewing for awhile. | earn my own
( support, by the labor of my owl
0 hands, If you can sew quickly, ant
d are willing to work, you will be nj
o burden to me-"
ooh, gladly will l devote to you al
;, my time, if you will give me but ;
homc," Anna replied, with warmth.
HV,u toll mo Won have q trunE -