Smyrna times., 1889-07-10
Certainly, ma'am, replied the girl in

e1ectS OF the physical strain to which she
had been subjected during the previous
night.
'Lie still, my DEAR" said the kind
hearted woman, as the girl attempted to
raise herself on her elbow. 81 will bring
you something to eat, and, perhaps, by
noon you may be able to get up"
In few moments Mrs. Hawkins re-
turned, bearing in her hands a tray Gov
cred with a snowy cloth, on which were
temptingly arranged some nicely but
tered toast, poached egg and delicious
cup of coffee.
"NOw, dear, eat good breakfast, and |
we will soon have the roses back in your .
checks"
Placing the tray on the side of the bed |
Mrs. Hawkins left the room, and after |
she had cleared away her breakfast dishes |.
and finished her usual work, she again |
returned to the chamber and found that !
Lena had eaten heartily of the food placed |
before her and was sleeping sOundly.
"Poor child, will let her Sleep" said
Mrs. Hawkins to herself; "she is in need
of it," and lifting the tray she stepped
softly out of the room.
In the afternoon Lena awoke, and on
hearing the clock in the parlor strike g.
she was astonished to find that she had
slept SO long. Hurriedly dressing her
self, she soon made her appearance in
the kitchen, where she found Mrs.
Hawkins darning her husbands socks,
and the farmer taking his accustomed
afternoon nap in the rocking chair by
the fire. At the sound of footsteps the
farmer awoke with a start, and straight
ening himself up, inquired of the girl if
she was better. "AIuch better, l thank
you, sir, and I will not intrude upon
your hospitality any longer" replied the
girl, holding her bonnet in her hands.
Il am afraid you will have to content
yourself here another night" said the
farmer, ''fOr the roads are impossible.
The snow has drifted so high in some
places that it would cover a little body
like you; but won't your friends be
alarmed by your ABSENCE" MY
friends" " replied the girl, sadly. Il am
trying to find them, and if you will al
low Inc to tell you my story, perhaps
you can assist me, as they live some
where in this region Placing a chair
near her own Mrs. Hawkins requested
the girl to be seated, while they listened
to her story.
"1ly mother" said she, "was the only
daughter Of wealthy farmer, who was
! left a widOwer at her birth, leaving him
with two children-my mother and
son 10 years of age When she was 1G
/ years old my father secretly welded her
against my grandfather's wishes, and al
though she wrote to that relative repeat
/ edly begging for forgiveness, her letters
were returned unopened. After two
years of Unalloyed happiness l was born,
and for ten years my parents union was
a happy one until the fatal day came
which deprived my mother of one of the
kindest of husbands and me of one of the
most indulgent of fathers. One day a
large sum of money was found missing
from the safe in the Office in which my
father was employed as bookkeeper, and
he being the only one who had access to
the safe, and some of the stolen money
being found in his desk, he was arrested,
tried, convicted and sentenced to ten
years imprisonment. Ny mother, firmly
believing him innocent, converted every
thing of any value into money to obtain
lawyers, hoping to save him. She ap-
pealed to her father, but he would not
listen to her, and her letters were again
returned unopened. She wrote to her
brother, but with the same result, and
she was finally obliged to see my father
sent to prison, strongly protesting his
innocence to the last. For four years
my mother managed to exc out a scanty
subsistence with her needle, with what
little assistance l could give her, but al
last care and sorrow did their work and
she was finally forced to give up in
despair, and eventually became victim
to quick consumption. For nine long
weeks she was confined to her bed, grad
ually wasting away. A little while be-
fore her death she called me to her bed
side, and, placing letter in my hands
exacted a promise from me that i'm
mediately after her death l would sci
what little furniture we had, go to my
grandfather's and deliver the proceeds
J into his hands As the tears streameC
down my checks she took my hands il
hers, and with heavenly smile on hel
countenance, bade me good-by and asked
me to meet her in heaven. Her las
moments were spent in breathing words
of affection for the husband she still
ioged so dearly.
"With the assistance of some kline
neighbors and the sale of what little fur
) niture we had 1 procured enough none,
to pay for a decent burial, and thre,
days after her funeral 1 started on M,
: journey to find my grandfather. had
+ only sufficient money to buy my railroad
t ticket and a little more, but the landlady
d with whom we lived and to whom had
t sold the furniture prepared 4 little lunch
g for me and saw me safely on the cars
It After journey of six hours reached
e my destination. As soon as alighted
d inquired of the man at the station thC
f way to the Brinwood farm.
n "'You will have to take the stage, miss,
:. replied the man. 4 don't see any o
r: their folks down today and here it come
s now. Assisting me to get in, he bad
- me good night, leaving me to wonde
Q what sort of people l should meet AM
q how they would treat me.
4 "a half hours ride brought me to
# large. old fashioned house, standing i
e the center of lovely lawn, with a
|. abundance of trees and a carriage driv
Il on both sides of the house. Handing IN
fare to the driver, he helped me to dii
"a mount, and few moments brought m
ia to the house In answer to my ring {
"a the bell the door opened, and q goo
II natured colored girl inquired whom
% wanted.
4 "'Your MASTER replied. viii yo
Ia walk in and be seated and will ca
v him. said she, ushering me into larg'
IL comfortably furnished room on one sic
" of the spacious hall In a few momen
an elderly gentleman appeared and aske
=. me my business with him. l drew IL
81 letter from my pocket, and, handing
y to him, told him that was for my CRANE
N father Adjusting his spectacles, he rea
u the envelope carefully, and in a tone {
surprise exclaimed: My dear miss, I'll
rs gentleman to whom this letter is a,
60 dressed has been dead for fourteen year
as They say he died of broken hear
~ caused by the disappearance of his onl
v, daughter, who ran away and got ma
ID ried. At all events he never forgaV
ID her, and forbade her name to be mel
Us toned, and finally died, leaving ever.
ne thing to his only son, with the conditic
y that if he should seek out his sister Il
to property should go to an institution. ii
or ...-s.,.. -, live IN, fl,a oII hon,