The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-08-04

which she gave me the following bit of
history, which is interesting enough to
bear repeating.
Some years ago." said she, II was
pupil at wcll-known school in the
bluegrass country. While there, the
warmest and most lasting attachment
formed wasfor a 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 rcticent, which
many wrongly attributed 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
lures, somewhat to my surprise, were
promptly reciprocated, and, to the
amazement of the other girls, we be-
came warm and constant friends.
'When l came to know her intimate
~ 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 fused all as
sistance to her mother since her mar
riage, which he had strongly opposed.
This uncle had so far re1euted 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 a morose. &C.
centric man, who, though wealthy,
lived in manner almost parsimonious.
lie had great passion for diamonds
and, though he never wore any jewelry,
possessed some valuable gems A few
of these, recently purchased, he had
shown her during the visit, but nothing
beyond what actual necessity required
was granted her, and she returned to
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,
andthe thought of the dreary, aimless
life she must enter upon at its expira-
ton did not tend to en1iven a DISPOSE
ton inclined TO melancholy. sincere
~ pitied her, and frequently mingled
my tears with hers when she looked
forward to the near, unattractive fu-,
ture.
= ''There were other events at work,
however, which were liable to effect a
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-
vising her to remain at college another
term, as things were at that time in so
unsettled a condition in the south, and
inclosing a sufficient sum for the term.
The dark clouds of war grew more and
more dense, and threatened to over
shadow the entire land. Eva received
no further news for many months from
her uncle, as communication became
extremely difficult. ;
-! cat the close of vacation, as no letter
came, she deemed it advisable not to
return to school, as the sum that had
been sent her for the next session was
all the means, she possessed, and the
chances for d reimbursement were
seemingly uncertain. Although I gladly
Offered her" a home. with me until
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
theE south stating that her uncle was
about to leave his plantation IA and 90 to
Atlanta, where he could receive the
medical attendance his rapidly declin:-T
ing health required. She wrote at once.
ASKING permission togo to Atlanta and
assist, IN nursing him, but no. answer
came TO this, nor to several other let
ters which she wrote, SO that she dared
oot make the attempt on such uncer-
:ainty. At.the close Of the war, after
numerous inquiries about her uncle,
she learned that he had died in, Atlanta
and that she was sole heir to whatever
property the sad devastations of war
had left. q go. {
mot long after, Eva married clever,
energetic young man, who had been
paying her close attention for some
time, and aseesoon as practicable, after
peace was declared, she and her. huat,
band wentsonth. intending to mako its
their future home, if they found it ad-
visable. a etTetts2= f7S g{Gs. &sssscv :
''Eva's first letter to me was not a
very cheerful one, at which L cannot 4
wondvf, considering the state of thins:s
that she found OF her uncle's death
she could gain but meacer information: