The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-10-28

my heart thrill with strange yearnino tina
was almost pain. Oh, if I could but bay,
won this lovely creature! IF Ihad but own
ed the right, the power to protect her, how
different should her lot have been But she
had, doubtless, married BRUTE who, howso.
ever perfect in physique, had been in nature
merely OF coarse, common plebeian CLAW. alto
gether incapable of understanding or appre.
ating- the value Of the gem he had Won
Even now, could find her, and though she
must be by this time twenty years older than
myself, / felt as thaug could love her. "a
Young men had loved and married women
Of asgreater disparity Of age-women who
had preserved the charm of manner and of
spirit when even beauty had departed. And
vague dream foated through my mind Of
going to America, to New York, if. only
knew where to look for her. Oh, in all the
great world, floating. Like a waif on the sea of
space, where was to find her-the Lady
Claudia? The very name had charm for
me- 81 .t9s'i ~ igsei
/ had been gazing dreamily on the picture,
needless Of the old woman Dorothy l had
heard her called7-whol had come in to bring
water and towels The sight Of her wrinkled
visage and bony frame, as she shuffied about
the apartment, would have had its usual effect
in driving me away, but that / was fatigued
with my hot and dusty drive from Hallowell.
So remained, and lying back on the old
fashioned chintz lounge, closed my eyes, in
order to shut out The unwecome apparition of
the old bag. Still I heard her slipshod feet
shutting around, and felt it arelief when At
length the door closed, and the SQUAD died
away in the passage without.
[ was aroused from my half asleep reyerie
by the waiter summoning me to tea, which he
always did in person, as an extra mark of
respect. AS arose. he picked.up something
from the floor and handed it to me.
dropped letter, sir ~ 9 ~
"a letter? No." s4 slia YRs|
glanced at the superscription as he held
it before me- Ii esa, ~ 54sG a.so n
s4,' ~ i55 JASPER HUNT,
s-i8 g169 Crosby Street, New York City,
GU S. A." es7i s'sf5
Jasper Hunt! Where had I heard that
name! And on the instant / remembered |
hat it had been mentioned by Mrs. Ballard
1.-THE name of the man, the huntsman, whom
Lady Claudia had married Or was dream,
ng i half doubted the evidence of INV
enses. lf. aai }9 sa'iaar, =
sWhat is this name 2" said I to the waiter.
And be read it plainly ~ jasper Hunt,
/" OhF' said he, 1T must a been dropped
y Dorothy. It's 'sr name-Dorothy Hunt
staggered back, feeling as though I had
'cccived a blow. a9@i Gdw 5979
AT the instant the woman in question came
back. ii5. 81 ,., 49,.
'That's mine p said she. sharply and cross
y. II was looking for it. ''' III Il e
'You re welcome to it, replied the waiter
'h'only no need to snap a telier's head off,
z She snatchedsthe letter from him with a
ook Of supreme contempt, and was leaving
he room, but detained her
"Are you the wife Of jasper hu1t?" Iasked.
Yes, she answered. defantly 4peR eis4
''And,N [ continued, lowering my voice, so
hat the man could not hear, u.s. your. name
}lauddia? Are you niece to Sir Peter. West
welt z" iie''s 3ya3a
She glared at me with all her face flushed
iery red. I had no need of other answer;
sank back on the lounge, half stunned.
Mind p Missed the bag in nay ear-''mind
low you say anything about it came here
o be quiet, and I soW be y i.i's 20 Gins
! never did say anything about it. II left
Thorpe Olneyenext morning by the. 5 o'clock
,oach.s;, W.
And SO ended my first love-.
x -