The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-08-06

which she gave me the following bit of
history, which is interesting enough to
bear repeating.
Some years ago." said she, II was a
pupil at a well-known school in the
bluegrass country. While there, the
warmest and most lasting attachment
formed was for young girl, about
my age, from the interior of Georgia.
Eva Ray was her name. She was not
"A favorite among the girls, being ex-
ceedingly quiet and reticent, which
many wrongly tributed to pride; and
think it was the. lonely life she led
that first interested me in her and
prompted me to make some over
lures toward friendliness. These over
tures, somewhat to my surprise, We're
promptly reciprocated, and, to the
amazement of the other girls, we be-
came warm and constant friends.
"When l came to know her intimate
iy found that she possessed some very
lovely traits of character. A painful
sensitiveness and the unhappy circum-
stances of her life combined to hold her
aloof from most persons, although in
my case she gave her full, unreserved
confidence. At an early age Eva had
lost both father and mother, and was
left to the cold charity of an only
uncle, who had sternly refused all as
sistance to her mother since her mar
riage, which he had strongly opposed.
This uncle had so far relented as to
place his orphaned niece at boarding
school, and she had gone from one to
another until the present time, having
seen her kinsman but once since her
education began.
''She described him as morose, &C.
centric man, who, though wealthy,
lived in manner almost parsimonious.
He had great passion for diam monds
and, though he never wore any jewelry.
possessed some valuable gems. t3w
of these, recently purchased. Ge had
shown her during the visit, bat nothing
beyond what actual necessity required
was granted her, and she returned tc
school with no very decided longings to
make her home with him, as she would
probably have to do after graduating
This was her final year at college
and the thought of the dreary, aimlesl
2ife she must enter upon at its eXpira
tion did not tend to enliven disposi
ton inclined TO melancholy. / sincere
ly pitied her, and frequently mingled
my tears with hers when she looked
forward to tie near, unattractive flu
ture.
''There were other events at work
however, which were liable to effect
change in her plans Great difficulties
arose between the north and south
eliminating in a declaration of war
Not long after, my friend received ;
communication from her kinsman ad
rising her to remain at college another
torn, as things were at that time in 81
unsettled condition in the south, anc
Enclosing sufficient sum for the term
The dark clouds of war grew more ant
more dense, and threatened to over
shadow the entire land. Eva receivet
no further news for many months from
her uncle, as communication becam
extremely difficult.
''At the close of vacation, as no lette
eame she deemed it advisable not t,
return to school, as the sum that ha,
been sent her for the next session wa
all the means she possessed, and tn,
chances for a endorsement wer,
seemingly uncertain. Although gladl,
offered her a home with me unit
brighter days should dawn, she CRATE
fully declined, nor would she be con
tented to remain idle but she secured
small school and began teaching.
about this time letter came from
the south stating that her uncle wa
about to leave his plantation and go t.
Atlanta, where he could receive tn,
medical attendance his rapidly declin
ing health required. She wrote at once
asking permission to go to Atlanta anC
assist in nursing him, but no answer
came to this, nor to several other let
ters which she wrote, so that she daret
not make the attempt on such uncer
tainty. At the close of the war, afte
numerous inquiries about her uncle
she learned that he had died in Atlanti
and that she was sole heir to whateve