The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-08-21
WRITTEH IN LETTERS Of Colo,
BY ELLA DrHAND.

II hope your fathers friend will
come soon," said the landladv, glancing
toward the bed. and shaking her head
ominously, "or he'll be too late, as DIR.
Mayfair said.'
The girl whom she addressed
glanced at the sleeper, whose span OF
life the doctors fiat had limited to
hours, moved restlessly, and answered
HE cannot live long now.'
There was silence again in that sick
chamber, only small, lack bedroom
in dingy London lodging house,
broken only by the subdued sobbing OF
the beautiful, regal girl, whom the sick
man called daughter, and the labored
breathing of the dying man.
Lavater would have ut once marked
out the tall, slender form, and strange
ly high bred beauty OF Edith Fontenoy,
as an index Of a wild, wayward spirit,
full of faults impulsive, of a proud,
passionate nature, full of noble in
stincts, impossible to drive, only to be
won and controlled by very strong
hand.
Her father had never been able to
read her nature Alright: and, having
been left with his motherless girl at an
early age, spoiled her by humoring
her, when he should have been firm
and obstinate, when he should have
reasoned.
The landlady opened the door softly,
which aroused tie sleeper, when he
asked eagerly. in faint whisper, "Oh,
has he Gomez"
NO. papa" exclaimed the girl softly,
"but it is near train time now. and he
must soon lie here"
No necessity for that, however, fol
even rs she ceased speaking, a Brou-
ham dashed up the street and stopped
before the door. Steps were heard
spring;ng up the stairs, and the land
lady's voice designating the room. The
door opened and a tall commanding
figure, in a soldiers cape and militar,
cap, came into the room.
"Oh, Eric. Eric! is it yoa--you a,
last? Oh. God, thank thee" And
the sick man threw hims Ii into the ex
tended arms of his friend.
"Oh Marshall, Marshall, why did yor
not let me know OF this !? should hay.
helped You long ago" said the other
ring of deep reproach in his tones.
II felt ashamed to! You see it was
lost by a little speculation, calculated
to add to my daughters store, when
should be no more. For You know
Eric, when l and you parted in India
received wound which, at the time
was not considered fatal, but which til,
surgeons said, might prove serious. i
care was not taken to prevent its open
ing again. Well, 1 fell from my hors,
last week and you see the result. Thi.
is my daughter Eric, of whom hav,
written you SO much, concerning"
Edith acknowledged the introduction
with little frigid bow, and immedi
ately left the room, retiring to small
room adjoining the bedroom, an.
throwing herself wearily upon stoo
at one of the windows, gave herself III
to reflection.
Was this, then, the friend whom he
father had thought SO much of, and o
whom she had begun to imagine mus
be above the ordinary standard Of NOR
tails? Her large, violet eyes SCENE,
gazing OH space, and her far, jewclc,
hands were locked together in her lap
Il am dying, Erie" he resumed
"and, ere / 60, have one great re
quest to make of you." He paused
exhausted in his efforts, and, quickl
springing to the table, Erie Lenno,
seized the reyiving drops and held then
to his lips. The dying man swallowe,
them with difficulty, and. after mo
ment's delay, reassurea by the pressur
of his friends hand, he said Il hav
sufficient confidence in you, my dea
Eric, from our intimacy in former days
to entrust, unhesitatingly, to you
family secret, but with the request tina
you are not to disclose your knowlcdg
of it to Edith, or she would never for
give me- My daughter is now ID yer
of age, and at the curly age Of III me
the first love of her youth, one Earnes
Balfour. l greatly disapproved, an'
strove every way in my power to see
to convince her that it was only fancy
the foolish fancy of youth upon bot
sides, and thought that I succeeded
But ah, fear that after am dead am
gone, he may come back again an
overpersuade my poor Edith, blinde
by love, and she will, doubtless, lead
very unhappy life."
Eric Lennox did not interrupt hi
old comrade, but kept his face slight
averted
"les, Erie, old friend, l am dying
and what will become Of my poor, in
noeept, inexperienced darling? Wi
you promise, my dear friend. to tax
charge of her, and keep her from tn
wolf, who will be sure to seek her
Ny precious lamb, my darling child
| Col. Lennox did not answer imme
diately, but sat pondering over the cas-,
and turning the probability over III hi
mind Of taking charge OF a young gil
but ten years younger than himsel
His silence and ayerted face were unil
terpreted by the anxious parent for r.
iusal, and he said, bitterly aud despair
ingly: "ion start. turn aside, do no
answer. Oh, Eric; he will come agai
when | am dead, and persuade her TIN
the fancy Of III WAS love, and marry he
| TO break her heart. oh, Eric, tax
care of my child; take her away frol
here"
After Il slight pause. continued;
have asked too much, and and d-ol
God This is bitterness Of death il
deed. | thought hoped "
Hush, Marshall; don't mistake II
80 cruelty
! Low aud stern came the words, ~