Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-07-07
Driven to Ruin.
BY ALICE ROBBINS.


Eta Boyd looks up from the elabor-
ate motto she was working with bright
colored floss. The faint pink tinge ol
her cheek had deepened.
what do you mean p she asked hast
lily. almost haughtily.
Il mean Edwin Holbrook,' said tie
lady, significantly : at which an older
lady langmdly raised her eyes from the
book she was reading.
Sister Jenny was the Indignant
ejaculation OF the latter.
Aunt Jenny, you are too bad? the
little beauty said, blushing rose-red
now.
She was beauty, this Eta Boyd, a
royal little creature IN outward appear
ing. do not know by what particular
style her lOveliness might be designated.
She was winsemo 10 look al not
s.ataesquc, not marble-white, mol ethe-
real, but simply SO arch-looking, and
dimplcd, and changeful, and merry, that
few could Withstand her wlies.
She had always lived in an atmos-
phere Of luxury-this pretty girl, she
had been INDUCED from her infancy BY
sver-fond and foolish parents, who I'M
imagined their one pearl peerless. Her
two brothers, men grown, ido'ized her,
and as she grew Older, loaded her WITH
gifts. So accustomed to admiration did
she become, that she began to feel at
least that life was not endurable with
out it, and at least she began to try her
power on those outside Of her immedi-
ate circle. One Ofthese was the young
gentleman of whom her aunt spoke, ,and
the mention Of whose name caused 4
general Outcry.
Pm sure, sister, Pm astonished at
you,' said Etta's mamma, very weak
and foolish woman, who consumed con-
fectionary by the pound, and read nov
els by the thousand.
Il don't know why you should be, ,
was the quiet reply.
'Etta!-a mere child, just out OF
school!
Eta is seventeen said her sister.
Eta is no longer a schoolgirl, though
very young, I'll acknowledse-too
young to begin fiirtation.'
Aunt Jenny, you know nothing
about it y exclaimed Eta, flushed TO
the temples.
L know. he comes here very often.'
He is an old friend of the family
said Mrs. Boyd.
Il know he is twenty-five, and in
some things a brilliant and promising
character continued Aunt Jenny. 1
know he is alone in the world, and has
no sisters
And that is the reason he likes 10
come here.' said Eta.
But, my dear, you certainly accom-
pany HIM TO places OF amusement
OF course
And receive prescntJ from him.
Etta's eyes fell. Just nothing al
all, she said.
i don't know continued matter
OF fact Aunt Jenny. BoQuets cost
money. cent buy such ones as that
for instance, under three or four dol
lars, she added, pointing TO beautiful
vase, over which hung fragrant lilies,
hot.house tea-roses, fuchsias, and other
dainty blossom. 'Aud then..a diamond
ring isn't bought Tor nothing, even ii
the diamond be no bigger than the
head of a pin, Then there are pictures,
TRIES.
Aunt Jenny cried Ettas now pale
with passion, Il don't think any one has
| light to say what l shall and what
shall not receive from one have
known all my life. 1 think ips-it's'
sImpertlnent, my dear; that's the
word you were thinking Of; and perhaps
1t would be in any one who had MOI
| your goodness at heart. But, my dear
Pm afraid you are doing harm, indeed
| / am. don't thihk poor Ed. looks
upon himself as merely friend.'
He he has no right to think other
wise,' said Eta, with trembling lips
Edwin Holbrook has neither father
nor mother, sister nor brother, said
Aunt Jenny. 4 loved his mother; sh'
was my dearest friend when we were
girls together; and her life was shadow
ed by the intemperance Of her husband
| who, but for this one fault, would have
been O model Of all The virtues. H'
| was handsome, brave, disinterested,an ant
worshiped his wife and child, but h
would not give up that terrible habit
On her dying bed, the dear woman toll
me that she had educated Edwin care
fully with reference to his tastes ant
indalgences in ihat respect but he
50 siugularly sensitive,' she added, %
dependent upon bis friendships, 30 devo
ted where be once gives his heart, b