Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-04-30

overflow of kindliness toward the dis
tressed.
As time wore on the two girls grew
fonder of each other, though the barrie
which wealth places before povert.
seemed growing highe each succeeding
day. Lettie had a music teacher anC
practiced upon an elegant piano-forte
she had also a master in drawing anc
painting, besides was not permitted tt
do the least work that her hands NIGH
be fair and well-shaped.
Poor Rebecca used to creep under the
window and listen to Lottie taking bel
music lessons. How she wished she, ,teo
might learn to play even a little. Sht
was exceedingly fond of Lottie's paint
ing and drawing, and few times Lot
tie took her out under the great oaE
tree, and gave her instruction in sketch
ing a picture. Rebecca in short time
was the fortunate possessor of quite {
collection of crude attempts of hel
own.
Mrs. Rood did not consider that she
treated Rebecca unkindly. She required
her to work at odd times for her breaC
and clothing, besides she permitted hel
to attend the village school, but took nc
care to instruct her in those precepts
which are essential to the formation oi
true character; nor did she even try tC
win the child's love, or to smooth the
rough places in her young life, and the
poor orphan felt shut out from the
warm mother sympathy; so she natural
ly turned to one poor and forlorn-to
poor Granny Rawley-t0r comfort
Granny Rawley praised her drawings,
and told her to continue, that some day
she might become great artist Quite
slated by the praise and allurings of
success, Rebecca redoubled her zeal.
One evening Rebeeca went as usual
for the cows, but did not return, the
cows going home alone. After waiting
in vain for her return. the neighborhood
turned out and diligently searched the
bills and hOllows.
perhaps she has been taken i'll, and
is at Granny Rawley's, some one said
A party started Immediately to Gran
ny Rawley's cot, but it was dark. No
answer to their repeated knocking, so
without more ado they opened the door
and entered. The house was deserted,
What could it mean? Had there been
foul plays? The closest search did not
discover the least clue to their wherea-
bouts. Days heightened into weeks,and
weeks into months, but the mystery re-
mained unso1ved.
Lottie grieved deeply over the loss OF
her poor little friend.
We'll, to tell you how 1 feel about it,
remarked Mrs. Rood to a neighbor. 4
guess it is quite as we'll it should be
thus. Lottie was so attached to Rebec'
ca, and any great intimacy between
them would be quite improper few
years hence owing to the difference in
their station. 1 hope nothing dreadful
has happened to her,
Poor child do not believe she will
ingly strayed off, said the lady.
If not we will hear from her the first
opportunity she gets of sending US line.
Did she take her clothes with herr
No, nothing. Even her cherished
drawings remain undisturbed in her box.
1t is the strangest thing. l am sure II
she felt dissatisfied and wished her dis+
missal, she should have had it had she
mentioned it to me- said Mrs. Rood.
Poor childl Ignorant of the worlds
wickedness, and trusting all who ap-
peared kind to her; susceptible of infur
ence; untaught in her moral duty to
ward herself and others, she grew up
much as plants do. Mrs. Rood meant
we'll toward Rebecca, but like many 9th
ers, she was too much occupied with her
worldly vanity to perform her obligation
to the child in her care.
Granny Rawley bound Rebecca to Sc
crecy, and then told her she was nothing
bat slave for the proud RoOds, who
would compel her to work for them al
ways and pay her nothing; that she was
too pretty for the kitchen; that her tai
ent was such that she could be the finest
lady in the land. She insisted that Mrs.
Rood did not love her, and urged her to
leave her home and she would take her
to beautiful city where her daughter
Caroline lived, and pleased the girls
fancy mentioning the different pleasures
they would together enjoy. She did not
commit herself suddenly, but by degrees
extended her powers over the child. The
mysterious Granny Rawley was a very
wicked woman, but she was so artful
that Rebecca was deceived as to her
true character; nor did she perceive her
self drawn into snare. She vas very
much troubled, but was afraid to speak
of her fears, though she believed Abe
ought to tell Mrs. Rood and ask her if
it was true.
Mrs Rood had never encouraged Re
becca to confde in her, but in this case
it was different. Finally she concluded
that the first time she had chance to
speak to Mrs. Rood privately she would
tell her what Granny Rawley said.
AS Rebecca passed her cot with the
the COWS, Granny was at the door wait
ing for her, and in the road stood car
riage.
'Ahl chit, ye don't often get ride in
so fine turnout as that there. Ye cows
will go long wi out ye. Git 10 and
take bit O. a ride, and I'll take ye home.'
Eohaooo Falf 1olirhfad Of ha