The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-19

kept 1t IN his bedroom, SO they told me,
hidden by Z silk curtain. Guardy would
be absent from home for months, and his
rooms were always locked. He would
como home looking so unhappy, pitied
him. But he was never cross, but always
gentle, and kind to every one. One day
went into the library, and found him
sitting by the table, his head bowed on
his arms, which were folded on a news
paper, spread on the table before him
/ was going to slip away, but he called
me to him, Aunt Debby, I was truly sor-
~ for him, when he lifted his head, he
looked so miserable, but my heart beat
wildly when he put out his arm and
drew me to him. Aunt Debby, he is
such kingly man. He looks like god"
"Dey all loks lax gawds, or sumpin
else jes ez impossible, when we's in
Tub wild 'em, but faint often, one acts
lax er angel, much less er gawd. =
he told me he was going away to
be gone for years, perhaps. I thought
/ could not bear it, but he never guessed.
he told me he had just heard of the death
Of very dear friend, and was going to
travel and try to forget. / know it was
wicked, but I was glad she was dead,
because knew it was she Of the pic.
ture.''
I" You must 60 on just as you are
doing'' he told me, If I never re
turn, you will be provided for, as far as
money can provide, the rest l leave t.
God. I hope you will DO happy, and
some day, make some one else happy. II
hurt me to hear him speak so Indifferent
" Of never seeing me again. The years
came and went, and I was left with my
teachers, and the servants. Guardy
wrote me once in q great while, and sent
me presents often but said nothing Of
coming home / studied hard, and cul
tivated my voice, SO that I could please
him if he should come. / knew his love
for music, also its power over men. Ny
friends talked of me coming out in so
ciety / cared nothing for it. I me-
younger, and the world might have
thought handsomer men, but not one wal
like him. I often thought Of the picture
and wondered if he had ceased te
mourn her loss One day the news CAM
that he was coming home. All was con
fusion, and rejoicing. His rooms wer
to be made ready for occupancy. wa
wild with delight, yet dreaded to NEE
him, for fear he would be sad, and miser
1 able One day hearing an alteration
among the servants below stairs, thu
housekeeper ran down, and left the door
/ Of Guardy's rooms open. Aunt Debby
didn Il mean to do wrong. Satan tempt
4 ed me. I was 80 eager to see the fac
that stood between me and happiness,
yielded. I ran in and glanced hastil
nround, as I knew it was in the room bt
yond, SO on hurried. They were beau
tiful rooms, with handsome pictures, an
many curios gathered in his travels.
i cared to see only one thing, that found
| in his bed room, behind white silk cur
tain. With trembling fingers, drew
the curtain aside, and looked into thu
face of woman, or child, she looked Mt
older than I--of such wondrous beauty
that cried out, in admiration, dropped
the curtain, and ran away. no longe
wondered that Guardy could not forget
| For such as she men have died. No no
such as she. Only good woman ever hal
ouch eyes, and men don t die for goo'
women. But if beauty could purchase !
life, then, she could pay the price.
Guardy came home, greatly changed
but not sad as / feared. The old boy
ish laugh, and manner were gone. H
was man, quiet, but cheerful, and pleas
ant. His eyes, .truest index to the heart
said he had not forgotten. On his TEN
pies noticed few gray hairs, not ther
when I had last seen him. He was sur
prised ut the change in me, so he said
yet imagine he had thought very lit
tie about my appearance. He called m
a learned little woman, because I coul
talk with him about the countries he ha
visited. He never knew how had stud
led to inform myself, and what ha
prompted me. Most of all, was he pleas
cd with my voice. He told me that
rqualed my mother g, and he had though
Ter IS the grandest he had ever heard
His eyes said more than his lips. =
lTo be continped.)