The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-07-11

IT WAS AN oLD-FAsHIoSED LocKET.
he loved with an almost idolatrous passion,
and yet SO eager and earnest to join his
in their struggle. It is prob.
able that he was killed in the first battles of
the war, and that his letters to his people
in the excitement Of the times,
for have never heard o word from any OF
them"
ut may be none of them survived the
fortunes of war;" said Isabel, thoughtfully;
.'but please tell me more of my parents,
have so longed to know Of them, and thought
it strange that YOU were SO reticent concern
ing them, and now my interest is re-
doubled
s.You resemble your father" said Mrs.
Harmon, raising her chin and looking IN
her face, sthough your eyes and hair are
like your mothers: she was very beautiful
woman, but your father was plain, though
with face of great intelligence and
strength: you are like him in character, too.
have both their pictures in iockct
which was left in old Chloe's care for
you, and l have always intended to
give 1t to you, but the right time has
never seemed 10 come until now.
have been obliged to hide it, for il is very
valuable, and feared it would be sold with
Tic resi- Vi OUT NdluhUleSs anu not DluSU
of shame stole over her face for the men,
DRY Of the dead, and rising, she dragged out
the old bureau, bringing out box from be-
hind il, which she placed in lsabel's hand.
1t was an old-fashioned locket, Of solid.
heavy gold, set in rim of small, sparkling
diamonds. and suspended on chain of rare
value. 1t was indeed beautiful girlish face
which looked out at Isabel US she touched
the spring reverently; the other face was,
as Mrs. Harmon had sand, one of great
force and character, and she could see her
own resemblance to il as she looked at it
long and earnestly.
This is indeed i revelation. Aunt Debby,'
she said, pressing the pictured face to her
lirs, land you Were wise that you did not
tell me before, for il would have made the
unhappy phases Of my lot donbly unhappy
ii | had known they wcr. not my birth.
right, and still have been powcrlcss to rem
edy the wrong, but now am sure Mr.. Fal-
coner will never rest until he has found cut
all there is TO know about my family"
s.You see now, my dear Isabel" said Mrs.
Harmon, THAT it is not right for me TO &C.
cept this assistance from you. now that you
know the facts"
81 only see that am the more indebted
to you. since there is not even the slight
ties of blood which ! supposed 10 bind me
to you.''
but loved you, child, and SO much that
/ did not call YOU by your own name, fear
ing that you would not love me as well il
you did not believe Yourself to be my kim
dred,' said Mrs. Harmon. Il fear yha-c
been too selfish ia my love, and ought to
have brought You up as Isabel Darlington"
s.And don't love you, too!' cried Isabel,
impulsively, ignoring Mrs. Harmon's self
reproach; land yet you refuse me the
small pleasure Of making YOU comfortable
after the long, weary years Of trouble you
objections and she shook her head vii
fully. las you will find out when unfold
my plans, since you oDjec; to planning for
me-
II was very pleasant 10 the widow 10 have
a stronger will 10 plan and think for her,
and she submitted with gentle rcmon-
sfrances. while Isabel made the purchase
Of a larger and more convenient house. re
furnishing and stocking it with necessities
to last for months, aud purchased new
wardrObcs entire for the children. who
looked upon her as if she was veritable
fairy godmother, and, lastly, bought new
sewing machine, with oyery modern i'm
provement, to take the place Of the noisy,
heavy-running, old .'rattle-te- bang" as ono
of the children irreverently named the
worn-out machine, which had so long done
its unwilling duty in earning the family
living.
Il think you can do good deal of the en-
broidcred fancy work which is SO fashiona-
bic now,o said Isabel, as she looked at the
embroidery attachment to the machine
Its nothing but y pleasure TO turn this
beautiful thing said Mrs. Harmon, de-
lightedly, as she made the wheels spin
around. land have regular customers
enough to keep me in steady work.
Isabel paid u revercnt visit TO the graves
OF her fair young mother and Of faithful
Chloe, and with her own hands cleared
| away the weeds and planted q white rose
on each sunken mound. A plain monu.
ment, bearing the words my Mother
| with the name and date, and q plain slab
| for Chloe's grave was her next labor of
| love, and she could not help hoping that by
some Of the strange happenings which SO
often occur in life some of the Carringtons
might chance to find the stone, and by il
| know that the ionglost daughte. Of their
house was living and had placed it there.
| "Dear! dear! is it possible that you and
| Harvey have parted so soon." said Mrs
Stanford, facetiously, as Isabel landed al
her door tired and dusty with travel.
sYes, indeed, we had few words and
parted" replied Isabel, laughingly, keep
| ing up the illusion, and then she explained
| the circumstances which had led to her ap-
| pearance in New York alone
! A few hours later they were sitting in
Mrs. Stanford's own room beside an open
! CRATE; it was late September, and Isabel
had told her the story of her birth, and
Mrs. Stanford had received it as q very
pleasant revelation, doing away with the
shop-gi side Of the story completely.
! .Really quite a romance" she said, ap.
/ provingly, land, of course, Harvey will
spare no pans TO find out il the Caring.
tons are yet living
! "lpresume So" replied Isabel, absently.
/ Il am SO anxious to know if my father is
living, though it hardly seems probable"
The very possibility thrilled her through
4 and through
What mercy that Mrs. Harmon con
trived to keep the locket for ycu,' said
Mrs. Stanford, turning the precious relic
over carefully with critical eyes; q dls-
mond locket was q very gratifying proof oi
the probable standing Of Isabe's family,
and she appreciated it accordingly. IN
will be SO necessary for you to have some.
thing with which to prove your identity, il
you do find them.''
4 fro n CoIzINuKD:l