The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-06-03

| bright among the brightest, but he was sad
I y Disappointed man. The sorrowful secret
was all out now. He knew now how his
young bride had left his mothers house ayox.
| edly for the convent, in reality to Join her
husband in the -uise Of a servant. How she
had bribed Victor, stained her face and hands,
closecut her long, fair hair. and dyed it
black; how she had periled her life for his.
lie knew it all now, ami knowing all. he
eankered at heart with a dreadful grief. Had
| he taken her with him--had he done this or
that ne thought she might now have been
living bright and fair at his side ~. ]
lie loved her, now, with passionate tend
erncss-he world have given wealth. life
| fame-eyerytaing out to look upon her once
| and tell his love to her and hear her answer:
| Ing words ~ =
he sickened at soul for wan. of her. No
other woman seemed fair, no other worth the
loving sle rallied wildly against his lady
| mother, and cursed himself.
He wandered ike ghost, searching for
some trace Of her, but she seemed to have
been swallowed up BY the earth. Doubtless
she slept among the myriad mameIess dead
upon that fatal field. Abandoning ell hope,
he was upon the eve ST going abroad. Hur
rylng along the street Intent upou securing
passage in tac next steamer he came upon hef
face to face-her or her ghost
"Rene! = he gasped-hs voice deserted
hiu-strong as ne was he almost fell lifeless
before her; tbs world whirled around with
him. ~ .sI;
She looked at him mildly-nst lovingly
nor yet indifferently, and passed on. He
rushed after her and caught her by the hand.
my love! my darling y he cried, "where
are you goingT where have you been ?" Z .
81 have been lila long, long while. an,
going home to my adopted parents, she an
swered simply. "N' hen fell on the field
kind hearted mana surgeon-took me and.
csred for me, and gave me home with him
self and his wife. They are elderly people.
| live as their daughter, and I give music
lessons"
'isene Rene /" he cried, II thought you
were dead r
She turned upon him pass;onatelv. &
81 found that you married NE only becauso
your mother wished it-that you never loved 8
sne at all. saved your life and tried to die.
That was all cared TO do. My mlssion nov
is done Let me go-I viii not cross your
path again Let me gol '''' . -.
There was more grief than anger in her
words lie held her by both hands There
were tears IN his eyes and sobs in his voice.
"And have You ceased to love me, Rene?
you my Constant heart; you who died for
NE, will you not return to life and love for
me 2" - SCI
Il never thought you wanted me tor she
answered IN grave, sweet surprise, strug-
Cling family still to get away from him.
Il want you more than hfe-I love you
better than my own soul! l have prayed fos
you, hungersd at heart for you, through a
weary eternity. Rene, Rene, come home
my only love, come home aud be my wife p
She turned towards him with her old. bird
like movement, and laid her hand caressing-
y in his. '''''@'s''ST
Il am go happy" she murmured, as they
went On, homewsrd, together, never to be
separated again ia life.
And there's not in all the land at this day
a more tender lover, a traer husband than Ed
gar suier, nor any wife more blest than his.