Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-05-28
THE IsEBKrATE,s DAUGHTER.
ny MRS. HELEN ". ARIos.
TcoscIupED.l


receiving thirty.five dollars-ten more
than | expected. | declined at first,
thinking Il was mistake. But Mr..
Temple came up, and III his kind way
said II was all right; that / had earned
Il. lie spoke so encouragingly to me
that big tears came into my eycs-tears
Of gratitude / could not repress or con-
ceal, despite my efforts.
My feet were not long in taking me TO
my little home, and my heart felt as light
as they when / laid my earnings in my
mothers lap, saying:
Now, IL not that more than ! couid
make by months Of sewing| could
sec the tears, which were quickly wiped
away, as well as the effortto smile, which
was even sadder than her tears. she
would not by an expression Of sorrow
cast shadow upon my happiness, bat
wound her arms lovingly around me, say
ing: My good girl" She could not
trust herself 10 say more.
Two years have passed away without
any material change, except an increase
of salary, which has enabled me to lay
by quite little sum in bank.
heard gentlemen talking about their
lucky speculations In property, so / con
cluded to try my hand at 1t. j looked up
real estate broker and described what
wanted, telling him the state OF my
finances. He was not long in procuring
me the desired property. After paying
for it / put 1t In his hands to sell when
ever he could do SO at an advance. lie sur.
prised me one day by telling me he had
sold my property at just double what
had given for IL.
Encouraged by this bought again, and
continued at it until had quite large
amount OF means in bank.
kept my own counsei--had not let
even my mother into my adventures, fear
ing 10 would make her anxious; knowing,
100, If lost no one would suffer but my
self. My mother did not even know that
my salary had been increased, as l still
brought her the thirty-fve dollars, which,
with her sewing flor her hands were not
idle) she considered ample for our house
expenses. With this sum she had added
many little comforts 10 our house--sur-
prised me one day by a new carpet upon
our sittingroom floor.
Thus we were gliding along quite hap.
pily--beginning 10 feel and live like the
ladies which we were, even though 1t was
the labor of our own hands.
In the store always conducted myself
with dignifed reserve, disarming any at
tempt at familiarity from any one. Some
in the store construed my reserve into
pride. This did not trouble me so long
rs had their respect There was one,
Percy Elmore, for whom j felt warm
regard, and it was returned. lie assisteo
me very often when first came into the
store. We were congenial in many
things, for he was supporting a mother
uiu a hnnn tyu in
the same Objection as mine, and we often
walked together, at first by seeming acct.
dent, al last from unspoken consent. Percy
and his mother and sisters often exchanged
visits with us. Such occasions were very
happy ones for u.s. Our cares and indeed
the great world were all forgotten, and we
gave ourselves up TO the innocent enjoy
ments of the hour These who imagine
such as we TO be vulgar are guilty OF sad
mistake, for those who live such lives are
often truly refined by nature as well as
education.
Life was assuming TO me different as.
pect. It's clouds had almost passed away,
leaving clear sunlight In the future. !
had the IN cans accumulated for carrying
out another great purpose indeed, the
prominent one In my catalogue that was
buying back our old cottage home. IL
was 10 my mother so dear a spot that /
had long determined II labor or sacrifice
could obtain il, il should be hers again.
Work had ceased to be toll TO me; Il
was pleasure. II was Il means TO an
end, and that enhanced my love Of II.
One fine morning as / was standing in
my place In my cheeriest mood, feeling
as usual nowadays that there was
friendly eye upon me- and heart which
throbbcG In unison with my own, impart-
ing by its consciousness an emotion OF
almost perfect happiness, was surprised
by the sudden appearance of our strange
visitor. He came and stood before me
with an exultant, nay, almost fendish, ex-
preston, saying: II have found you at
last, in spite of your grand lady mother"
The blood forsook my face, and my limbs
trembled until / could scarcely stand.
The eyes of the whole house were turned
upon me, and we're burning into my very
soul. Seeing my agitation he came near
the counter, and In halfwhisper said;
II suppose your mother has told you that
your father bound you To me for a service
OF two years, and now demand 1t, or its
equivalent. You need not vince or look
doubtful, for have il here in black and
white, signed by your father"
He then took out an old pocketbook,
and showed me the indenture. / felt the
warm blood mount back into my face,
and drawing myself up TO my full height
/ replied, looking him directly in the eye: .
us that the hold you have upon me ?
Did my poor father, in his insanity
caused by your intoxicating drinks, be-
come your dupes Never in his right
mind would he thus have degraded any
one, much less his only childi shall
never comply with such contract. No;
rather would suffer ten thousand deaths
by the worst of tortllres than place myself
in such circumstances"
Mr.. Temple passed through, and see
ing some confusion came and, taking me
by the arm, said:
"I'his is not the place for this man to
hold such conversation; ii he wants to
pursue 1t he can come into my Office"
related the case to him with as much
composure as l could command. He
turned toward the wretch Who had fol-
lowed us, saying in his severest tones .
"You have gone too far in this matter !;
unless you want TO get yourself into
trouble you had better hand over that
nc