Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-10-31


Isabel tossed her head.
"Just as you choose; but I'm not to be
domineered over any longer by Uncle Jo-
seph"
"You have made n very sensible deci-
sion, my dear, said the old gentleman,
when Emma announced her intentions to
him that evening.
"Let ellmarry second Cresus, if she
likes-in this world Of reverses and change
she may one day discover that there are
some requirements more precious than the
winged gold she values so highly"
Emma Medworth's fashionable acquaint-
ances were shocked by the iidings that
she had began the study of kitchen lore !;
some pronounced her little deranged,
others wondered at her vulgar taste, and a
few, very, very few, thought secretly
that she was sensible girl. Isabel and
her wealthy lover, it is needless TO add,
were not among these last.
Two years afterwards, one of those de-
vastating commercial crisis, before whose
simeon breath fortunes melt away. and the
boarded treasures of years are scattered
to the four winds of heaven, swept through
the country. Mrs. Medwor,h's small COM
petence was involved in The general whirl
pool of ruin, and this was not all. Her
widowed daughter Isabel, whose palace of
wealth had been shattered by the H,lsfor-
tunes of one disastrous week. returned TO
her mothers house, dependant and heart
broken, burden TO those who were ill-abe
TO support her.
Uncle Joseph quietly watched the course
of events, and smiled to himself as he ob
served Emma's unsaaken courage and Vi
vacity, and the excellent applications she
made Of her household accomplishments.
Now, indeed she had learned their value.
"Nice girl, that, soliloquized Uncle Jo-
seph on his way to the bankers; 'not the
sort to break down and melt away, like
snow wreath al the first touch Of calamity.
l like little Emma. Twenty years old to-
day, is sheg Well, must see if the old
man can't find some sort Of an acceptable
present for her"
The carriage which was to convey old
Mr.. Medworth to the railroad depot was at
the door-he had bidden each member of
the family adieu, with the single exception
of his young st niece-and as he gave her
a parting kiss, he faid frankly:
"My dear, Pm getting to be an old man,
and these visits to the city begin 10 seem
like weighIy undertakings, SO it isn't at
all likely you will ever see me again. Don't
interrupt me, child know you're fond
Of your old uncle, but l shall love you
Just as well then, even if don't have
chance to tell you so every day. haven't
forgotten that this is your birthday" he
added. slipping little box into her hand
'.and don't think can do better with my
money than TO purchase the happiness of
my favorite niece who followed my advice
years ago." -....
And before Emma could ask an expla-
nation, the old man was gone, leaving his
sister-in.law and daughters in a perfect
maze of bewilderment.
"What can he mean? 2" exclaimed Mrs.
Medwor,h. "He was always strangely &C.
centric" .,-.
"Do open the box, Emma" said Isabel
eagerly; Il am dying TO discover this mys-
tery!"
But Emma still stood motionless, and
Isabel snacbed the box from her hand
and unclasped the lid. r
at is empty!" she exclaimed, in an ac-
cent of disappointment and vexalion. toss
ing the box from her.
But, even as is fell, tiny slip of paper
futtered out. Isabel stopped and picked
it up-i, was check for twenty thousand
dollars. r .r# -1.r.-- aIL
49," exclaimed the naughty young
widow when her first aston shment had
subsided, "your housekeeping has proved
a fortune to you, Emma. Really, i'll had
foreseen this brilliant denouement, | might
have been inclined to play the dutifui
niece myself!' ri qs r4asa gmsa- s.J
"My dear Isabel" said Mrs. Medworth
gravely, II regret as much as you do that
your uncle failed to perceive in your char
acter the wisdom and good sense he has
found in that of Emma tea sltii
The young widow did not reply-per-
haps she was thinking that, after all,
wealthy husband is not the best investment
woman can make of herself in this uu-
certain world. - .-
vADUETTES s.r-g