Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-10-03
rOCK, VIRGINIA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER g. 1867,

natural, that IN voice Of touching sadness,
she could say, els this all?'
1t was near midni ght when she turned
from that room to seek her couch. What
night of fortunes to her In her great love
for her father, sometimes the sacrifice she
was about to make appeared but naught !;
and when she would walk up and down,
her soul wrapped in feverish joy, that
she was doing this for him. But it was
only for moment, for into her heart would
steal the bitter thought ''Sold, sold to buy
back lost wealth % Then the scorn on that
young face was pitiful to behold. The last
words that fingered upon her lips that
night, were mark Mark how could
you slight such love as mine ? How could
you SO blight my peace ? Oh, Mark p It
was the last time his name was on her lips
for years.
CHAPTER II.
Five years have passed Near the city
Of C, splendid home is situated -
How beautifully it rises there on that beau
tiful knoll in the last flush of sunset The
locust trees surrounding it are snowy with
blossoms ; and, the sweet perfume giides
in at the open windows where all bespeaks
of refinement and luxury.
This is the home of Louis and Edith
Vernon.
He sits out upon the portico, his chair
leaning against the post, while little Willie,
their child, plays at his feet. If Louis
Vernon did not realize what he expected
in his married life, he knew before that he
was not loved If the soft hand of his
wife had seldom wanderedlovingly through
his hair, or rested on his broad, white
brow, it had never been raised in defiance
to his will. If her sweet lips were pressed
to his less often than he wished they had
never spoken an unkind word to him.
[ know not ifa sad presentiment is how
ering over his mind but he is dreaming
of death. Consumption had made rapid
strides in his delicate constitution. The
earnest, beautiful light in his eye, and the
quick flush proclaimed that he was the vic
tim of that disease. Yet he is not awed at
the approach Of death He shrinks not
appalled, from the coffin and the shroud
His eyes are turned from the beautiful
landscape before him to the beautiful sky
SO dazzling in the flush of the sun light.
A smile wherein is mingled much of peace
and Joy, fits over his countenance.
Edith, who has been wandering in the
yard, beholds this scene. Her father has
been dead some two years and if he had
not told her Of his deception, and Marcus
Hydga's constancy, the old love might have
been blotted out. But Mark, she now
knew, had been true to her This was the
thought that followed through all these
years yet still she is attached to her hus-
band 1t might have been terrible fear
that smote her heart when she gazed on
Louis pale countenance, or perhaps it was
the spiritual radiance resting there, that
filed her soul with sudden tenderness
for she went to him, and pressed kiss on
his brow, saying, Dear Louis, if the years
Ihave spent with you have not been rife
with tumultuous joy, I bless you chat they
have been full of much peace. have ev-
er cherished in my heart sacred tender
ness for you, Louis and your sickness has
rendered you oearer to me than you could
have been in health p II have been hap
py !' he dreamingly murmured A week
from that evening, he slept the sleep of
death and Edith and Willie were alone in
the wide world.
CHAPTER III.
In one Of the rooms of large hotel, in
the city of G -, Marcus Hydra sat
his head bent over his hand, where lay a
long, black curl cf hair, and tears were
falling Oh it. IF the thought that she was
false had not prevented me-" he murmur-
ed, Il would have been here long ago
How [ dreamed Of her On that far off shore |!
And sometimes [ feared it was sin for
when l wrote my sermons, saw her form
was before me! How the sweet voices Of
the olden time whisper in my heart to-day!
| was so full Of hope and joy once. [ do
not murmer; but my soul will weep over
the beautiful dream, shattered forever. >
He brushed the tears from his dark spirit
ual eyes, and passed from the room AS
he was entering the ladies' parlor, he heard
the murmur of name, the name that
made his heart throb wildly: and pausing
he listened to conversation between two
ladies in the parlor
Poor Edith Vale, you remember her,
Alice ?" Eyes" was the reply. "Well," "
said the other, ''she married to save her
father from ruin, when she loved young
minister, missionary to foreign land
Her husband has been dead year; and
by the neglect or fraud of her trustees, all
the property has been lost; and now she is
in the depths of poverty. Did you see
that sweet child in here moment ?
That was Edith's! and he was begging
aims"
Marcus waited to hear no more Turn
ing the corner of one of the streets, he saw
a little child ''Edith's," he cried, and
hurried on. ''What is your name, little
boy?" he said, kindly. The child looked
up with wondering glance, into that
proud, noble face, and In sweet voice