The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-08-05

Nset, b o u
which she gave me the following bit Of
history, which is interesting enough t.
bear repeating.
Some years ago." said she, 81 was 8
pupil at well-known school in the
bluegrass country. While there, the
warmest and most lasting attachment
formed was for young girl, abou
Wy ~e-s from sbe 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 attributed to pride; and
i 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 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
ieft 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 a morose, &C.
centric man, who, though wealthy,
lived in manner almost parsimonious.
He had a 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.
and the thought of the dreary, aimless
lie she must enter upon at its expira-
ton did not tend to enliven DISPOSE
ton inclined TO melancholy. sincere
iy 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
change in her plans. Great difficulties
arose between the north and south.
eliminating in a declaration of war.
Not long after, my friend received a
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
AT 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 a REIN amusement were
seemingly uncertain. Although 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 a
small school and began teaching.
About this time letter came from
The south stating that her uncle was
about to leave his plantation and go to
Atlanta, where he could receive the
medical attendance his rapidly declin-
ing health required. She wrote at once.
asking permission to go 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
not make the attempt on such uucer-
talnty. At the close of the war, after
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.
Not long after, Eva married a clever
energetic young man, who had been
paying her close attention for some
time, and as soon as practicable, after
peace was declared, she and her hus-
band went south, intending to make it
their future home, If they found it adj
visable.
"Eva's first letter to me was not q
very cheerful one, at which / cannot
wonder, considering the state of things
that she found. OF her uncle's death
she could gain but meager information.
as Atlanta was at this time a city of
ruins, and its inhabitants were scat
tered broadcast, while the plantation.
like hundreds of others on every hand.
had Jared but little better. Every
had been burned. with the ex-
ception of one or two cabins, and Simon.
the faithful old servant in whose charge
the place was left, had died lust a few
months before the arrival of its new
mistress. His niece and her husband
were living on the plantation, and do
ing what they could to care for il until