Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-08-26

usurped my place III my brothers
heart? / am quite sure INDUCED in
a woman's panacea for sorrow and
yexation-a burst Of tears. I had
never thought of Franks marrying,
without corresponding thought of
loving his wife. Yet how could /
love this woman-and would she
| like me? Those were the thoughts
that kept continually rushing through
my brain.
One thing l resolved to do, and
that was, love her if possible for
| Franks sake. So | gave orders to
the servants to have everything in
readiness for the return of their mas
ter and his bride. l put the rooms
| in order myself, which opened off
| the drawing-room, and had a full
view of the town and river. They
were our mothers rooms, and had
never been used since her death.
Surely" thought I, as I glanced
around the room, "she will be pleased
with her new home" Giving a last
touch to the folds Of the heavy cur
tain, l leaned out of the window and
gazed upon a pleasant. picture.
The sun was slowly sinking in
mountains Of purple and golden
clouds, casting its glittering rays
upon the winding water below. The
smooth lawn stretching to the abrupt
cliff at the rivers bank, around
which rustic fence had been con-
structed, more for ornament than for
use, and the many arbors dotting the
grounds, over whose trellis work the
honeysuckle and rose Wed with each
other in luxuriant beauty. The
broad carriage road, stretching nearly
a mile through the estate, until it
stopped by the portcr's lodge, along
whose borders the dear old lime trees
formed border, and, meeting ut the
top, shaded the road completely. ]
turned and looked at the room in
which / stood. If the outside was
pleasant, surely this was equally so.
Yet some might call it gloomy from
its dark mouldings and high, old
fashioned wainscoting, and its heavy
darnask hangings, which were still
up, though it was midsummer, but
to me it was the plcasantest room in
the house.
AS / look around the room, how
little it has changed in the years that
have flown away. The same pictures
Of my grim ancestors grace the walls;
the same Egyptian vases, like senti-
nels, fill the corners. The open
piano stands in its Old place between
the windows, but it is many long
day since the sound Of music was
heard in this house--not since that
dreadful night when. But ]
will continue my story.
remember so well taking q last
peep at their rooms. Nothing was
wanting, and ! smiled as / thought
of Franks pleasure in noting the
improvements | had made, for in
stead of the crimson velvet curtains
that had drapcd the high chariot
bedstead, blue silk and white lace
rcigned. Two dressing cabinets
Joined this room, and through the
open doors a glimpse of white lace
and fresh cut flowers completed the
picture. / must have been lost in
thought long time, for / was reused
from my revcrie by the near sound
Of carriage wheels. They had come.
| think ] was foolish enough to turn
pale and come very near fainting.
But Mrs. Sears, my dear Old govern
ess, came to my relief, and placing
her arm around my waist she led me
to the porch, where the carriage had
nearly arrived. One moment more
and it stopped! another and l was
clasped in the arms Of my brother
Frank. After kissing me a dozen
times, and calling me his dear sister
Alice he turned toward the car
riage, and there, in the door, stood
the loveliest picture | ever gazed up
on! 4 little fairy-like creature
dressed in the deepest mourning,
with q perfect halo Of pale golden
hair about her head and shoulders.
had no time to notice further, for my
brother caught her in his arms and
placed her in front of me with the
words:
"Nina, my darling, this is our Sis
ter, Alice"
She put up the loveliest rosebud of
a mouth for a kiss, and then | saw
for the first time the soft brown eyes,
with their silken fringe, which had
won my brother. In asecond all my
fears vanished and / saw that /
would experience no difficulty in
learning to love my brothers wife.
Mine was the task to show "Nina"
to her room, for Frank had thou
sand things tosay to the old servants,
and, as led the little childish crea-
ture, / could not help but smile at
the different ideal / had formed of