Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-08-01

home for an invalid, ne happened upon us,
and at his earnest solicitation L consented
to furnish them rooms and board for few
months, and in nine weeks from the time
they came you were born.n
"Then am of Southern birth}n saia lsa-
bel, who was listening to the story with
earnest eagerness.
" Yes, and your name was Isabel Caring
ton. Your father was an ardent sympa-
thizer with the South, as it was natural he
should be, and we kept our lips tight closed
to repress the words OF patriotism which
burned to come out, out of Difference 10 our
guests. 1t was not for long, however, for
your poor mother, poor young thing, was
not strong enough to rally after your birth,
and ia our intense anxiety for her all sec
tional differences were forgotten for the
time, and we watched over her as il there
were no interests outside her sick cham
Der. She only lived few weeks, and the
war was fully under way, and though your
father was almost distracted with grief
at his loss and the necessity of leav-
ing her here, he saw no better way
than TO bury her in Northern soil, until
such time as he could come back
and remove her to his home, which think
was on plantation near Richmond. They
were wealthy, knew, from their CONVERSE
ton, though they did not show il by assum-
ing superior airs, as so many people do,
aud / came to love your dear young mamma
very much. After she died your father
was more than ever anxious 10 throw him
self into the war, but, of course, it was not
to be thought of taking tender babe like
you with him, even if he could have passed
the lines with you in safety. SO, with
fathers natural feelings at parting with
you, he left you in old Chloe's aud my joint
care, leaving with me an ample sum of
money to care for you both, expecting with
the sangune folly so many were guilty of
that the war would soon be over, and that
he would return and take you South. Poor
old Chloe pined and mourned for her young
mistress, and grieved over her home until
she was a mere shadow of herself and an
easy prey to the severity of her first win
ter in a cold climate, and she, too, died, and
you and were left alone"
my poor, darling mamma" said Isabel,
with a tear of pity for the young mother
she had never seen, "and my father-my
poor, brave papa"
s'Never came back, and we never heard
from him after that day, when he left us so
heart-brokcn at leaving You, his little
Isabel (you were named after your grand
=
he loved with an almost idolatrous passion,
and yet so eager and earnest to join his
countrymen IN their struggle. 1t is prob.
able that he was killed in the first battles Of
the war, and that his letters TO his people
miscarried in the excitement Of the times
for have never heard i word from any of
them.i'
ait 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"
''You resemble your father" said Mrs.
Harmon, raising her chin and looking IN
her face, Though your eyes and hair are
like your mothers; she was avery 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 a locket
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 to come until now.
have been Obliged to hide it, for it is very
valuable, and feared it would be sold with
the rest Of our valuables," and q hot blush
of shame stole over her face for the mem
DRY of the dead, and rising, she dragged out
the old bureau, bringing out box from be-
hind it, which she placed in lsabeps hand.
1t was an old.fashioned locket, of solid,