The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-04-19

'ieved it, for the child-look had not gone of
her face, though it had softenei and mqt,,red.
The squire had been dead for three Of these
wears; he had engaged in soma heavy mi
ming speculationS, which had greatly diSap-
pointed him, ard his chagrin and anxiety
brought the fever Of which he died.
Evelyn was the sole heiress ofhiS property,
but his sperulations had well nigh rnined the
squire, and only few thousands fell to his
daughter, enough, however. to support her
comfortably and Independently. and she had
removed to the city and resided with her
Cousin Charles ever since his marriage, which
tranSpired soon after the death Of his uncle.
81 don't believe the lecture will be half as
good as nv book" said Evelyn, as she closed
her volume half Reluctantly.
"You'll think differently when v1u return
hut it wont do to delay, for the house will be
crowded." answered the gentleman.
The lecture was closed, AMI the Young
speaker sat down with an air of exhaustion,
while the p'qu1its of his hearers fairly shook
the lofty building.
The lecture had not been simply grand
effort at oratorcal display. dazzInr and over
whelmlng the hearers with brilliant and start
ling rhetoric, but its sound logic, its grasp of
thought, its intellectual air, were all embod-
iei in simple, earnest, forcible language His
imagination was rather clear and crystalline
than fervid and tropical, more like limpii
brook than a rushing torrent, though his
peroration was set with many gorgeous ara
besGueS Of thought
But what was more than Ill the rest was
the moral power Of the lecture None ofthat
vast audience had listened to it without being
stimulated to a higher life and nobler pur-
poses, and all must have felt anew the sub
lime beauty and grandeur of that truth. that
there was living God reirning in all the
affairs ofnations end Of men-taking council
ofnoup, but ont ofhis own ''nfnite leisure"
Going on calmly and serene'v anove all the
storms and darkness Of time. to the accom-
plishment OF His own blessed purposes OF
peace and good will to men.
"WeN. Eva, you're not sorry you left your
book to-night?"
ooh, no this lecture has done me good,
Charlie
They wnrn pqSsinr slowly ont enid the
i
mark to his cousin, and it hannnned that
they were on one side Of the platform, and
inst in view Of the speaker. who was now
srrroun la1 by several gentlemen.
His Glance suddenly swept on them, an7it
halted ut Eve'vn Lenard's face. 4 change
came over him, he leaned forward, and there
was hrcathInss Interrogation Of her face.
Then, with hastv apology, he sprang ont
and intercepted the lady AMI her cousins at
the door
"Excusc me, madam, but do I have the
honor oradiresSing Miss Evelyn Lenard ?"
"That is nv name, SIR" and the faces Of
the three told their bewiaorment and sur
prise.
"And Won do not'lnow me?'
Evelyn Lenard looked into the ttin face,
$50 bright about the ewes. so sharply cut
around the mouth" and over the 1.-THE, slen-
! der figure.
al do not remember vou, sir"
81 fancied that you would, though probably
the years have changed me more than they
have you. But YOU have not forgotten the
name of Leonard Hughes, the blacksmith's
nephew? ~
Her face suddenly leapnd into recognition.
and placing her little hands in his, she said,
with the tears thrilling her eyes, "oh, | am
glad to see you, Mr. Hughes -
| There was little time for speech or con-
graduation then, but Mr.. Hughes was pre-
sented to Mr.. and Mrs. Dean, and receiving
their address, promised to call before the
week was over.
| And after they had learned the whole story
of their COUSINS acquaintance. with the lect-
urer, the young cousins were profuse in their
calculations Of surprise and delight, but
Evelyn sat very quiet. with her blue eyes on
the hands which she had folded in her lap,
only murmuring occasionally to herself who
could have believed il -
Leonard Hughes was true to his promise.
BE called to see Evelyn Lenard before the
week was ont, and very often aterwarl, for
Re had much to tell her of TIE long, long
struggles betwixt poverty AMI the desires and
purposes which never grew faint or wavere,l
in his soul, and OF his final triumph
And Evelyn listened to his story until the
tears stood still on her cheeks as she mur-
INJURED, "0h, Mr.. Hughes, don't see how
yon ever held out and conquered all these
obstacles and trials"
'God helped me-" said the young man
solemnly 'they have ma ie better, stronger
man of me-
| A smile leapei through her tears. "Jnst
rs mine will, hope, make better, stronger
woman of me.
One afternoon in the late sprng. when the
smbeams nutterad about the walls like gold.
en- winged birds, and the pulses of the earth
were full of the stir and expectation of sum
mer, Leonard Hughes and Evelyn Lenard
sat alone by one Of Che front windows in her
parlor.
81 am expecting to leave town day after