The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-12-18
CHAPTER ".

IL II Is true Inat WnOm GOu lOVSIn ne
rhasteneth, Mrs. Evesham must have
been particularly favored by Provi-
.dence, for the i'll tide of adversely swept
in upon her with resistless force, over
whelming her with such a flood of re-
verses that even her brave spirit nearly
sank in the waters of despair.
That croaking brother-in-law of hers
had foretold her speedy downfall, and
his ominous prophcsies seemed in a fair
way of fulfillment. True, the world in
general had forgotten the mystery of her
unhappy dodgers untimcly death; but to
her little world-the few upon whom she
was dependcnt-the event had brought
a sad reaction. One after another of
her dodgers left her, and none came to
fill their places. There was n gloom
z over the house she found it impossible
TO dispel 1t was the old story-money
borrowed at a ruinous interest on her
furniture, n foreclosed mortgage, and
she found herself adrift and homeless,
with four children dependent on her for
their daily bread. Not for one moment
o did she pause to consider that one of
these little ones had no claim on her Ell
forts Wanda Arlington was as dear to
her as one of her own loved ones, and
she would have scorned the thought of
shifting from her shoulders the respon-
sibility of her care.
Nor was she one to sit down with
folded hands and bewail her misfortune.
For ten weary years she tOiled as a
dressmaker. working by the day for
I, .l,, cd H. ny- rra-of Ia
manners and exquisite taste, paid her
higher wages than usually fall to the
lot of women so unhappily circum-
stanced. Thus with heroic effort she
was enabled to clothe, feed and educate
her children till they in turn grew in
stature and became breadwinners.
Then a glimpse of sunshine glowed
Through the darhened clouds.
1t was at the close of the terrible war
of the rebellion. Society was revolu-
t:orized Thousands had sunk in pow
erty; hundreds had grown suddenly
rich. Prominent among the latter was
young married woman named Alice
Potter, of Michigan, who CHANGED to be
~=isitlng New York, and, having engaged
Mrs. Eveshams services, had in her
own generous, impulsive way formed a
deep affection for the gentle sesmstress.
My dear creature" she said one day
to the widow, when they had succeeded
: in designing a costume more than usu-
nlly attractive, why don't You make 4
strike for something better? Come to
Michigan and start 4 store. III help
you"
The suggestion took the widows
breath. Michigan! Even in the COS
Michigan seemed an Ultima Thule to a
New Yorker.
1T would cost so much. Mrs. Potter, =
she sighed. And the risk would be SO
great"
las for the expense of getting
there the impetuOus young matron
declared, Il will see 70 that. You see,
dear. my cousin Jack is auditor of rail
road. and he shall get You al passes, OF
- Ill know the reason why"
But l have so little in hand to star;
with the widow pleaded.
''Al the better for you; you will have
1.-THE less to lose"
But. If / failed"
Failed. Fiddlededee. You shan't
: fail Come with me to Glastonbury
What, never heard of Glastonbury:
Well, the ignorance of you knicker
bocl5e-s is something shameful"
us it a village in Michigan
"A village! Bless your innocence
Glastonbury is big, thriving lumber
city on the banks of the loveliest river
You ever saw. We haven't many brown
/; stone fronts there, / confess, but we're
new and rich, and our women know {
= stylish dress when they see it, as
hope some day you will learn to YOU
profit"
But the store?"
''Oh. well fix that. My husband ism
half bad fellow when you know him
and he'll pull you through. You car
i. ges few things on credit if you are too
proud to borrow. 1t is all as easy a:
preaching-say, may speak to him thi.
very afternoon"
IF you will, but -"
"But me 10 butts, my dear. I'm wild