The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-12-13

ancs to the needy, and especially was it my
pleasure to aid those whom | had known In
the humber days Of my youth. aa
Charity was not what Mrs. Mason desir-
ed, but assistance in her task for self SUP
port. had influence to procure needle
work for her. and Eva gladly accepted the
position Of nursery governess, of me, tho
in fact tho name is an anomaly, since little
-IIestergwas but two years of ago, and Rob-
bic a babe of scarce as many months. But
was glad to place in nv nursery person
above the graie Of a servant, intelligent
kind and thoughtful as Eva proved hersel
TO be- s3As @,'
In this position, dearly loved by us oil,
she had remained until few weeks previ.
ous. We were about going to Europe, and
as she felt it impossible to leave her mother,
she had left Us to accept a situation in the
the village school, much to the regret of all
all parties. | had long promised myself the
pleasure of providing her bridal outfit when
ever it should be needed, though there seem
ed little prospect of such IN event, since the
hu.nbleness Of her position precluded her
from the attentions of thoss worthy to as
sociate with girl Of her beauty. intelligence
and refinement, and she hal a way Of
shrinking from the approaches Of the rude
and ignorant, which often exasperated those
who believed they might justly aspire to one
in her station. | was quite surprisrd to find
that she had a layer at last
"Come," said at last, " this will never
do, Eva. Hold up your head, child look at
me, and tell ME all about this paragon, who
is able TO make you blush and cry in this
unexamplei manner. Who is he, pray ?"
"Oh, Mrs. L., itis--it is Hugh Ranney,
the carpenter. He wants me 10 marry hum,
and mother thinks had best. Do tell Inc,
dear Mrs. L., what | shall do"
The handsome young fellow who built
the new conservatory, Eva? Is that he p
| What does your heart say, Evas He is a
young Hercules, and handsome as he is
grand and strong, and Mr.. L. tod me that he
was very industrious young man, and un-
commonly we'll off. Has he any education
Or refinement, my dear?'
"Very little Of either, fear. And no
wonder; he, a chill Of p,or IrJSh parents,
was turned adrit an orphan at sk years of
I age, and made his waJ as bs he could
since"
I +" He must have great energy and much
intelligence, then. And he can't have dis
sipatcd habits, or he would not be thriving
If you love him, Eva, perhaps you had best
accept him. You will be happier in your
home, and then you can provide for your
mother"
But am not sure do, Mrs. L. He
lovss me SO much, and is so kind and win
ming, that at times feel strongly attached
to him. Tken ho will show his ggnk of
breeding in some triflns act, and cannot
but shrink from him. cannot tell what
ought to do
Consult your own heart. as said before
pretty one, and when you have decided, let
me know, that | may do my part. | can
say no more. Only you know that wish
you every happiness whatever may be your
choice"
Nothing more was said then, and present.
ly Eva went away. Ny good Hubert wa
delighted when mentioned the matter to
him. Hugh, he said, was worthy man,
and sure to rise in the world. Eva could
not do better Her station was humble, and
pretty and graceful as she was, she was not
likely to marry above her own sphere. He
was for the match, and at once ventilat-
ed half score of plans for aiding the young
pair.
A few days later Eya came. blushingly to
tell me that she had accepted Hugh, and
that they were to be married at the close OF
her school term. When | went to New
York, on my way to Europe, had the long
promised pleasure of selecting the bridal and
household outfit. Soon after we arrived at
Paris we heard of Eva's marriage, and dur
ing the four years that We wandered over
Europe, occasionally received from her a
letter filled with village and household news,
and profuse messages to the little ones.
4 In the second year of her marriage her
mother died.
4 | was very happy to return once more to
my home, to find myself settled quietly in
my own apartments, to sit for quiet morn
ing in my own charming boudoir, and find
that the years that to me had been so full Of
! of restless change, had wrought no difersn-
ees there. The same old servants, the same
splendid trees, with the shining river beyond,
and beyond that again those grand, change
less hills that reared their heads and seemed
to lool; at me with the faces of old friends.
"Mrs. Ranney is looking very pale and i'll,
was tie answer given by the housckeeper,
to my enquiries about Eva She has had
a bad cold all the winter | have not seen
her often He husband does not approve Of
VISITORS and the old dame brided up, and
looked so stately that could soc that mort
al offense bad be.n given her in some way.
i viii go to see her myself, thought, and al.
lowed the subject to drop.
j 1t was a cold spring d,y, and as | had
chosen to walk shivered as stood waiting
on Hugh Ranney's porch. Presently slow
4 footsteps came along the passage, the door
opened, and q woman holding in her arms
q Ia re habv cnn frontad me- Rut for the