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

pang. Horaces mother won my consent to
disappearance, and before night | had left
my old home without one line to Horace or
to any one else as to my intentions. lily
| fathers present on the morning of his death
j took with me, leaving everything else for
| tie heir-at-law. | had been here but few
days, lodging with woman to whom Mrs.
Martyr sent letter by me, when your adj
vertisement attracted me, and | ventured
here. Need tell you Of my gratitude for
all your kindness, my deep appreciation Of
your goodness Z lean never tell you. You
must feelit, for no words Of mine can give it
utteYancc." i4 tnl -. Il
Suppose" said, watching her keenly,
''you 90 to this proud aunt, and tell your
story; she may not be SO cruel as she IS rep
resented"
'.No," she replied II promised to give
Horace up, and cannot in honor try to win
consent opposed to that Of his mother"
''Who is this aust 7" I Inquired
II do not know" she replied ''iIoraee
often spoke Of a dear aunt Elizabeth but he
never mentioned himself as her heir, or in
deed mentioned her money at all. He seem
ed to love her very dearly, bnt she may not
be the one his mother referred to- | do not
know her surname"
4 alice" I said, gently, s'do you know
who sends affection, and Why lie sends it 2"
The pure face lighted with holy feryor
as she said, softly, those whom the Lord
loveth be chasteneth. His will be done"
! was satisfied. I had never been attract
ed by the religion worn upon the sleeve, the
cant springing upon trivial occasions to the
| lips, the scripture phrases haclzneyed till they
revolted against ones reverence but there
was q quiet, holy form Of life, patient res
ignation, Of q deep, silent Christianity, that
more truly betokened the pure, holy fervor
Of tried religion and these Alice held surely,
clasping the Comforter closely to her heart,
letting not her right hand see her left move,
praying secretly and living her piety, Instead
Of proc!aiming it from the hoslsetops.
~ [ think she felt happier after her confess
sion to me-. There were words Of sympathy
which | could give now, that seemed to con,-
fort her, and it was evidcntig,a relief to speak
freely Of her adopted father. Every days
intercourse brought our hearts nearer togeth-
er, till, Ike that father; shuddercd over
the thought Of. losing her, even for her own
happiness. t., r4..., taa.a r..I
Alice was sitting in her CID place at my
feet one morning, her hand clasped in mine,
reading passionate love poem. AS the last
word fell from her lips she looked into my
face with sad, earnest gaze, that touched
me deeply. ...
"Iou have 50 loved :" [ said gently.
= have 50 loyod, 50 lost my love-" she
said. "Can We ever forget!a With duty,
resignation and submission, al pointing to
oblivion, can We, ever FORGET y
She often expressed hersalfin this metrical
form but it was, think, the result Of close
study, intercourse with manly intellect and
reading, more than any atfectation.
why should You forget 2 | said; 1T is
unnatural to cramp and starve your young
heart to Gil the caprice Of avarice. Horace
is true. Horace knew Of your obscure bil I'll
before be asked you to be bis wife; he knew
it from DR.. Greyson's lips.
She was listening with suspended breat',
and diIated eyes.
Ills aunt is ready to give her consent"
[ did. ''Do you not guess? Alice, my
chlld, Horace MARTYR is my nephew and
heir, and" t
Did she guess, Or was his movement for
ward too eager.% I only kuow she sprung
to her feet, turned and was clasped fast in
/ her lovers arms, her true, noble-hearted low
er, who had sought her with breaking heart,
and came post hast in answer to nay letter Of
summons. tetg.
My large house is none too big for the lit
tie restless feet that patter up and down the
broad passages, the Little voices that waken
its echoes while my heart is fresheped, my
youth renewed my whole life enoiro,ed by
the love Of my nephew, q Alice, and Of their
three dear children. lat