The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-09-19

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breeding, she waited for him to.
acknowledge her presence, and taking
the seat which he proflered her, she at
once made known her business and her
name.
And then, for the first time, she no.
ticed that she had been addressing a
young and remarkably handsome nlan.
and she could hardly realize That the
celebrated, highly successful and tai.
cnied young lawyer Of whom she had
go often heard, stood before her.
Then she thought OF the possible im-
propriety of. her applying for the stu
alton. The advertisement had said
s.person,r not agentlcMan,r and there
fore she had reason 10 iniof that either
lady Or gentleman might secure the
position, provided they were believed
TO be competent TO I'LL 1t.
These thoughts few rapidly through
her brain rs she sat with eyes down
east, unaware that the law yerregardcd
her with earnest attention.
II have no references she ialtcred.
"bHt my father. MIR. Lvnde--'
"Ah, yes, | know him very well,
answered the lawyer in u deep, Iaasi-
cal voice, which had ring Of Kindness
/ III Ii. 81 require no other assurance
of your integrity and ability, my dear
Miss, and should be pleased to have
You commence your duties US soon as
possible
.'But the salary she began.
.'Oh, yes! l came near forgetting
that part OF the contract. Well. ! had
not decided as TO the sum could afford
TO pay. How much did you expect 10
receive -
For moment she was silent, fear
ing to mention any sum, least she
might loose the position, and yet she
needed money 50 much.
81 would be willing to work for ten
dollars week, she iaitercd Ut length.
while the thought that she, Berthn
Lynde, was thus sueiny fora position
and a mere pittance. to keep her fr0m
starving, caused the hot blood to flush
her face aud brow: but then she re-
membered her poor invalid mother,
and, by All effort, she recovered her
self-control, and looked up TO meet the
same earnest, Kindly gaze which had
before SO treasured her.
II
week." he said. and without waiting
| for her to express her gratitude. he ad.
ded. "and now. when will you com
menee your duties."
!" Tomorrow" and she turned away
with alight heart, while thc lawyer scat
ed himself at his desk but instead OF
interesting himself in his business, he
! allowed his gaze to rest on vacancy.
aud his thoughts to wander far away.
| Bertha commenced her duties, which
were not very ais1nous---ior The law
yer managed to assist her great deal
and with her earnings soon made her
moshes comfortable. her home cheer
ftil, and vas comparatively happy.
Thus months passed away. Mr..
Marshall was alWayskiusl and c0lsiis
l eratc, but their acquaintance never
ripened into anything like intimacy.
Their relation 10 each other was SIM
ply the relation OF employer and en,-
ployee, and nothing more.
One morning, Mr.. Marshall received
a note from his copyist informing him
of her mothers extreme Illness. and
begging TO be excnsed from duty tw 4
| or three DAYS. A week passed aud che
at her home, and found her alone, lone
iy and bereayed. for her mother had
| that day been laid 10 rest beside her
Iunfortnnatc husband, in the little grave
yard in their native village.
Tenderly he sought to administcrih tho
balm of sympathy and consolation,
winning her thoughts away from her
grief by his delicate kindness.
Summer came, and one beautiful
day, Bertha proposed to visit the graves
of her parents. She asked leave OF ab-
sence of Mr.. Marshall. informing him,
at the SAME time. for what purpose she
desired TO be absent al entire day
He very readily granted her desires.
and to her surprise, asked permission
to accompany her. After moments
hesitation, she replied that she would
avail herself Of the opportunity TO ask
his advice in regard to the bcaufifyins
Of the place, and the erection of tomb.
stones to mark their humble resting
place.
When with Mr.. Marshall III his ear
riage, Dcltia gave herself ap 10
thought. for her companion seemed
deeply absorbed with his own cosi,a-
tons. Hardly dozen words were
spoken by either. during their ride of
two hours.
They reached the village. and Bertha
gave way to feelings of aeepes, grief.
as she beheld her old home aud the
scene where the days OF her own happ,
childhood were passed.
They neared the quiet resting place
OF those 50 dear TO her orphan heart.
Mr.. Marshall assisted Bertha iron. The
carriage, snd she proceeded nj once.
| and alone to the hailowcd spot, while
Mr.. Marshall. with refined dclicae,.
remained behind. ostensibly 10 attend
to the security ofthe horses. but that
she might be undislurbcd in her GRIEF.
for be believed that such grief. as hers
was too sacred 10 be ihfruIed upon.
As she approached the spot she wa,
almost stunned with surpriec. Could
she believe the evidence OF her own
sight? Surely il conld moi be---ycs--
no--yes, il was really SO the lot was
enclosed by a neat iron fence, and a
marble shaft. bearing the names Of her
parents, reared its pure, pale pillar
above those sacred graves.
what kindly friend has done this =
| .iN 3SNSo AStSCtts but sitt fOuItA thitlh
Of no one to whom she might attrib-
ute this loving, generous decd. For
nearly an hour she remained there ten
DERBY twining tho flowers some kind
hand had planted. and believing them
with tears, and then she. remembered
two other graves which once she had
often visited. upon which She had
planted flowers in DAYS gone by.
Slowly she wendcd her way 10 the
well remembered spot. and--was il,
possible? was she not mistaken this
time! An iron paling inciosed these
two graves, a marble shaft lowered a.
bovc them. and there. beside these
mounds knelt--her employcr--Mr.
Marshall.
He arose 10 his feet as she approach,
ed. took her hand aud silently eazed
upon the pale features OF his compan-
ion.
Mr.. Marshall, what does this mean
were these.' and she pointed to the
graves before them, while he inter
rupted her:
These were my beloved parents
Bertha; with loving care You tended
the flowers upon these humble graves,
and appreciated all with heart which
has ever cherished your image us it's
queen. have endeavored 10 make
slight return for your faithful kind
ness, by rearing u marble shaft over