The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-01-06

i
Twas thoroughly humbled, and said
not . word, but swallowed two or three
big sobs, while be drew my arm in his
and walked on, quietly. dared not re-
sist him, for I felt the need Of his strong
hand to help me through the snow. 20 We
walked ND to the school house, entered
the door, and he assisted me to take of
! nv wrsppings, shook the snow from them,
hung them up in the entry, and then
opened the door for me to pass. went
in. too deeply mortified to utter word,
and We found the school room empty, for
it was quite early and the scholars had
not yet come.
Mr.. Graham placed chair for me at
the stove, and seating me in it, stood with
folded arms, looking into my face. Ifelt
the hot blood rushing to my cheeks, and
bowed my head upon my hands and
burst into passionate food of tears
Never in my life had felt SO completely
crushed-so entirely Inundated.
Mr.. Graham waited until my sobs had
abated. and then be spoke:
"Miss Bertha, Why do you avoid me
so? / saw you turn aside this morning,
and instantly guessed your motives for
80 doing. + determined to follow you,
for l knew you would need my assistance
before you reached the school house. 1t
was we'll that | did SO, or you might have
persisted 10 the snow. This is one of the
most severe storms l ever knew. Have
you no word Of kindness for me this
morning? Look up and tell me that you
do not entirely hate me-
He placed HE hand upon my head as
he said this and waited for my reply. 1t
was long time in coming, for the strug
gle between pride and justice was hard
but at length l said, without raising my
eyes:
"You have been very kind-I did not
deserve it-you have perhaps saved my
life-I thank you"
The ice was in measure broken, and
We conversed TIL the scholars came.
scarcely answered him at first, yet be
seemed not to observe it, but went on in
his genial way, as if striving to make me
forget the modification of the morning
Prom my heart l felt grateful to him 70,
this delicate kindness, and | found that
my aversion to him was gradually melt.
ing away. / had never seen him so SO.
cial. / did not know what rare CONVEX.
sational powers he possessed, and az
listened eagerly. | forgot, for the time,
that was SO plain and he so handsome,
while yielded TO the charm of the hour.
At length the scholars began 10 assem-.
bic and the bell rang for us to take oul
seats. l was the only one of all the girls
who had dared to venture out, conss-
quently had the day pretty much to my.
self. We had but one session, and abou,
three o'clock in the afternoon Mr.. Graham
dismissed us / still felt shy of him and
hurried out into the entry to prepare for
my walk. The storm had increased until
the roads were nearly impossible, bu,
resolved on putting the best face upon
the matter, so stepped out boldly into
the snow.
'.Stop minute, Miss Bertha, you will
still need my assistance-I will 60 home
with you;' and again Howard Graham
drew my unresisting hand under his arm
and walked on with me.
| The experience Of the morning had
been lesson which | could not soon
forget, SO | said not word. NV strong
will was giving way-my proud spiri. had
found lis master.
When we reached the crossing, l half.
L. Al l.
boarding place and leave me to walk
the rest Of the way alone. | found cour-
age to say
II thank you for your kindness, but l
can get along nicely for the remainder of
the distance.''
"No, indeed, Miss Bertha, shall not
leave you until ! see you safely at home
once more. You will allow me this
privilege, l know. Besides, it is not often
that you condescend to notice me at all.
fo-morrow you may be as proud and cold
as before -
| made no reply, for l knew not wha.
to say. was beginning TO see my con-
duct in its true light. wonderedhe did
not despise me. Wereached home and !
hale Mr.. Graham 'good- night" thanking
him for his trouble as best | could, feel.
ing very much ashamed of myself.
That night my dreams were a mixture
of snow-drifts and handsome faces which
seemed hooking at me through the dark.
ness. | was continually getting lost in
the storm, and called vainly upon some
one to help me out. My cries awoke nv
mother, who came to my room and found
me In araging fever, Ny walk had been
% much for me. had been tenderly
reared, and my constitution was UNEQUAL
to the exerton Of the day.
In the morning the doctor was called
in, and pronounced my disease to be
fever brought on by severe exhaustion
and exposure. | had taken a violent
cold, and was doomed to suffer the con-
sequences. For weeks my life was des-
paired OIL was delirious most of the
time, and they told me raved constantly
OF Howard Graham. begging him not to
look 50 coldly on me. telling him would
never hate him any more. Again | would
entreat him to leave me, to take hi, h.nd.
some face away from me, for It only made
my own more ugly by the contrast. He
rAlI Ia a A.