Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-01-11

Do! Why I'd rork!" She spoke
energetically, and as she did, her whole
expression changed, and she seemed
transformed at once from giddy girl
to a thoughtful woman. I'd have to,
you know because haven't rela-
tive in the world to look to for help"
But what would you do? Make
shirts at six cents a piece, be snubbcd
about as governess--be--"
| No, guardy, no neither of them.
Indeed, l hardly know what / would
do, but God would open some way for
me, in which to earn an honest liveli.
hood. and how | should enjoy it.! am
so weary of this do nothing life.' And
she folded her arms over her heart, as
If to still its impatient throbbings.
"And meanwhile, Belle, what would
become of me Z"
"-Of your" And she looked up
quickly. D. -
Yes, Of me. Who would pour my
coffee for me at breakfast bring me
my dainty lunch at eleven o'clock
my fruit and cream; help me to soup
at dinner I; make my tea at evening !;
air my dressing-gown and slippers /;
keep my buttons on my wristbands,
and the strings on my collars knit
me soft lambs-wool stockings, cmbroid-
er me smoking-caps and hem my hand.
kerchiefs who would read to me when
| am weary, nurse me when am sick,
sing to me when am sad? Belle, my
little ward, the old house would be
very lonely without you.' He might
have added, "and my heart too.7
! The color came and went in her
cheeks while. he was speaking, but
when he paused she was pale as death,
with mist upon her eyes. Murmur-
ing plaintively, "rm glad if am good
for anything" she left her seat and
walked quietly out of the room. Her
guardian rose as if to follow her then,
abruptly checking his steps, he sat
down again and hid his face in his
hands. sA g.ss agast .au za4.uH ]
| ave pluck not cherries in autumn
time" The words came from his lips
with low, moaning tone, which spoke
eloquently Of the struggle in his heart.
But was it autumn-time with Her
bert Sidney? True, he was past thir-
ty, but not single thread of silver
glistened in the glossy masses of ra-
ven hair which his little ward had so
often pushed back from his high, white
forehead in his hours of headache !;
not wrinkle scanned his face his
eye was like an eagles; his heart
warmer now than in his boyhood. lie
loved Belle Ashley with all the depth
and fervor of his strong, passionate
nature, but he had never whispered a
word of his feelings to her grim
sense of their disparity of years made
his lips dumb. IS,
And Belle, beauty of eighteen, an
heiress, too, whom score Of suitors
had already strove to win, Belle loved
her guardian as only woman of her
temperament can love. She would
have died to save him a sorrow. Yet
she had her secret so deep down in her
heart, that even her own keen eyes
could scarcely see it, Now she lay
painting on her bed, her face wet with
tears, her white lips crying continual
| ly, "to him am but child"
i A month later and she sat alone in
the library reading not out of mag
azine, though they lay scattered all
about her, but from one of those pom
derous tones of which she had spoken
so disdainfully to her guardian. 1t
was one she had often seen in his
hands. and now secure from Interrupt
ton, for he was many miles away, she
was bending all the quick powers of
her mind to the erudite pages.
| A servant entered bearing a silver
salver. Mechanically she took the let
ter it held. One glance at her name,
SO boldly written, and glad cry drop
ped from her lips
1t is from Herbert, bless him." And
she read it. Her cheek lost it's Grim
son as she took in the import Of the
message. aiv
i any LITTLE WARD But that I fear
You will be torturing yourself with
anxieties about my health, would not
write you at all, but reserve my IT,
dings until see you, which will be in
a weeks time. | am well, perfectly
well. onlya little tired. Belle, prepare
yourself now for unpleasant news.
Perhaps you do not know it, but have
been for a long time distrustful of the
integrity Of the firm to whom your un-
Gle loaned your money came here
to satisfy myself Belle, not dollar
of the immense, sum loaned them is
now in their hands. have been very
busy unravelling the affair and will
give you the particulars when come
home. DO not worry, Belle, over the
matter, and above all things, do moth
ing rashly. Wait till l meet you and
talk it over. Now as ever, yours,
/ n., "H. SIDNEY"
! What she had so often lightly wish
ed for had come to pass, She was
poor an orphan and poor-no blood
Of hers in the veins of either man or
woman. Poor aud alone in the world
| Did she weep? Not tear. She
read the letter thrice over, then folded
it in its original creases, replaced it in
the envelope. and put it in her bosom.
Pushing aside the table, she rose and
i paced the room back and forth first
!, with quick, nervous steps, afterwards
with slow, quiet ones. At midnight
| she ceased and went carefully about
the room, gathering up the books and
ornaments which belonged to her. She
made several trips to her chamber ere
she had carried them all. Locking
, herself in, she drew her travelling
trunks from the closet and commenced
emptying her bureau and wardrobe,
! folding and packing. 1t was nearly
: daylight when she turned the keys and
! buckled down the straps. Her plain,
{ est travelling suit was left out. Then
she counted her money; the quarter
}. was nearly gone, and she had but for
D ty dollars left She smiled half sadly
Q as she put back the little roll of bills
and the silver change. Then she went