Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-01-11
+" Please do as say I will be re.

i Please do as I say I will be re
sponsible.' She spoke gently, bu
there was something in the tone tha
enforced obedience"
! Very grateful to the fevered Skin
was the soft, cooling touch of the damn
linen, as Belle wiped the face anc
hands, and like mesmeric touches, the
parting and smoothing of the long
thin locks. She was half asleep er,
the cap was tied on, and few lulline
words, such as a mother half sings
half whispers to the babe as she put
it in the cradle, finished the charm an,
the lids were closed.
i She is sleeping very quietly sal,
the physician to her son, an hoiir after
wards, as he stood at her bedside. al
have not seen her so calm since she
was taken down. How is it?n 7
She has done it," said the nurse, a
woman nowise disposed to be jealous
She understands her case better than
| do"
| The physician glanced at Belle, who
timidiy shrunk from observation into
the darkest corner Crossing the room,
he came directly to her. al do not
know what you have done, my friend,
but your prescriptions are more pow
erful than mine. No opiatc has ever
made her so quiet. Continue your at
tentions and watch her symptoms care
fully" .eacI
Then taking the son by the arm, he
led him from the room, saying earnest
| ly, "you must retain her, though it cost
five dollars day. Your mother can
never be well again !; all we can do is
to smooth her passage to the grave
That young girl can do it better than
you or |. Mind what l say keep
her, and let the other go. They viii
only come in conflict
The next morning the nurse was dis.
missed with presents that gladdened
her heart, and Belle was left alone will,
the invalid. 1t was, as the aged wo-
man said, an arduous task she had un-
dertaken, but she never faltered,
though her face grew pale as the sick
ones, and her checks lost their round
ness and her eyes their brightness.
She had never known confinement or re-
strait, and the close air of that dark.
ened chamber seemed to poison her
blood. Many things she missed the
fragrance of the spring flowers which
she knew were now summing them.
selves in the messy depths of the wood
land the breath of the April breeze
as it fingered in the green boughs OF
the trees the morning and evening
sky-tlnts, and the golden banner oi
monday the music of the wild birds
the long rambles in the country til,
| gay gallops on the jet-black pony tn,
precious hours in the library with hel
guardian to talk to, and the yet more
precious ones in the parlor at eventide
when they sang together the ballads
of oldch times.
Mr.. Olmstead was kind thoughtful
rendering her every attention in his
power /; the servants smoothed her way
all they could, for they soon came t.
dote on the young mistress, as they
called her. and even the invalid, worI
and worried with years of suffering
suppressed many moan to spare hel
little nurse. And yet, with all they
did for her, it was a sad, sad life Belle
Ashley led in that darkened ROOM
/ Not as in other times, was she weary
because she had nothing to do, bn,
tired now with having so many duties
Spring frightened into summer
that faded into autumn, and then he
vigils were over, for the tremulou.
nerves and the unsteady heart Of tht
sick woman were quiet under the
shroud-folds. Belle was once more al
liberty, and as she counted the con
tents of the purse the mourning SOL
had placed in her hands-six hundred
dollars all told (for such had been the
request of the dying mother), though
but half the year was up, she felt an
irresistible desire TO exhibit her earn
tings to her guardian She longed {.
have him know that she was something
more than he had ever thought her
stronger, better, nobler. AS though
he would have let his one eve lamt
wander moment from his fold with
out his guardian care.
He sat alone in his library, Herber
Sidney-but though his eyes rested OF
the page before him, his thoughts wer,
far away in that distant city, wher,
his little ward was losing her healtl
and strength, and : learning the grea
lesson of neutrality-suspicious. Tn,
bell-wire tinkled softly. He did no
notice it that, nor the little hustle il
the hall, and when half an hour after
wards, there came light football Oh
the carpet, and the rustic of woman's
garment as it brushed the furniture
he did not stir or look up. He was
lost to outward sounds and sights
Away down deep in his heart nestled
a bonny love, and he was doting on it
his hidden, darling treasure.
| "Are you deaf, dumb, blind, guar
Idy? Have you no word of welcome
for your little ward ?n
How he started, and what crimson
flushed his face as he caught her for {
moment to his heart.
| $50 you have come back to me-" ht
said, as she sat down beside him al
always believed you would"
"But have not come to stay" she
said, quickly.
! "And why not, Belle /! It's very
lonesome living here with no one but
Mrs. Gray and the servants to speak
to day after day. Why can't you keeF
me company?"
! How her heart swelled ! How hel
pulse quickened But she shook hel
head resolutely, and forcing calmness
into her voice, she said:
Because it is impossible. an
poor and must work.
! And is it pleasant, Belle, to carr
your own living 7"
"Pleasant-pleasant," she murmur
ed "no, it is not pleasant, but thel
it is my duty. and l shall learn by-and
by to be satisfied with that"
Tell me Of your wanderings, Belle
Sit down here as you used tor An