The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-06-14
Rachel Montague. or the Stolen Child.


sunlight seemed to rest upon her golden curls.
Her eyes were full and earnest of heavens own
hue. Her skin was very fair, and of that trans
parency which clearly revealed the delicate ira
Gerry of the blue veins beneath. A child made
for love and tenderness-"a thing Of beauty,
Joy forever" was dear little Eva
Seated on the floor of her nursery, tossing
the costly toys carelessly about, behold Eva
Her merry laugh, hitherto So pleasing to the ear
of Nurse Abbott, seemed out Of place as the
aged nurse stood, with folded arms and sadden-
ed countenance, gazing upon her young charge,
mentally contrasting her with one of many
years ago; and, as she dreamed, her youth came
back to her with its unwritten romance The
childs mother was her first little darling-the
frst-born Of the family, she where entered in
the capacity of nurse. And now this child was
loved not for her own precious little self alone,
but for the memory Of her that gave her birth.
Alas she is now sleeping the last long sleep Of
death. But yesterday, the loved form was laid
il the cold earth, and the places that once
knew her shall know her no more forever"
/ ONLY a short time ago-the light of the home
now darkened the JOY of the husband now sad
dened-she was called, and, meekly folding
those hands so tiny, closing those eyes so lovely,
with gentle sigh she followed the dead messen-
ger into the unknown world.
Little knew the baby Eva Of her great loss.
where's mamma, my pity mamma ?" said
Eva, as she for moment left her paythings,
and looked up at her ''oId mamma as She call
ed her nurse.
mamma has gone a great way off She'll
never come back to YOU
cause why?'
''Because she's way up in the sky. If you
are good always you can sometime 90 to her"
! answered Nurse Abbott as she folded the little
/ prattler to her bosom.
',Then iii try to be dood. It is pity pace
/ where mamma is?n
Yes, Eva, very beautiful place"
i "Why can't 60 now ~
''AIy child, you had hetter play now"
/ And soon the playthings were flying in all di-
rections, while her merry laugh kept time with
it all Happy child enjoy thy present. Full
soon there viii come timewhen you shall weep
/ bitter tears for the early lost.
4 In the library of that spacious mansion sat
/ Richard st. 0rua His elbows rested on table
covered with books and writing utensils; bis
4 face buried in his hands, and anon a smothered
groan was heard from the sorrowing man. He
was thinking Of that dear wife, gone from his
sight forever. Richard St. Orne was a man in
whom the intellectual predominated over the
7
! found place in his heart for the sentimental
! He loved stern, hard, mathematical studies,
/ that not only consume the midnight OIL but abb
sorb the sap Of life. One oasis in this dry de-
sert-love for his lost wife. She crept into bis
heart willie living, and now that She was gone,
there was an aching void-a dull pain, that, in
his seIfshness, he must forget. All unused to
emotions in which the heart held sway, his grief
was terrible. He on this dav-the one following
the funeral-had locked himself within bis Ii
brary, refusing admittance.to any one. 1t first
he tried to study-took Up the dear old books,
and fastened his eyes upon them. But all in
/ vain. They but reminded him Of the playful
4 savings of his ,-"Naughty old books I'm
really Jealous Of them, Richard" Then would
| he rise and pace the room, moaning, Eva, Eva,
come back to me-" THUS he spent the day
''Mans love for woman not so pure,
Nor when sincerest, so secure
To last till life is ended"
/ lie never forgot Eva. All, mo- but carefully
slowing that precious memory away in some re
mote corner of bis heart, he listened to the
worlds voice calling, Richard, you are want
4 ed, and obeyed.
! In a short time his accustomed place was fill
ed at the club, and to a casual observer erich
ard was himself again. Political interests
! we're LuG Ntlt8is OI Nlo Lle-alHDiuOU 4 FullRE
power; be soon forgot his pain in the plaudits
of the crowd seldom he was at home, ''for it
was so lonely there now; - and he grew to be
unmindful of Eva, scarcely ever visiting the
nursery. He had an influential, political oppo-
nent whom, in order to accomplish certain
end, he must 'win over" How to do it was a
problem that had puzzled him for a long time
AC a dinner party he was introduced to a stately
i ladysister Of "niiuc host the political oppo-
nent In the absence Of her sister, Hester
Laurence presided over the festivities Her
manner was so graceful, so queenly, that she
| was the centre of many admiring eyes. A sud
den thought passed through the scheming brain
of ST. Ome The problem was solved. So like
a philosopher that he was, he reasoned thus
Il can never love again; my establishment lacks
a mistress. Miss Laurence is intellectual and
beautiful. What can | ask for more2 My home
is lonely; Eva needs a. mother; and | shall gain
by marriage with this lady powerful ally in
her brother-5l two birds with one brilliant
stroke-conquer an enemy by making him my
friend" And it was done as he had decreed
In one short month since the party, scarcely
six since he wept so wildly over the remains of
his iGozed wife, he led to the altar hymenal
the beautiful, talented Hester Laurence And
they we're well matcd-both cold, proud, ambi-
tious. Had Eva gained mother? Truth an
swers may
CHAPTER II.
In another mansion, not far distant, was grief
an unwelcome visitant. A little child, Of the
same age as Eva, was lost, but not by death
During the temporary absence of her nurse