Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-10-20


You are better now, are you not !" she
asked. e,;-,.Ht .sa
Eyes" T said; 'fnot so tired"
s'Then I will bid You goodnight" And
she bent with graceful salutation, and
turned to leave me.
"stay," [ said. s'Wbat is your name p
Alice" she replied.
'.Alice what p replied.
II have no other name" was the reply.
Another enigma. 7 could not let her 60
IF you stay with me, Alice said, TAX
ing her hand in mine, Il hope some day to
win your confidence, and know what sad story
has blighted your youth. believe you when
YOU tell me there is no sin connected with it;
and If yea are willing to come Tomorrow for
a short visit, we can see if we, suit each 9TH
er for longer companionship. n;s
II will come" she said, with a trembling
voice, and, bending Down, she left kiss and
a hot tear upon my withered hand, and was
gone.
am afraid my readers would set me down
for an absurdly romantic old woman If | told
them all, the stories framed that night for
my heroine. The pale, pure face with its
delicate features, golden hair, and large,
childlike eyes, fairly haunted me- The tiny
hands had evidently never known labor; the
sweet clear voice was modulated by the edu-
cation Of a lady, the, graceful little figure,
with its modest bearing, had no crmglng IN
its attitude. 1t least there was new in
terest for my lonely life and if nay new study
proved an imposter, there was no one but
myself to be injured, no children to be train
ed in error, no young mind to receive pols-
onous doctrine; and in view Of all these neg
atiyes felt satisfied with my acquisition.
Looking back NOW, with the love Of my
protege making the music Of my life, | find
it difficult to recall the Impressions Of the first
few days; ), but a few words about myselfmay
show the reader what my companion was to
Ge.
AS have said, rvas past 70 years; but
had been, until within fey months, in the
full possession Of every facalsy, and unusual
y actiye and energetic for my years, Pos
sessel Of wealth, I had tried, with sincerity,
to remember that was the lords steward !;
and if my name seldomed figured upon the
pompous lists Of public charities. I trust that
|, the courts and alleys where ny face was SO
cordially welcomed, the children snatched
from Low haunts Of miser5,, the industrious
supplied with work, the dying from whose
bed the sting Of want was swcir.. away, the
aged whose helpless hands were filed, and
the errilig who found. IN avenue opened for
honorable labor, viii bear me witness that
have earnestly endeayored to be a Just alno-
ner. Six months previous to the day when
NY advertisement appeared, my physician
had passed my doom Of future helplessness.
A severe cold contracted by seine UNCONSCIOUS
exposure, had settled In my limbs, and pro-
duced such results as left me, for the remain
der Of my life, hopelessly crippled.
Ny nurse, a strong, good-hearted woman,
fully capable of lifting, dressing and tending
me, at once accepted the post Of permanent
attendant, with some Of the housekeeping
cares. | had servants fer every lower branch
in tie domestic department, bat [ pined for
a friend, 5here were plenty TO call upon
me, to send me dainty dishes, perfuncd notes
or choice flowers: but none upon whom [
| could cali for constant attendance NY rel
aisyes all resided at distance and there was
rot one amongst them whose perpetual soci-
! ETY. felt any desire, '''
In this lonely helpless life, my compan-
ion came TO cheer and comfort me | can
not tell the thousand loving graces by which
| she won my love, and commanded my esteem
I The yearning, childlike pity for my age and
helplessness expressed itselfiD every tone OF
her sweet voice, 10 her quick. gentle move
ments round my chair, her ready comprehen-
sion Of every want, her tender touch and al
most reverential respect. There was no
thought of my wealth Or possible generosity
in her heart, only such protecting, yet defer
fresh, pure-hearted youth. She read beau
tifully, with an evident cultivation Of her
clear voice and, when in some stirring pas
sage, | have marked her large eyes, her
cheeks glow, and her voice rise clear, clarion
| like tones of enthusiasm / have forgotten all
suffering to 60 hand in band with her to the
pleasant lands Of ideality and romance =
Love fer literature, elocution and poetry had
1 been one of the ruling passions Of my life,
and it soon became Que Of the delights Of my
imprisonment to open for Alice the portals
| Of history, imagination silence, and the class
les, and watch the eager enthusiasm with
which she entered the enchanted realms.
smile now to t,iiflk Of the iloursT We passed
over our favorito AUTHORS she seated on q
low chair al my side, my hand often RESTING
on the lbrails Of her golden HAIR, while my
pain and her sosraws foated of into q misty
background 10 give place ic she spirit of OIL,
volume. Her sweet voice, rising III passion
ate cadences Of fancida Voc, sinking to loves
tenderest intonations, marching forward to 6
martial strain in steady, measured tones, OF
wailing with despairins grief, carrie d my ole
heart far back to the days when this was tt
me alsosan inner life, resting place from
hard realities or everyday monotonies.
She grew happier, too, in or daily inter,
course. The iaavy GRIFFIN her DARK eyes
grew softenod into a,s'Gat resignation, an(
her slow, weary footstep grew more elastic
and bouyant rs she became assured of my
love for her, ny pleasure il hey society,"
/ She had been with me nearly two mouths
when one day, leaning her cheek against the
arm Of my chair, and looking up into my
face, she said: DO you care for music p :
I told her truly how | loved it.
''When the sorrows Of lie fell upon me,
she continued, nournfully, Il said there
could be no more music Cor me. Ny heart
/ felt dark on al and dasaIata - kut Won, ha W