The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-07-11
ISABEL Il:
From Shop to Mansion.
Tho Romantic Story Of q Dress
Makers Rise In Life
Nv Nine. r. N. HoWARo.
Copyrighted, Isss.1
CHAPTER vL-CONrINUED.


s.Do you wish me to 20 with you, or
would you prefer going alone" he said. as
he smoothed her hair with sympathetic
hand.
Il think had better 90 alone she said.
slowly, after q moments thought: s'it
might distress auntie to have stranger
see her in her sorrowful, straitened circum-
stances"
.True, your lntuitions are finer than mine:
but l dread to have you take the journey
alone"
.'Do not fear for me" she replied. quietly.
| am accustomed to travelling alone. and
shall do nicely"
.sYou will stop in New York and bring
Miss Ford home with your he said, inter
negatively.
Yes. / think So" she replied. looking up
ut him with pleased smile; show readily
you plan for me-
III you flnd her badly on, had better
meet you In New York, in order to assist
her." he suggested.
"Thank you; will telegraph TO you in
time should need your assistance
There was barely time to pack the trunk
before the carriage would be at the door
to carry her to the station. and she had lit
tie time to think OF any thing but the details
Of the unexpected journey. Mr.. Falconer
took roll OF bills from his bill-book.
isabel, he said, Il wish you 10 go amply
provided to do whatever is needed for your
aunt, you can help her now to advantage.
Please feel no restrictions whatever, and il
there is not enough ask for more, and leave
her comfortable
..Mr Falconer." she said, IN trembling
voice.
II do not wish any one who has loved and
befriended you to suffer need, when we have
such abundance. | should he ashamed of
myself could allow it." He spoke kindly
and firmly.
clean not tell you how gratifying it will
be TO me to be able TO relieve the distress
expect to ind" she said, as she put the bills
away.
As the train whizzed along her mind took
. Retrospective turn. Only three short
months ago, and she had passed over this
road bride, in such maze Of strangcness
that she hardly realized that it WAS herself
Her book Of experiences had been unfold
ing ever since, and what delightful one it
Gas, so widely different from any thing she
had ever dreamed of, and she thought Of
her husband with warm thrill at her
heart The kindest and most unselfish Of
men, she murmurcd, land Oracle, sweet
darling! could = mother ask for lovelier
ch,ld!'
She was thoroughly rested now Mind
and body had been treated 10 such an en-
tire change that she was once more buoyant
with life and energy, and the peevishncss
produced by the long routine of work and
mental aggravation, which had SO worn
upon her nervous system, had passed
away, and she was going to her aunt in her
vrvif1 IN hf al NJ ma
with her tenderness aroused toward the
friend who had been all the mother she had
ever known.
A lady sat before her, holding little girl
in her arms: the child was peevish. Go
10 sleep, DEAR" said the lady, kindly. "Lay
your head on my shoulder and take q nap"
..Oh, auntie, l can't!' The child was al.
most sobbing with excitement and weari.
ness, for they had come q long journey
.'Auntie!" The word, 80 familiar struck
vibrating chord in Isabel's heart, and re-
minded her of the loving care her aunt had
gwen her in the old DAYS, before poverty
and sorrow had come to wiring her heart and
chill her affections.
Ono time OF sickness she remembered in
particular, when Mrs Harmon had nur.ed
her night and day for weary weeks. and
tears Of joy rose to her eyes ~ she remem
bcred that she had it in her power to re
pay, in some measure, her debt Of gratl
tude.
Meanwhile Mrs. Harmon was sitting il
her poor home in . maze Of s0rrowfu
trouble; John Harmon had been unusually
dissipated for the last six months, and hel
poor heart had sank away down, out Of
sight Of hope or courage, and she haG
prayed wildly that somethtn2 might come Il
change the miserable routine.
Something had come; he was carpen
ter, and il ascending ladder in . state o.
intoxlcation his foot slipped, and, falling, his
neck was broken, causing instantd death, snG
when he was carried to his miserable home
which he had left that morning with curse.
and threats, tho poor wife felt as II in some
way she was responsible for the awful &C
currence.
She longed for, yet dreaded, Isabel's ad
vent in the shabby little cottage. She had
written 80 little since her marriage that hel
aunt had little idea Of what her manner o.
life was now, but she was sure Of one thing
that it would be painful to her to come into
the home, which had SO long sheltered her
and see the ravages drink had made, fol-
she had been obliged to par with ever,
thing Of value In the house, an old secreta
~ and shabby old bureau and battered
sewing machine the only pieces OF furni
ture left which were not actually indispen
sable.
She remembered only too well the girls
last stay at home; how her very soul rose
up in rebellion against John Harmon's
course, and the bitter words and scornfu
looks which made 1t relief when she wen,
away, for he was not a man to bear inter
ference, and lsabels fierce disapproval onl,
drove him into more logged persistence in
wrong dong.
She almost repcnted sending for her, as
aha thu, 1ht IN NIL over md then a lanpinu