Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-10-03
e ID It'll v A L e /.
BY MINNIE F. BEAVERS.
CHAPTER I,

els this all? Oh, is this all?" and the
speaker lifted up her bowed head The
light Of the candle reveals her face and
what fair round face it was There was
the white brow of intelligence shaded by
tresses of black hair the sweet mouth :;
aud the dear, earnest eyes, so unutterably
beautiful.
Many time has Edith Vale walked up
! and down her room tonight; her white
hands clasped over her bosom, trying in
vain to reconcile herself to what must be
on the morrow but the tears will gather
in the large dark eyes, and the sweet mouth
tremble, with grief. And why? Here is a
beautiful home, and she its only mistress.
True, her mother sleeps in the silent grave;
but proud and loving father is still left
her. But it is not this the girl is dreaming
of now. Her soul is wandering back over
the dead years of the past and she is read
ing on their snowy scroll, joyous hopes and
blessed dreams, written there in the old
days,
Her memory is lowering over the holi-
est, happicst part of her life. 1t was only
two years ago when she had but reached
her seveteenth summer, that she first met
Marcus Hydra. He was their pastor aud
faithfully he ministered TO the people of
his charge. Seldom found in the halls Of
mirth, he was often in those of mourning
Was a soul passing from time to eternity .?
his deep voice SO powerful in its sublimity,
and again so soothing in it's low music,
was heard in prayer; or cheering the dy-
ing pilgrim nearing the grave. Sabbath
after Sabbath he stood in the pulpit, a "a
diant light resting upon his countenance,
proclaiming the word of life until he be-
came very Gear to his people. But in his
teachings of heaven that summer, he learn
ed, with Edith Vale, sweet earth lesson
which neither could forget. Thrown in
each other S society, with souls attuned to
harmony, was it wonder they loved =?
She realized in him all that was great and
good in ma1 and he thought her the low
Hest of women. And so the bright summer
days so fraught with bliss to them, wore
away and brought at their close parting
For he was destined to 90 as missionary
to far off land she to await, in her young
hearts love, his return.
The parting was full Of bitterness and
pain to both Il must do my duty" said
Marcus. ''Have you nothing to give me,
to keep in remembrance of you, while am
gone % Il would offer you my Bible,
Mark, but [ know its holy truths are laid
up in your heart, so [ will give you this, )"
and curl Of hair dropped into his hand
"Bless you, darling" he whispered, lit
shall be priced by me as dearly as life. y
She looked up, 80, Mark p she cried
chow can give up?" Gazing through
tears upon her he answered, II know not,
Edith, but may fall in the ranks of death
on that far off shore "Then you will be
lost to me-" murmured the weeping girl
eff the soul was not immortal p he said
''if there was no awakening from the sleep of
death no bright heaven beyond the stars I!
then indeed might we be lost to each 9TH
er forever But we know that our Re-
deemer lives p and folding her to his bo-
som, he pressed last kiss on her pale
cheek and was gone.
But strange to say, though absent so
long, he had never written and now, for
months, Edith had come to think him false
No wonder her voice rings out so mourn
fully tonight ''Mark Mark how [ low
ed you how [ trusted you, as never can
trust again, you who deemed so noble,
good aud true Now [ dreamed of glow
ing future, peaceful pathway, oh so
blest which our feet would tread together,
you guiding me by your earnest spiritual
life to home in Heaven" And she burst
into tears.
But the treachery Of Mark was not her
only grief. 4 week before that her father
had said, edith, my child, Louis Vernon
has asked of me your hand" And when
she bad answered, Il will stay with you,
father, while live [ esteem Louis, but
do not love him." he had said edith, my
child, must tell you all ; must I tell you
that ala bankrupt ! that [ will be ruined
unlest you marry him He is wealthy, he
will save me- Then Edith had started to
her feet Il will brave poverty" she cried,
"even death itself for you father; only
spare me this trial My love is buried in
a living tomb. Though Mark was false, [
love him still" A pallor like that of death
had spread over the old mans face. He did
not tell her, that when he saw his ruin, he
had intercepted her letters. But he did
say in hoarse voice, 81 will be ruined,
Edith my honor, peace all lost And when
you see your old father, grouping about
in prison cell, the snow of sixty winters
resting upon my head, remember you could
have spared him this bitter trial" Then,
Edith had sprang toward him; her arms
were around his neck and from her white
lips there came cry SO full of tenderness,
and yet wailing with despair, Father !!
father !! love you for your sake, | will
wed him."
All this now passes before the girl, who
wanders up and down her room tonight.
Tomorrow she is to be the wife Of Louis
Vernon.
He is slioht delicate man and said to