Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-02-01


she supposed that he would marry Mi.
Almira some day and an ill-tempere
# wife he would have.
: On the following day all were bus
with arranging things in proper orde
: again.
4 Almira had the pleasure of driy
e with Mr.. Lawrance and on her return
= told her mother that she had almos
captivated him. In the evening the
were all in the parlor, engaged in cor
versation. Eva as usual was alone, an
had taken up her guitar and was play
ing a plaintive air.
"Who is that? ?" asked Lawrence.
"Only our seamstress.
"Do you think she would play TO
u.s." said Robert, little thinking wha
an unwelcome question he had asked.
81 will ask her, but doubt whethe
she will come. She is never willing +
bestow favors."
Almira tripped up stairs and said
"They want you to come down ant
play
Eva was surprised but answered
wait moment, until l am prepared.
80, you are prepared enough. The.
will not look ct you."
Almira saw that in spite of the plain
black lawn she wore, she looked NOR,
beautiful than ever, for her usually pail
cheeks We're flushed with a delicate
rosy tint.
Soon she was sitting among them ant
playing an old, favorite tune that sht
had often played for her uncle. When
she had finished, Mr.. Lawrance asked
"Do you play on the piano?"
"Yes, SIR"
"Will you please favor US with a
piece?"
Almira looked up surprised. ';She
able to play! Well, a terrible drum
ming 1 expect she will make of it.''
But she was doomed to be disappoint-
ed. A few touches discovered to her
that Eva was no novice, but even far
superior to her. She was playing,
:" Rock me to sleep, mother" 1t seemed
as if the orphans whole soul was
thrown into that beautiful piece. Her
voice was clear, sweet and full of feel
ing and all listened with the greatest
pleasure, except Almira and her moth
er, who were jealous.
Where did you learn to play ?"
asked the latter.
At my uncle's."
Eva arose to leave, but Robert and
Hugh interposed and desired another
piece. And she played more than one
some sweet, old ballads and some of the
popular songs of the day. When
through playing, the conversation
turned upon books and authors.
Here, again, Almira had the sorrow
to discover that Eva was no sciolist.
She was in her element again, and her
talents shone all the brighter for their
long rest. -
By this time Almira's 8 envy had reached
its highest pitch, and she resolved that
night that Eva should not cross her
path. She would keep her so busily
employed with sewing that she could
not possibly form an acquaintance with
Hugh Lawrance. Meanwhile she de-
termined to exert herself to the utmost
to win linn. He was fond of flowers,
and she kept every vase in the house
full of the dirty weeds as she called them.
He was fond of poetry, and she read
Tennyson and Byron till she was sick
of the dull, stupid stuff. He loved mu-
sic, and she played until she wished
such thing as piano had never been
invented. But alas! with all her per-
severing efforts, Hugh was not con-
quered. She did not know that Eva
had one evening taken a walk to her
aunt's and that he had met her coming
home. She did not know that in that
short walk, he had been more conquered
by the beauty and intelligence of her
seamstress, than he had been by her
during his whole stay.
Eva sometimes found leisure for
few moments walk in the garden, at
evening, to enjoy the fresh air; and
some how Mr.. Lawrance was always
there, and the friendship of the two was
fast ripening into love. Almira hap
pened to see them walking together
once, and Jealousy, rage and desire
for revenge filled her bosom.
Anything, 1 will do anything to get
rid of this girl"
Several evenings after Mr.. Lawrance
entered the dining-room to procure his
handkerchief which he had left there.
Almira was standing by the table
and putting spoonful of white sugar
into cup of coffee. She looked up in
frightened way.
"Pardon my intrusion. l believe l
left my handkerchief here. Yes, there
it is"
He passed her to getin it but paused
before paper on the table, containing
something resembling white sugar.
Just then servant entered and Almira
handed her the cup saying,
"Take this up to the seamstress. 1t
will cure her headache"
After she had left, Lawrance said,-
"Why, Miss Almira, you are not
weary of life, are you? What do you
want with this poison?''
sis that poison? A servant left it
here. Mrs. Gray, put this paper in the
fire."
Suddenly, a thought struck him. His
hand grasped her arm firmly and he
said
"Did you not put some of that poison
in Miss Renford's coffee ?''
She grew deathly pale but did not
answer.
"Did you?" he demanded.
Trembling beneath his piercing gaze,
she confessed,-
eyes"
He rushed up stairs. The servant was
just coming out of the door. He enter
ed; Eva was lifting the cup to her lips.
"Stop," he cried and snatching the cup
from her hands, dashed the contents out
of the open window and then clasped
the wondering girl to his bosom and