Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-07-12
Ada.
BY x. X. GRANT.

honors and flushed with triumph, ia
Their was boarding at Mrs. Elliott's;
indeed he had lived there for years,
while was pursuing my studies in the
north. lie was widower of fine
physique and ample fortune, with no
incumbrauce save me, his only child
Eunice Grey.
Mrs. Elliott's boarding house was,
unlike the typical ono, elegant in all
Its appointments. with a corps of we'll
trained servants. and mistress that
would have graced the home of the
most fastdious cOnnojsseur OF femi-
nine beauty and worth. We became
fast friends at once-this petite bru.
nelte and myself. TO her invalid
child was no less strongly attached.
! wondered often why the mother was
always robed in the deepest mourn
ing That she was a widow | knew;
but that her bereavement was of no
recent date | had learned BY chance.
from the little one who. in mentioning
her father, told mo quantity she had
uCNCi hllO"I MN, lhdl hbu HOuc up
TO God before the fairies gave her 10
her mamma.
asked my father if he could solve
the vexaLjous mystery of those sable
garments.
"Oh, ves." he answered, Il believe
! can. 1t is but the fancy of a loving
woman's heart that sees in the somDre
hues reflex of the grief that knows
no solaoo. Seven years ago her hus-
band persisted in storm that
wrecked the pleasure Yacht in
which thcy were cruising. She herself
escaped death by the miraculous
interpos ton of Providence, being
caught by passing steamers crew.
IA she drifted by them clnging to a
broken plank. She was carried aboard
but lost consciousness. as the rough
but kindly hands drew her from her
watery bed. For months she lay i'll,
nigh to DEATH her mind blank. When
at length the skill of the experts in the
RETREAT for the Insane 10 which she
had been conveyed effected the restor-
alton of reason, she learned through
the columns of an old Herald that she
alone survived that fearful gale. A
few weeks later n newt born babe lay
upon her bosom. Miles from the
scene OF the difaster. in strange land,
little Ada was born. Mrs. Elliott
docs not know, as do, that official
stupidity-or carelessness-hadr report
cd her death some three days after her
husband s. The occupant of the bed
next hers in the Insane Pavilion hay-
ing died, and the name odly enough
bong the same as her own, il was I'M
mcdiatciy taken for granted that the |
deceased was the victim of the yacht |
disaster.
THE northern climate was not suit
ed to Ada's delicate constitution. For
this reason Mrs. Elliott came south
and opened small select boarding
house for the maintenance Of herself
and little one. So popular did this be-
como under her management that she
was emboldened by the success OF her
humble beginning to remove to this fine
dwelling. And you see what she &C
complished here.
"She was my first love, Eunice.
Years before met your mother.
knew and loved Edith Lattimer; but
she gave her hand and heart to my
chum, George Elliott. and went
ny way with sorrow for my loss. and
gladness for the happiness of the two
so dear to me. ! would make her my
vito now; but she Is true to the MEM
DRY of her husband. and frankly says
hat no one can ever be as dear TO her
rs he. 1t is sad, this linking ones
self with those that are gone; but it is
Ike a woman's constancy; and am
not the man to press q SUIT / know is
vain"
After hearing this recital l believe l
loved Mrs. Elliot more than ever. 1
certa My felt deeper sympathy for her
gr ef. Her devotion to her child was
touching in the extre me. The little
creature-a cripple from birth--seemed
too fragile for this earth. Her deep
blue eyes looked out wistfully at one
from amidst a mass of fluffy golden
curls. So patient. so loving. who could
hel p being drawn towards her? / was
with her day after day. reading some
bright tale. or talking 10 her of the
birds. the flowers and the bright blue
sky; but best of all she loved to hear
OF the sea where the waves, In their
silver tones. sang requiem over the
grave of the father she had never
known. And she would press her lips
to the miniature that hung by golden
thread from her neck. and murmer
words OF love to the handsome man
whose image it bore. She would sit
for hOurs by the window where we
placed herand watch the shifting pam
oramo OF busy people in the streets be-
low. And when some sprightly little
elf would dance by in child sh glee And
would draw her mother gently to her
and kiss away the tears which clouded
the brightness of those dark eyes, for
she knew how il grieved her that her
only child should be so unlike other
children. And in manv pretty,
tGdching way, the little ono would seek
to show how little she rocked her own
sad ,ot Poor child! she knew not that
a child's heart is an open book to it's
mother. But when Ada and / were
alone. she would often say:
'Oh. Eunice, why must / suffer SOP
1t hurts so bad to cough, and yet |
cannot keep 1t in. And when the doc
tor comes IN the m mornings aud sounds
Smy lungs. as he says, could scream
ont loud; but l do not cry because
mamma is always there. But it hurts
so awful bad
Souiu on'y Picos my ups toSolhcE
to keep back the tears. and presently
turn the childs thoughts elsewhere.
Summer passed. Autumn in the
south. you know it. far reader. with
Its cool breeZes tanning away the sui
try breath of heated days; when birds
OF fashion fit back from rural scenes
to brighten the dull city with the
spread OF their gay plumage; when
men go back 10 the dull routine of
business, revived by the rest they have
taken; and dormant society wakes
from Its sleep
That fall New Orleans pulse beet
with feverish activity. for il witnessed
the opening of the Worlds EXPOSE
ton" And right royalty the dear old
city welcomed concourse such as had
never DO 'ore sraced her doors A con.
coarse drawn thilher by The grand