The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-30
GoDFREY,s KEEPSAKE.

y
said, when we knew that we must part |
Tor three long years. So, while my |
tears fell fast, and my heart throbbed |
heavily IN pain knitted a purse for |
my betrothed. I wanted it to be unlike |
other purses, SO / wove it into a fan |
tastic pattern OF, milk-white beads, upon
the dark green silk, and with this l
wrought the initials-G. for Godfrey
and H. for Helen-with a true lovers
knot of white silk. While piled the
shining needles, putting my daintiest
stitches into the gift I was knitting,
thought only of Godfrey. my lover, my
hero among men.
He was not very handsome, but tall,
large, and with a wiry, elastic frame
that told of its strength in every move
ment. He had hot temper, had
been told, but I never saw any indica-
tion of it. To me he was tender as a
woman, for was thrown upon his pro-
lection strangely.
/ was q dresSmaker when he first
knew me, though l had once been the
heiFess of wealth, had received a good
education, had travelled every summer
IN my own country, and sp INT one year
abroad. My iather died when was Is,
and left his fortune to his wife. Two
years after my mother married, and
after six months she too died, leaving
her money to her husband, trusting
utterly in his love to provide for me. as
he was an old man, childless, and pro-
Tossing fatherly tenderness for me.
My mother was but a month dead
when my stepfather coldly advised me
to learn a trade. Seeing my amaze
ment, he informed me that my mothers
viii disinherited me, and he had no in
tention of supporting me in idleness,
though he would give me home until
learned to support myself.
In my indignation I turned to my
old friends, A few-only very few
gave sympathy and advice. One alone
gave me practical help. Mrs. Ray
mond, scnoolmate of my mothers, a
widow, and with but a small income,
took me to her home, and under her
care and protection I learned my trade
4s ,,,v stepfather had advised.
I was very lonely at first, feeling
keenly the greatwrong done me, bitter
lv resenting the fact that the money my
father had earned by honorable toll fol-
his wife and child was in a strangers
hands, and fretting over the new con
finement of my work. But when had
been a month in my new home Godfrey
returned there. I had learned to re-
spect and admire him from his mothers
constant, loving references of him, but
he had been three years away then, anC
had never met him. When he came
I loved him, and he learned to love me
But our love was ciouded by
the fact that another absence of three
years would soon take Godfrey from me
He was in a commercial house tha
sent him abroad as purchaser of good
in the European cities, and he was ex
pected to remain three years at a time
His position was not sufficient,
lucrative then for him to take vii
IL. l. L 4
be SO.
There was some talk of an immediat
marriage, but it was not carried int
effect as we felt an implicit faith /
each others constancy.
In the spring time we parted,
remain with Mrs. Raymond, Godfre
to write often. One of his sorrows ws
the uncertainty of letters, as he tra7
eled constantly and had often misse
his mothers, when he did not exactl
take the route he proposed On his wri
ing to her.
In the purse had knitted I put
Iocket containing my miniature and
lock of my hair, and he promised nevt
to past with either gift.
IT is useless to try to write of OF
loneliness after son and lover left u
We worked faithfully, for I wanted
take little marriage portion to Go
frey, and for year we lived our qule
uneventful lives, hearing frequent
from Godfrey, writing By every steame
Then sorrow came like hghtni1
stroke. Mrs Raymond dropped des
of heart disease without any warning
danger.
I cannot dwell upon my grief.
was losing another mother, for low
her fondly, and she had given me true
warmer affection than my own motht
devoted to fashion, gayety and dref
had ever done. While I was wonde
ing where to turn, for could not ke
ND alone the little house we had share
my uncle came to see me.
I had but q dim recollection of h
when he sent his card to my room, b
when Invent to meet him my dead faith
seemed to stand before me.
ssHeIen,'' he said, taking my har
Eswhy did you not write to me VIII
vour mother died, leaving you at t
mercy of the unprincipled scoundrel S
married.
"I thought you had forbidden us
write"
,"I did resent your mothers m
riape. It was an insult to your fathe
memory. but I never dreamed of
Inonstrous wrong done you. Only
day, going to her lawyer for your {
dress, learned OF the Will tnaG depf1N
NV brothers child of the inheritance
left in her mothers care ] You mi
come with me. have one child, yc
cousin, who was named as you were,
INV mother, and who is just your al
Z wish, /" he added with sigh,
could say she was strong, well and be-
fiful as you are but she has beer
cripple since she was ten years o.
she is slowly dying of consumpti
viii you not come and be her sister
As he spoke he took me in his ar
and kissed me tenderly. Ny o
father's face seemed bending over
. gladly consented to go with b
wherever he wished.
wrote hurriedly to Godfrey,
there was much to do. Already
fidinps of his mothers death had g
20 him. but wrote to tell him that
Tncle had come to take me TO Wal
HiII. near Cincinnati, and begged
20 write to me there.
As soon as I was settled IN my
home. welcomed with cordial love
-rote again to Godfrey, telling him
NV invalid cousin, Nellie, and
TanidIv she was failing. dweit I
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