The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-05-08

was already in prospect for himself and Ina.
Could he have the old time picture Of "his
pretty Ina" shattered by glance ? No.
Nor was this deep decision based upon NOR.
tilted pride, or sensitiveness Of nature which
made it impossible TO shock even the out.
ward sense Of one in whose cnthronemeni
Of her young being Lad been her least selfish
pride.
Two weeks ha<lclapsed, and now the time
had come when Frank must know of the
terrible events. Ina had called her mother
to the bedside, and although, under much
self-control, the two had given fair account
ofthc catastrophe.
"W,hat shall write, next, my child ?"
The question brought the decision for
which the brave girl had been preparing
herself during all the days and nights since
thatteirible destruction, but when the mo.
mcnt came the strength of her esolution was
scarcely equal to the task Of holding. hack
the tears.
"Tell him mother that-that he must not
=" Here the voice. more and more tremu-
lous, with every word fell altogether, and no
sound came from the bedside bat the. sad
murmur Of sobs which the pillows were un.
able to lmprison. The mother sat leaning
over the written page, resting her face upon
he hand wet with gushing tears while her
binding eyes were unable to see, or her
overhowing heart was unable to care, that
these raindrops were blistering the letter so
carefully penned. Both wept till both were
calm.
".Are you ready now, motherg'
| "Yes, darling"
| Tell him that he must not come to. me-
4 Fell him that he must--ncver see me again.
He must not ask how I am changed, but re-
member me as the Ina he left when he went
away. Tell him that--that never loved
him so dearly as now but am willing to
give him back to himself" And here the
tide, in the sHrgings of which her voice had
rocked over every wave of expression, en-
gulied it again, and the pillows drank her
tears once more.
At first, in his dcsolatiou. Stanton begged
to come and alleviate he. tiial; m1yiag her
resolution with all the eloquenceaff etrong
nature, quickened by the cpnao IS OF
loving the spirit rather than th5 But
no, no. She told him gently, in many a
tender letter written through films of tears.
And he, true and noble, always, reassarting
his entire devotion
Twenty years thereafter, returning from
a foreign home, l found these friends of my
young manhood, the one by the lake, the
other by the seaside sEtanion had still the
picture of "h,s little Ina. locked in living
cabinet. During all these twenty years, he
had been the thoughtful tender husband
husband in fact, but not in name -caslag 70,
Ina as devotedly as though the sunlieht
, every day had renewed to his eye the picture
which he carried in his heart. Every week
, Of every year had brought and carried let
ters-full, spontaneous, gushing Each was
made familiar with the most minute affairs
i and hidden thoughts of the other. And
each was rendered more devoted by admira
tion Of the others nobleness in sacrifice
lifting the ordinary conjugal affection to thai
higher fame whose atmcspkere is brilliant
beyond comparison.
!, sat and talked with Ina, as friend may
, talk, of herself and Frank. The rocking
, chair. the lounge, the piano, the pictures. ths
vases, the cottage itself. were all from him
The wee birds, whose song danced out upor
the air from under the vine by the window
!. could have been sent by none other. In,
pointed out the trecs-many ofthem giving
broad shadows-which were especial,
Franks. This was his moss-rose !; that hi,
hyacinth. Taste, care. wealth--all were
cvinced in the pretty cottage and its elcgan,
surroundings
The village gmdener came up the walk
with shrub in his hand. Touching his
!, hats he inquired of Miss Ina where she would
have II plscetl
"What is it ?"
"A whits rose.',.
Beside the moss-rosc, under the window.
Nothing more was said, but my glance was
answered with the words: From Frank =
found Stanton u Successful man. H.
talkedof Ina rs a man talks of his wife
freely, tenderiva Flswers had been pressct
, and forwarded leaves and blossoms Of rel
of his trees, even Buds, packtdin listle box
$ es, had reached him by mail Whatever .
5 beauty or value was peculiar to the seaside
hal been gathered during all these years fp
: him. Opening his portfolio. found mos
; perfect pencilings Of the cottage and it, sur
: round:ngs from every conceivable point o
: view. And 10 these were added exquisit
. individual pictures Of trees and adornments
And then, descending TO more material com
, forts, found 'iine linen," exquisitely stitch
; ed, dressing gown, Slippers, and as the pos
i. sible Injuries of masculine toilet. added
: by Ina's care, to the furnishing Of his pleas
J, ant rooms.