The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-24

N | = =
shod]d s. cIsil14d His nsn jcyCsss
ness, hiA M1k5 Dsnfeey - .nsi.ts earesses,
ssSsa 2 y :. e, sssss ss'a Z e sss s,
msists Is replace tiGe sich velvet ~, vhi1A
We carcfully put a1ide, ia case they Nege eser
required TO prove his identity. She furnished
for his bed room small apartment leading
from her own sleeping room. She made the
day one long ac4 Of service for his comfort,
and q weeks glided into months, and there
was no clue found to guide rs to his home,
she taught him to cal her grandma, wh3e
Uncle Charley became my newly acquired
title. To tell how he WAS petted in the VII
lage would Be vnin taok 70 attempt. 10 say
that BE- vas the haro and idol Of Hopedeles
would kivs bat faint ides Of his popularity.
Gradually the memory Of his home, Ellen, the
visit to Australia, died away, and he seemed
to forget that he had ever lived away from as.
Mamma and Aunt Daisy had been the two Of
he said, that his fathers death wss very re-
cent, and his residepce at his grand parents
brief visit only in his memory.
Eleven months mad this dear little treasure
been an inmate Of my house, whom there
came into my life.s new. dream of hope and
happiness. About FIVE miles from Hopedale
there resided, and had lived, for many long
years, an eccentric old bachelor by the name
of Herbert Graham. His home, Leehaven,
was far away from any cluster Of houses, in.
deed, nearly mile from any other residence |;
and here, in solitary state with only two an.
cient servitors for bis household, he had lived
ever since could remember. He was mo-
rose il-tempered man, and some early cross
had made him adopt . perfectly hermit-like
seclusion, though his wealth would have com
manded every advantage society could afford.
1t was early in November that / was sum-
moned to attend this odd genius professional
ly. The little note brought TO my house BY
an elderly man on horseback, was signed
LILLIAN Graham" and urged my immediate
attention.
1t was long, cold drive; but the man rep.
to obey the summons. 81 had no idea your
master had daughter ! said, referring to
my note.
"That's masters niece" was the reply; "a
nice, sweet spoken young lady As ever see.
She comes down on . visit sometimes from
her fathers place near Albany. They were
burnt out. her father folks, last winter, and
the family all went TO Europe while the new
house was a-buildiag. They came home
about fortnight ago, but they won't go to
the new house till spring, 80 some Of them is
boarding in New York, and some in Albany,
and Miss Lillian she's come to spend the win
ter with her uncle. They're all coming down
for Christmas, j expect
found my new patient very ILL., and for a
week my visits were frequent, and more than
once passed whole night by his bedside.
do not mean this for q love tale, so will not
weary my readers with the why and wherefore
of my heart bending in allegiance to Lillian
Graham's charms. Her beauty, gentleness
and winning grace touched my heart rs no
woman had ever before thrilled it, and before
that weary week of watching and anxiety was
over loved her As her uncle began to re-
cover, my visits slid from = professional ca
pacity to social one, and ] saw that my
welcome was sincere one from both the old
gentleman and the fair girl, whose devotion
to his sick bed proved her love.
was agreeably surprised TO find the her
NIT neither q savage or inaccessible as he had
Leen represented to me. He had a painful
chronic disorder. his manner was brnsque,
and his voice often harsh, but he could soften
and | was able to give him relief from
pain, for which he repaid me by gracious
reception.
Christmas was drawing near, and had re-
solved to lay my heart before Lillian. aud ask
her to be my wife. was heir to considerable
property left by my father had q good
practice, pleasant home, and could offer her
the pure love of young heart, so | was not
without hope, especially as ! could see the
flush deepen on her cheek, and glad light
spring 70 her blue eyes, whenever | was an
nounced. She was mourning, and | often
longed to question her about the loss it i'm.
rt.od luf ruv pr.xaso interviews worp y1rv
brief, and but seldom occurred, aud she never
spoke Of her sorrow. l too hsd . story to
tell. OF course, If she became my wife, she
must hear about Trot,
II was the day before Christmas, and the
snow was smooth and hard round Hopedale !;
so ventured to propose . sleigh ride, mean
ing to open my heart to her as We drove. She
accepted my proposal readily, and we we're
soon on our way. Somehow there fell . long
silence between us-I longing but not daring
TO speak, my eyes fixed upon that lovely face
framed in its pretty fur bound hood, the eyes
looking down, the sweet mouth set with q
sadder expression than l had ever seen it
wear. Suddenly she spoke:
81 expect my parents, brother and sister
here to morrow"
"For Christmas gaieties7''
"No. to escape them. They are coming
here to pass the day quietly, far away from
any festivity. 1t is sad day for me. Doc
tor, do you believe in broken hearth
"Yes know they exist"
"And are fatal?
"Sometimesl have seen heay sorrow
drain away lifeF'
my poor sister, she said, sadly. her eyes
filling with tears. ~ fear her heart is
broken" And after pause she said: "a
year ago-a year ago-poor little Trot!"
"Trot!" cried, breathIessly.
s.My sisters only child, who died on Christ
mas day last year"
"Died?'' said, my hopes sinking.
Burnt to DEATH" she said, sadly. "We
had had Christmas tree for the children in
! the nursery My sister had been . widow
only three months, 50 we had no holiday gath
ering, but We dressed tree for the little ones
| and lighted it on Christmas Eve. The next
morning they, the children we mean, were all
in the nursery, and We suppose that one of
them tried 70 light the tree. Certain it b
that they set the room on FIRE, and before We
could save anything the whole house was in
flames. All escaped but my sisters child, her
only one he persisted in the fire."
"Are you certain 7"
"Where else could he be! My two little
brothers and my sister were saved with diff
| Guilty, and the roof fell in while we were fran
ticaly searching and calling for Arthur, or,
as We always called him, Trot. Ny sister s
health 0avo vav ontirolv undor this hlow Che