The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-11-08


handsome house, my masGsr entered,
and running lightly up stairs, knocked
at a half-open door, and was hidden to
tentcr.
The lovely, silver-haircd lady, who
looked up with~ smile as the gentle
man went in, was, l learned, his moth.
er, and 10 her, with sons loving AIS.
was / presented. "Too handsome for
me, my dear boy" the lady said,
patting the hand that held me before
her eyes, shave you no lady friend to
whom you would prefer presenting
this?" aud he answered, "none SO
dear as my mother" VIII another kiss,
and then half sigh, 'if ] should find
her, mother, she could share it with
you,, but alas! ;t-that cruel word. 7"
/ heard, but could not, Of course,
comprehend the full meaning of their
conversation, and feeling, besides, very
thirsty, was glad when the talking
ceased and l was placed in water. The
pressure upon my heart Of that bit Of
folded paper made me rather uncom-
Portable, and could not help, while
wondering the young girls object in
placing it there-wisliine that i'm some
way it would be discovered by my
present owners and removed.
Two days passed, and I was very
kindly treated, watered freshly each
day, and admired to my hearts content;
but one by one my charms faded and
my breatA, lost fragrance and at the
end of the third day 1 shuddered to
hear Mrs. Avery tell her Son that, much
as she regretted it, yet I must be
thrown away the next morning. While
I yet quivered with Indignation, a
breeze blowing freshly from an open
window near by, proved rather too
strong, FIR, losing my equilibrium, over
l went from the mantel-piece to the
floor. The pieces Of broken glass from
the vase, and the faded leaves from
myself, mixed together in confused
heap. Mrs. Avery, rcgrctting the
broken vase more than my feelings,
hastenea to gather us from her carpet,
and in 50 doing, to my intense joy, the
folded raper was brought to light. -
> "What is this, Robert!' she asked,
laughingly, holding my long preserved
secret towards him. Wondering, he
took it from her aud read the words,
delicatcly traced.
"F.ae!is al urnan,.'
l was $, injured by my fall as to b'
deaf to the cry of joy which ran!
i. away through the room, as Robcr
Avery bounded from his scat and act
ually hugged his amazed mother, in his
overflow Of happiness. Then taking
me from the table, he tore me almost
to pieces, needing not my suffering.
until he was convinced that no more
joyful news was in me concealed; then
putting me tenderly into another vase,
he said, Dear mother, we will never
throw it away, since it has yielded me
this joy. Imogene will be found !!
p See, here are her own words, written
by her own hand, and the same dear
words which arc engraved upon my
ring, Faithful unite death!' l am
going to find my darling!'
After be left, remember Mrs. Ave-
ry sat down to cry, and devoted quite
little time to that performance; then
wiping her eyes. she also left the room,
and | ponderel over the strange events
of human life, and felt not little
proud that in some way l had distin-
guished myself, and could die triumph.
ant. f.
Well, not long after Robert returned
and again I was listener to their con.
, versation. Flowers have life, everyone
: is ready to acknowledge; why then dc
they imagine us to be blind and dumb;
This is what I heard It seems that
Robert Avery and 1mogene Clark had
been friends of so intimate a nature
that betrothel between the two awaited
only the reaching Of certain age or
the part of the girl, according to he,
parents wish. Then circumstances,
did not learn of what kind, separated
the families for what was intended to be
but month or two Of duration. But
causes combined. and circumstances
unavoidable, kept them longer apart,
until the girls father died, leaving
, poorly OFT his wife and daughter, con
trary to previous expectations, and {
change Of residence was the result
, Their pride prevented Imogence from
betraying their condition to old friend
who had always shared their prosperity
consequently when Robert and hi
mother returned from their travels, til,
girl he had loved SO long was gone. n
, one knew whittier, nor could the mos
, earnest search reveal her whereabouts
Eagerly he walked the streets. and s.
! eagerly did he sean the face of younl
; girl crossing the street one day sool
, after his return, that he failed to SC