Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1883-04-05

This delicatcly nurtured girl
accustomed to every luxury, en-,
tered upon her new life with a
firm bravery that was heroic,
No martyr at the stake ever
passed through a moro fiery or
deal than did Ruth Vennor, feel
ing herself forever cut Off from
that crown of every loving wo-
mans life-wifehood and moth
erhood.
Among her new acquaint-
.ances was one--an English wo-
man, to whom Ruth soon be-
came tenderly attached.
This woman, Miss Lander, was
plain and elderly and quiet yet
some congeniality of spirit drew
the two together, until Ruth, in
her longing for sympathy, made
a confidante of her new friend,
and related to her all her sad
story.
Miss Lander listened with q
strangely working countenance,
and when Ruth had finished she
kissed the girls pale cheek and
smiled even while she wiped o
tear from her own eye.
"My dear, brave girl,' she
said, show strangely fate works
out our lives! Your fortune is
not so hard as it. seems. l hold
the key to your happiness, Ruth.
"Youw calculated Ruth star
ing for q moment at her friend.
"Ah, mop she added, presently,
with a quiet resignation in her
voice and eyes. "My happiness
must come from the knowledge
of weakness overcome and du-
ty performed.n
"Ruth, listen to me-" said Miss
cling in Europe theywere child
less. | had then the little or
uhan child of my brother o ba,
Nv scarce two months old. l
was vi poor and in i'll health.in
fact. the physician told me that
/ would die of consumption. !
had no relatives in the world
but this tiny child, which, at my
death. would be thrown upon
charity.
"Mrs. vennor was set upor
taking the baby for her own
she knew of my condition., ano
was very kind to me. Her nus
band came to see me alone ont
day, and informed me that nj
wife was very low in her mlnd
and that he feared insanity; bu
as she seemed pleased with tn
idea of adopting the child, n !
hoped for favorable results, IL
: would consent to the arrange
ment. My heart was sore
, parting with the sole creatar
! Of nv own left me, but ] feltth'
u II was for the baby's good, an
= + consented. Mrs. Vennt
y made me handsome preseh
u and assured me ofthe little one
:, future welfare.
. ~ shall name her Ruth, aft
q nv dead sister," she said; al
p she shall be like our very ow
m No one in America-not ev,
- - nv old doctor, who thinks
d d knows everything about u
N N shall guess that little Ruth " "
" not born to me during my l.
ronean tour. And she shall
- our heiress."
sa '.a der. "that you were that chi,
us 1 recognized you a. first, !
did not speak, because l
es the difference between my p'
'se g erty and your wealth, and |
VI proud. AS for your own ?
: ;, ents, they were poor III
u. y. ! worlds goods, my dear,
ma u: rich in honesty and mobility Z
'ili, n, there is not particle ofinsal
sue ~. or disease of any kind IN y
ISL: 9 blood. You come from a sol
ol stock. My own illness
,on 1 brought on by hard work
rld .,n;ra3ion. and. contrary to
a.n a Doctors verdict, ralllea !.
'or' 'or gradually regained my u, ,
'ef' health, and with.,the aId u. Oh
/, Vennor,'s generous gift, was ,s
'lsn ~ abled to reach America, wh
!, ,He as YOU know, l earn conn
u III able livelihood. ~;
IF Ruth had been incline
WIN vi falnting or hysteria, | think
III d would have indulged IN one
the other now. 1t seeme'
.,a, ieai her that never in the DAYS y
ruei girlish. careless joy had lie
:. ~ 81 half so bright and glad as
= I; ;a, o,' when. with the darkness
me s'1e' great sorrow past, she W
''i'0' once more to the sunshine
49,, She returned at once !.
/ Ia n NL-l