Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-05-02
the HEIRLOOM.


Eta wore it the first time ever saw
her,and l noticed its beauty as it rest
ed upon knot of deep blue ribbons
! at her throat. Ribbons and pearls
both suited her fair complexion, deep
golden hair and brown eyes, large
and soft as a lawns.
| i think loved Henrietta RAYMOND
the first hour in which / met her at a
small party my aunt gave in honor of
my return from long business trip
IN western cities When the party
was over, Aunt Hilda told me that
| Miss Raymond was a niece of a new.
conner in our village, a retired clergy
man, who had taken house near our
Town.
| Had she been great heiress or a
livery fine lady, / might never have
drawn her into my heart of hearts. as
did very soon. But she was a low
ing girl, possessing no worldly wealth
and we met on terms of equal social
equality.
| l was an orphan, who owed educa-
ton, care, everything to Aunt Hllda,
who had an income so very narrow.
that IL must have cost her many acts
of self-denial to support me. But at
the time | met Eta Raymond l had
obtained good situation in com
mercial house in New York, and was
putting all my spare funds into Aunt
Hilda's keeping, for her own comfort.
L had been absent more than a year
on business for the firm, and was en-
Toying vacation of months dura-
ton, when | met, wooed and won
Henrietta Raymond. / courted sher
with all my heart; and when she ac-
knowledged she loved me, my cup of
happiness was full.
| Her uncle, MIR. Raymond, when |
placed my worthy prospects before
him, was averse to an immediate mar
rage, but gave his hearty consent to
our engagement. How the time
speeded away, and how much of it we
spent side by side in that happy sum-
mer.
| A year passed during which / was
retained closely at my post in the
oounting-house, having responsible
ties and duties which kept me far into
the night As summer drew near, l
was troubled with frequent attacks of
vertigo, and l looked forward to my
months vacation as a much needed
rest as well as pleasure. To my great
disappointment it was postponed until
September, and was really ill when
at last | packed my trunk aud took
the train for home. Before saw Eft.
ia l was Frustrated by an attack of
fever that threatened my life, depriv-
ing Inc of consciousness for weeks.
When | recovered there fell upon me
blow that caused dangerous re-
| lapse: was blind. Our only doctor
said hopeIessly, incurably blind.
1t was impossible tor many bitter
months for me to feel resigned or pa
tent. / prayed to die, rather than
live in my youthful strength burden
upon weak and aged woman. Ny
gifts to Aunt Hilda were melting
away fast under medical expenses,
and there was only her small income
for her support.
But for Eta, l believe | should
have taken my life in these dark, de-
spairing days. Yet she was a very
angel of comfort. She refused to &C.
cept my offered release from her en-
gagemeut, and actually proposed an
immediate marriage and emigration
to New York, where she was sure she
could find work.
Oh, my darling! how my heart
wrapped you close in those dark days,
when ali other hope or Joy seemed |
stricken from my life. Every day as
| sat in our tiny parlor, helpless and
idle, Eta came to me, pressing her
soft lips upon my blind eyes, and
whispered words of comfort.
She read to me, talked to me, sang
and played upon Aunt Hilda's old
fashioned piano all my favorite airs.
If the weather was fine we walked |
out, Eta leading to retired spots.
But | mournedl for my future !
What was life to me? | must learn
some new pursuit to win bread, or
depend upon charity. l was we'll
again and strong, and every drop of
my young blood would revolt at my
enforced idleness.
AT Christmas time Mr.. Raymond's
only son came from Chicago for Wis
it. / had heard of Albert Raymond
from Aunt Hilda. From his mother
he had inherited a fortune, and he
had loved his cousin Eta. Because
of her refusal to be his wife he had
gone to Chicago, where he was add
ing to his heritage by successful land
speculatIons.
was prepared to be jealous of AL
bert Raymond, for Eta always spoke
kindly of him, giving him warm, sis
terly affection. But after he came,
though he was cordially pleasant with
me, / hated him. Before he had
been home week / knew that he
and Eta had some secret between
them. / could grope my way by that
time to several neighboring houses,
and was often Etta's visitor, as she
had been mine when / was getting
we'll.
More than once, coming across the
garden could hear Eta and Albert
conversing in an animated, eager tone
to stop abruptly the moment l ap
peared, or awkardly to introduce gen
eral subjects which l was sure were
not the subjects of the original con.
versation. A visitor came from New
York to Mr.. Raymond's a friend of
Albert's, and Eta insisted on my in
viting him to my aunt's house.
He was a gruff spoken man, and
talked necessarily of my affiiction.
Knowing how | shrank from any con-
versation. from any sympathy upon
this subject, Eta had always deli
cately led such talk away from it. But
to my surprise, she encouraged this
stranger, and fairly wrung from me
every symptom, both pending and
during my illness.
When he went away, she accompa-
MED him home, though | offered to
escort her over q little later.
1t was a week after this, and Al