Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-09-05

old times," he murmured to himself.
eyes, sir 'I'll DO it up Directly"
"By the way, where did you get t?" he
asked, with an afectaton of carelessness
which he by no means felt.
''Well, sir, it was left here by good old
female, about SIX weeks ago. [ believe I've
got her address here somewhere, for they We
brought good many little items here one
time and another. Oh, here it is-Rebecca
Bensley, No. -, Barker street."
Ralph Vane laid down his two dollar bill
and walked out of the store, with the clock
under his arm.
"Why did l ask any question ?" he NUT
tered. "Wbat are they to meP And yet it
gives me keen pang to think of RacheIs
mother being destitute and in want. When
heard of Farmer Bensley's death I never
faDcied they would be left in INDECENT circum-
stences.'
How strange the wooden clock looked on
the carved marble mantel of his elegant par
lor at the St. Ambrose Hotel-how singular
| its solemn ''tiek, tick," blended with the sill
yer chime of bells and the rumble of omni-
buses on the pavement below. Yet Captain
Vane felt his heart soften as he loohed at the
time-worn dial.
Il wonder what ails the striking machi-
nery," he thought, opening the little door.
81 used to have genuine YANKEE facility
for tinherlng- perhaps it has not entirely de-
serted me yet"
He drew out the dusky weights-they
were wedged in by some stiff paper; he ex-
amlned it more closely.
s'The very letter [ wrote to Rachel Bens-
ley three years ago-the letter entrusted to
her fathers care, with the seal unbroken still
A food of light seemed to break in upon
his throbbing brain.
''Jacob Bensleyv' be calculated between
his set teeth "may Heaven forgive you for
this deed of treachery, for it seems to me that
| never can ~
"lIow late is it. Rachel ?"
ask o'clock, mother. Are you better
now ?"
eyes, but my head aches STILL y
'I will come and bathe it for you, mother,
when have finished this piece of WORK"
"You are tired, dear-I am afraid you over
work yourself. If could only help you
but my sight fails me overy day Oh, my
daughter What is to become of you, When
I am gomez"
'sGod only knows" sighed Rachel, her
fair head dropping over that endless basket Of
work. "Mother dare not fancy what the
future may bring forth.
She arose TO open the door as gentle tap
sounded on the panels-a tall officer in the
uniform of Captain in the Federal army
stood before her astonishod eyes
/ "Rachel p'
"Ralph Vane"
"Nay, I scarcely wonder that you look
colby at me, Rachel, but I have been true to
you all these years. Here is the letter gave
your father for you three years ago this very
summer. When you gave me no answer Ell
ther by look or word, fancied you had been
playing with my affections. Now see how
enormously have judged you. Rachel, will
you read the letter now? Will you give the
answer I waited for SO long and yainly, :he
night before enlisted ?"
| She broke the seal with trembling hands,
and glanced over the contents of the time
yellowed note.
ooh Ralph y she murmured, bursting
into tears, "can you ever forgive me for the
hard thoughts I have cherished toward you ?"
'.Then you will be my wife, now, Rachel"
II cannot tell you how gladly-how wiz
lingly ?"
/ "Will you give her to me, Mrs. BenSley!"
said the tall soldier, kneeling on one hnee
beside the widows chair.
inlay God deal with you as you deal with
my child, Ralph Vane r uttered Mrs. Bens-
ley, solemnly.
Late into the glorious moonlight of the
August night they sat and talked. Rachel
learned that riches and hon Or had been show
cred upon her bethrothed husband from for
tunes liberal hand since he had left the little
New England village and "gone soldering,
and he in his turn listened to the sad story Of
j acob Bensley's failure and DEATH and his
widows poverty.
/ And then he told them how the antique
fingers Of the little old-fashioned cloct had
guided him back to the heart whose constant
love was to be his wife sunshine hencefor.
ward and forever.
! And the most treasured ornament in Mrs
Capt ain Vane's exquisite boudoiz is the
wooden clock, time stained and rudely carved
Yet she would not exchange it for the costli
est time piece Of alabaster and gold that ever
sparhled through Tifany's plate glass win
dows.