Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-06-04

the QarkucSS vi tne grey eyes, ofoi VIM"
the long black lashes threw shadow. The
hair, Of rich brown, ripplcd slightly at the
temples and was pushed away behind the
ears.
ssJust as she always wore it" thought
William, as he gazcd with delighted eyes at
the tiny ear and the pure regular profile
which was turned toward him, and of which
time could not mark the perfect outlines.
AS if by sudden impulse he advanced to
her side He could restrain his Impotence
no longer aa H.,4
She started and looked up with astonish-
ment. The dark eyes of the tall stranger
were fixed upon her with an expression she
could not understand. .a 81 @
'.Hope!p he said softly, while his deep
voice trembled with emotion, sob, Hope.
do you not know me 2" .,41
She knew the voice that had not changed
The fair face flushed crimson
William William Douglas is it you?"
cit is really l." and he took the hand she
extended to him and held it fast
The strong man was greatly moved =
Here, where he had little thought to find it,
his treasure, his lost jewel was restored to
him OH blessed chance. that brought
him to this place oh wonderful, beauti-
ful picture, that was the cause of this happl-
ness.
He sat down beside Hope, still holding
the little hand as if he never meant to let it
90. 1t trembled in his clasp, for to Hope
Ainslie and William Douglas this was no
common meeting, but as though each had
been raised from the dead, SO sudden, so un
expected was their being thus brought face
to face on this side Of eternity, Truly, as
the poet says; .,.a...,s Is.
"J>5 81 aslll,l tsspel with smile
"I4et me look at you, Hope" said Will
liam, sthat I may be certain you are no
vision that will vanish in a moment, as you
have so often done in my dreams, and leave
me desolate after all. But" he stopped
suddenly Suppose she was no longer free?
He had not thought Of that in his delight at
finding her. ''Tell me-" he went on, care
you still Hope Ainslie!"' ms
She smiled sadly, Yes, I am still Hope
Ainslie, or, rather" and she glanced at the
child beside her, Il am Miss Foster, the
governess." ....t
ssThank Heaven" said William, ''and
Hope Douglas that is to be- ssr
She started and blushed crimson, but he
cid not seem to notice it.
'And now, Hope, l must give you the
history of all these years, during which I
may say with truth, that I have sought thee
sorrowing."
sSought NC Oh! William" said Hope,
looking into the handsome face, "they told
me you were married"
They told you falsehood, then. Why,
Hope, you knew [ loved you, did you not?"
II did, at first; but afterward," and she
faltered and looked down, Il thought You
had forgotten me"
Forgotten you, darling little Hope !
ncvcr for one moment did [ cease TO think
of you. Listen to me"
''Not now" she said, trying to withdraw
her hand from his clasp. cit is late, and
Mrs. Norris will be uneasy about Harry"
Nonsense What is Mrs. Norris to
me Do you suppose I will let you go from
me again Why, Hope, I have come to take
care Of you always; and as for Harry, here
is something for him to play with" and he
drew a magnificent watch from his pocket
and gave it to the wondering child, whose
round eyes had been fixed with amazement
on the strange gentleman's conduct to this
dignifed governess.
''Ten years ago. said William, as soon
as peace was obtained by means Of the
watch, II sailed for California;, to make a
fortune, if possible, in order, Hope, that l
might be able to ask the rich Robert Ainslie
for the hand of his only child I was poor
clerk, and too proud to risk a refusal
from him; but | dared to hope that in the
pure and tender heart of that child had
won place; was I wrong, Hope?'
NO" she said, softly. as.
''My little Hope, if I had only had the
courage to tell you of my love, how much
suffering I might have been spared. [ had
friend in the city in which you lived who
informed me of your movements. You had
suffers knew, and I charged him to let me
know if there was one more favored than the
rest, when should have written to you at
once and asked you to wait until / could
claim you. As time passed l grew rich, and
was preparing to leave California, when [
heard that Robert Ainslie, the wealthy New
York merchant, had failed, and did not long
survive his disgrace LEFT San Francisco at
once, and on my arrival in New York, sought
you in every direction, but no one knew
whittier you had gone, even those with whom
you had been intimate in better days; they
knew you had not married but that was all.
This was five years ago. Bafled and bit
terly disappointed went to Europe, think
ing that perhaps, after all, you were priva-
tely married and living in happiness. [
tried to forget you, butin vain; whenever
I went, a to picture gallery, theater, or church
your sweet face was before mu. You looked at
me, Hope, from the pleading, piteous eyes
Of Beatrice Denci,' and [ saw you in the
graceful bent head and tender, mournful
face of the 'Mater Dolorosa.' At length
the desire seized me to return and again re-
new my aueat, for never thought Of you as
dead, Hope. | felt myself growing old in
the search, and imagined that [ should be a
gray headed, bent man before it was ended,
and I should die with your name on my lips
Business brought me to this city, and I was
walking this afternoon YEARLY along the
street, ghen the notise Of this picture caught
my eye, and I entered, little thinking what
happiness fate had in store for me, that even
at that moment my lost darling was coming
to me, and he bent over her with infinite
love and tenderness in his dark eyes.
Hope had listened to this narration with
beating heart She had loved William
Douglas, although only poor clerk, and
had meyer expected 10 see him again She
had heard he had grown rich, and had mar
ried long since, and to think that he Ind
never forgotten her, nay, had sought her,