Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-05-28

insulted as yesterday, and yet stand back
powerless 10 assist when my soul was
| burning TO strike such villain, had
well nigh said, from existence. Oh! let
| these strong arms raise and hold you
| above al! such notifications. Forgive
me for abiding to IT,"
! aIfthere was no other obstacle in the way,
| Percy" | said, "to our union, would not
! this stain upon my parentage be sufficient
Would rot your family object? Could
/ they endure TO see you, their son, their
brother, unite his fate with one who had
once stood in my position? Been bound
II cannot speak the rest. On, If my
! father could have died without leaving
this record, ! might have forgotten--aye,
pitied all the rest"
You know but little Of them, Virginia,
If you think them capable Of such injus-
! tIce--oh, no, the trials which you have
passed through and the dignity with
| which you have endured them--sustain-
| ing and supporting yourself where others
would have failed, has ennobled, has eg-
allied you in their estimation, and they
would rejoice in such union for me.
The only obstacle Is that word from your
( own lips-u1,atterabte. oh, viii you, can
not you take it back"
81 canaot, must not, and you should
not ask it, for it would be ruin to you as
well as myself. can see nothing in the
| present or future which would justify
| such q marriage. Let US talk or think no
more Of it." turned to go back, for II
was late.
"This is not the end" he said, as he
| put my arm in his. "You shall yet con-
sent To be my wife. do not give it up. /
am made Of sterner stuff than you think"
We were at home as he said this. Add
ing TO il "good night" we separated.
retired early--laid my head upon py
pillow, not to sleep, but to live over again
this scene with Percy, to recall each word,
each look. Oh, it was so sweet TO feel my
self beloved. could not help but give
myself up TO its bliss for one short hour.
/ tried to forget all that was unpleasant
| Percy was still where l could see him,
could speak to him, and could not real
ize that had lost him forever, although
my own lips had said il.
Painful though it was, returned TO the
store next morning and resumed my du-
ties. When met Percy could not but
remark his sad, dispirited appearance
| AS to myself, whilst he was still where
his kind voice could reach me, / could
|
usual, we walked home together in the
evening, tried to be cheerful, to divert
his thoughts from their disquietude.
told him of my intention Of again pur-
chasing our old home, all of which he
listened to with deep attention, only re-
marking:
"Well! you have shown yourself better
adapted to business than have. / can
not see what you fear In the future"
"What / fear has already been ex-
pressed. l am only surprised that you do
not open your eyes to its truth"
| We were near the point of separation
! babe him good evening, and went round
to make the present owner OF the cottage
an offer for it.
need not go into all the preliminaries
| of the purchase OF the old home. made 1t
| my mothers again, and had after paying
for IL enough left to repair and furnish 1t
comfortably and neatly.
Mrs Elmore Invited my mother TO spend
! the day with her, so as to give me an OPP
| portunity of removing our furniture TO
the house without her knowledge, as
had long had it in anticipation to give
her an agreeable surprise. She never
dreamed of what had been doing. The
young daughters assisted me In my prep
arations. We had a table spread in our
| dining.room, looking SO cosy and home.
| like that no one could have imagined that
we had ever been out of the house. had
II beautifully lighted up about dark, when
| | went round to bring my mother. She
started when we were In the street for our
late residence when said:
LET Va go by the old place. II hac
been repaired lately and | want you to
| see it,"
| She objected at first, saying 1t was too
dark to see anything now, and she would
prefer going some other time. l urged
the matter little, still going on In that
direction, and she following until we We're
In sight of It,"
"Oh!" she exclaimed, show brightly
il is lighted up. 1t looks almost like an
illumination. 1t must have changed
hands"
EYES," answered, "it has; and as I
am slightly acquainted with the family
am determined to go in once more. You
can stand out here or follow me-"
| l knew quite we'll she would follow,
and was not disappointed to find her In
the door as soon as was. The servant
whom had employed opened the door
and led the way into our bedroom. There
was all her own furniture, the bed made
up with its usual Counterpart; even her
little rocking chair had found its place.
My mother looked bewildered, but said
nothing. then brought her out into tn e
diningroom, where the table-with its
white cloth, and on 1t her own old-fash-
toned china--was spread. watched her
expression Of amazement; she still re-
manned silent AT length, with look Of
anxious inquiry toward me, she asked:
Virginia, my daughter, what does
this meanf Have you rented the old
placer 5
mo, my darling mother, have not"
Tears rolled down my cheeks as said
1t; tears of joy--joy such as we feel but
once in lifetime. see her just now as
write, as she stood there In the deep
mourning which she always wore, while
her pale face lighted up with perplexed
yet doubling expression. l left her stand
ing, almost overcome with her emotions,
and went to bureau drawer and brought
the deed for the property and put II in her
hand. draw veil over the scene which
followed.
After tea the Elmores came. We had
refreshments and merry time. A sad
look or word was forbidden.