The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-08-21


Marshall, be calm! must tell her
speak to her myself first"
CHAPTER II.
Such deeds of valer strong
That neither history Or song
Can count them ALL
Where is she?" he quickly asked.
"Iou will find her in the little room
next to this, and all we have" replied
the sick man in feeble tone Of voice.
Edith was sitting before the fireless
CRATE, lost in thought. Her large blue
eyes appeared much darker than they
really were, with the intensity OF her
revery; her hands were clasped list
lessly in her lap: her face was pale al
most to ghastliness; her hair hung in
careless neglige over her shoulders.
and strayed in little wilfull tendrils of
gold over her smooth, cllaste brow.
She was 4 picture for ali artist to co ct,
all unconscious rs she was Of it NIL.
A light, soft tap came at the door
Her calm and inditleren. Come in.'
was followed by the entrance Of her
fathers ido.i1el friend, I.ri. Lennoy.
He noiselcssly strobe to the oppos :te
side of the CRATE from which she was
sitting, and calmly folding his arms
waited for her to break the silence.
"How is my father, now?" She asked.
in strangely calm tone. lifting her
ma1i 1ic eyes to his face rs she spoke
Not any better. poor child" lie said
i'll pitying tones, answering the wistful.
soulful look.
And he will die, my father!' she ex-
claimed, tear'essly. "Ah! what, then,
will hecome of me?"
do not despair" he said. while his
look. his tone, weIe as tender rs a
woman's to suffering child. II have
left him to speak to you. for You have
it in your powe: to make his death-hed
very, very happy"
Il, Col. Lennox!" the great sorrow
full eyes We're turned upon him. now
filled with amazement 1T is only you,
your coming, could do that"
"Partiy, Edith; he has told ME his
circumstances. and for your future he
is grieving, and surely ir-aking his
heart"
What shy, half appealing expires.
sion stole into the beautiful eyes. How
the heat beat, and how restless the
hands became, as she said:
"Oh, no. no, not for me-he must
not. can earn my own living"
I'm what way, Edith? You are highly
educated, and accomplished, l am well
aware from the letters / have received
from your dear father; but if you think
of teaching"
| ayes, l can teach"
Firstly, my child" said the sof,
eloquent voice, his very soldiers soul
touched by her innocent inexperience
teaching is very laborious work, and
very unsatisfactory: also, very hard te
get to do, even by experienced teachers
and you would starve-literally starve
before you could earn q penny.
Secondly-beg pardon, my dear, but
am considerably older than you, ant
this is no time for mere ceremony
your very youth and beauty stand dead
| your way. No one having daughter.
would take you to rival them; and III
one having sons would want YOU.
The girl crimsoned to her brow anG
shrank back, with sort OF fear comins
into her eye, for she knew that tn,
words spoken so friendly We're but to(
true.
She covered her face, almost cover
ing. 1t was cruel-crucl of him K
force all of that Oh her now.
"Why do you bother me so? / hav,
time enough to think of the impos
sibilities when | an left alone"
"poor little one,' Col. Iennox said
bending forward and taking the tw,
little auiyering hands iii his strons
clasp. You know not what you ar.
saying; you forget what begsn to say
and remember this, my child, wha. i
dear to you is equally dear to Fri
I.ennox: what is his wish is mine. II,
las had ono wish all of your life whic!
you and you alone now can grant, an,
which will give him peace and happi
ness"
Il would do anstA ng lof my father,
she answered, the tears swelling int
her eyes. "oh, why has he not tol,
me OF this wisa before: What Is il
Col. Lennox?"
"The wish is that you are left unle
my guardianship said Eric, slowly
"and in my care, i'll the only way i
which it can he done"
Did she have any vague suspicion G
what Was meant, that she hlnshed $
painfully hat she looked SD startled:
And that one way is is"
Under tue shadow Of NY na,Ee-.ln
wife.
Every drop of h!oml seemed I
leave, drop hy drop, the beautiful face
even the bands which ho hold gre
cold and bloodless, as size aan
covering, figure Of supplicaiion al hi
feet, releasing her hands as she dill 81
Passionate tears and soils shook he
slight frame, while bitter, repr oaoAf.