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

, sheet she had chosen, her features
J worked convulsively. For the first
time she realized that she was leaving
htm, her guardian. Dashing off the
burning drops that strcamed over hel
face, she compelled her fingers to be
calm, and wrote:
i My DEAR GUARDIAN Your note
revealing the loss of my wealth, was
received last evening. Alone, poor
there Is OF course but one thing for me
to do--,rork--eav my o,cn iiring.
know all your generous, noble hear,
would tempt you to say, but. Herbert
| cannot brook dependence, even from
you. Do not seek to find me, or, il
you do come across me in your wan
derlngs, do not seek to break my reso.
luton. When / have proved to you
that l am no longer a child, but wo-
mana woman capable Of caring for
herself, then will write you. Till
then, adieu. Your little ward,
Ta BELLE"
/ To the servant who came in to clear
the CRATE, and who looked surprised
to see her there dressed for journey,
she said, briefly:
Order the carriage for me. must
be at the station in half an hour, and
ask the cook to send me cup of cof.
fee and some crackers"
An hour afterwards, and she was
speeding by express to city hun
drcd miles of. She had been there be-
fore, and ordered the porter to carry
her luggage to the same hotel she had
before frequented. Before her bonnet
and cloak were laid aside, she had writ
ten this note and despatched it to the
office of daily paper
WANrED.-By young lady, sit
uation as companion to some invalid
lady. Wages not so much an object
as comfortable home. Apply at room
No. 81, A. Hotel, between the
hours of ten and five."
Then changing her dress, she sat
down quietly by the window. and
watched the passing crowd. As soon
as the fashionable dinner was over,
she retired to the couch, and wearied
with excitement and travel, slept sound.
ly till morning She dressed herself
with more than usual care that day,
and with book in hand which she
vainly strove to read, she awaited the
issue of her advertisement. Slowly,
tedlously, the day wore on. Her face
began to be troubled, and her heart to
sink. But at three o'clock there came
"a rap at her parlor door. She opened
it, and bowed courteously to the mid.
dle-aged gentleman who entered.
"This is yours, believe" handing
her a slip of newspaper.
"Ies, sir, am the young lady. Nv
name is Isabella Ashley, and my ref.
erences are these" and she handed
him the cards of the different teachers
whose tuition she had enjoyed from
time to time.
He looked at them carefully, and
was apparently satisfied, for he said
at once: My name is Olmstead,
Ralph Olmstead, Of the firm of Ohm
stead & Barring come in behalf Of
my mother, who has been an invalid
for years, though but lately debarred
society and confined to her chamber.
We have succeeded in procuring an
/ excellent nurse, but she needs some
thing more--attentions such as a
daughter or interested friend might
give. 1t will be an arduous task for
you, if you conclude to undertake it,
but she as well as myself is wealthy,
and will amply remunerate you for the
time yoa may spend with her."
when can l see her ~ rg
Now, this afternoon, if you will.
My carriage is at the door"
al will go with you, sir" And she
was soon rafting over the paved
streets.
They stopped at palatial home,
and Belle was soon ushered into dark
ened chamber Astrong smell of cam.
phor greeted her first, then medley
Of odors, anything but agreeable to
one whose life was the breath of flow
ers. An aged woman, wan and was
ted, lay upon the couch towards which
she bent her noiseless footsteps. She
moaned as if in pain, and frequently
threw her hands to her head. Belle
noticed that her grey hair was sadly
disordcred, and the cloth which lay
upon it stiff and dry.
"Your head aches badly" she said,
in her lowest, sweetest tone.
1T crazes me almost But who are
your" And the halfclosed eyelids
opened wide.
1t is the young lady whose adver-
tisement l read to you, mother. She
has called to see if she and you can
agree to keep company while"
/ Her voice suits me. That nurse,
where is she, Edward?"
| "Gone out a moment
"She nearly kills me with her tones,
so shrill and owllike.-Child,' ,'-and
she put her wrinkled hand in the soft
palm Of the stranger" it viii be a
weary task for you, for am grown
querulous with suffering, and should
try an angels patience. My eyes are
weak, too, and my room has to be kept
very dark. Think well, ere you decide
to Gomez ~ ie ase
| "Do you think shall suit you,
ma'am
/ "Yes, lido. Your step islight, your
touch gentle, and your voice low and
musical Yes, you viii suit
| "Then will come at once.'
/ al will pay you just what used to
Ralph's governess, six hundred year
shall be more tronble though than he
was, but will make it right. Can
you stay now? o, my head my
head /" And a spasm convulsed her
face.
i Yon will see to my trunks, sir. ]
will give you an order. Your mother
: needs me now if ever And penciling
line, she gave it to him, and then
!. laying aside her bonnet and shawl
went again to the bedside.
u Bring me some cool water, and .
, bit of soft, fresh linen. and comb aud
| brush,' she said, quietly to the nurse.