The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-06-11
kai won it amongst her poor prottges ut

another piece of news. not unexpected.
She had promised to marry Charles La
thrope, young clergyman, who had
taken a prominent place in her letters
She had written to me very often of the
rest it was to her. i'm the life she could
not find really congeniai. 10 converse
with Mr.. Lathrope. To help him little.
quietly. amongst his poor people, to at
tend the services in his church.
Mr.. bentley was well pleased. The
father of the young clergyman was his
friend. and in wealth. culture and so
,.ial position there was nothing to be
desired. And | put down the letter
with sigh. | had been building an
air castle that the letter shattered.
Mr. Owen. the gentleman who had
taken the mills. had remained in Star
field only enough to get everything
well started. and had then returned to
New York, leaving the entire control
in the hands of his son Godfrey.
1t had been one of Alma's special re-
quests. on leaving home. that would
take care of some of the sick amongst
the mill-hands. and take her place. as
far as | could spare time, in the poor
cottages where SO much help was need
ed. And even when the best of all
help came, in steady work at good
wages, there were still many sick,
many too old to work, who needed Wis
ting And il was in these visits that |
first met Godfrey Owen.
NJ. Ers% x,-.r ~,
the extrem, beauty of his face. almost
womanly in delicate refinement. in spite
Of a heavy blonde mustache. lie had an
air of command, the result, think. less
of pride than life of power; the power
of large wealth and association with
his father in vast business schemes. He
was about thirty-tive or six when he
came to Startled and took control of
the mills. control at once firm and
liberal, strict in the observance of
every rule, kind in the interest felt and
shown in every man, woman and child
in the establishment There was a
great deal of sickness. At once. a res
ident physician was sent from New
York. and a free distribution Of drugs
firm rules that prevented any imposi-
ton. Coal was put in every cellar, to
be paid for where it was possible, as a
gift where it could not be purchased.
Food. blankets. bedding were all dis
tributed at the lowest possible price to
those 'at work. given freely but judi.
ciously to the old and sick.
And nc I I'D so ,,n;ntnI ont
urgent need or special cases. met the
tall, erect figure and beautiful face
everywhere, told myself every hour
that here was the only man who could
fully understand Alma: do justice te
her pure. self-sac-ificing spirit: give hel
the full sympathy and help all women
need in their life-work This was my
dream. the life these two would lead
together. and it was shattered. Why
had we sent our child to the city? II
only we had kept her with Us, she
must surely have loved this man.
She came home in June. the same
gentle, loving girl and yet changed
older. more self-reliant. more developed
by her intercourse with the world
Even her dress was no longer than the
girlish costume of year previous, blu,
raiment better suiting the only child Of
a wealthy man. Her figure was carried
with more erect grace: her face. losing
nothing of its nun-like purity, hae
more animation.
And before Godfrey Owen had me-
her dozen times, /. dreading wors.
than had already happened, met hin
by appointment one day. and, our con
sultation over a cottage matter settled
asked him to walk with me. Yer,
kindly told him of Allies engage
| ment. No thought of ccquetry coult
, ever lingcr in her heart, yet her yer,
innocence and frankness were deceiv
ing him. lie turned his face from M
for moment, then let it meet IN.
eyes, pale with emotion. the dark eye
full of hslf-suppressed agony.
Thank you,'' he said, gently, 40
what l know is a kindly warning /
comes too late to save me: but Aim
need never know that. Could | see he
and not love her? think my Who'll
heart was hers the first time she pu
her hand in mine and spoke to me.
had no right to hope to win her: it wa
too soon to think of wooing her; but
loved her. You will keep the secre
you guessed so soon?'
II will" said. And you will nc
think hardly of me for telling youo''
1T was the truest kindness, he sale
IL know now what must conquer"
Whether others guessed the strugg!
he made, l cannot tell, but | could sc
it plainly. lie never sought Aim;
but he did not in any marked way avoi
her. lie grew very pale in those Ion
summer days. and his great dark eye
seemed unnaturally large; but he keI
on in his daily routine of duty an
charity, and Alma was enthusiastic
praising him to me.
1t was late in the autumn when "
began to be uneasy about Charlie
Lathropc. lie had been in st. Lou
through September, on some busine.
GRAND, and had written regularly ,
Alma. In October, his letters suddenl
ceased. For weary weeks Aim
watched the mail, her face CROWN
daily more pallid and sad. | had NJ
fully realized how deeply her love ha
taken hold of her heart until this tim
of suspense. But | knew then tn;
with her to love once was to love f
life.
had not thought of any plan for r.
lief until, one morning. Godfrey Owe
sent in his card to me, and met him
the drawing-room.
Miss Bentley is at the village" h
said TO me, land l ventured to call I
ask you once more to be kind to IN
and tell me what sorrow is killing he
Can | help her?'
told him as frankly rs he asked.
1--WE have written to the address !
st. Louis" I said, "but have no Il,
swer"
"Will you give me that address?' h
asked. and put it carefully in his not
book. Il will start for st. Louis T.
night" he said, but it would be hes
perhaps. not to tell Miss Bentley unit
You hear from me there
ut would be best" said 1T ma
only throw her into state of agitatic
and suspense worse than she is no
enduring"