Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-11-18
who was willing to place SO much conf.
dence in Giles Hapgood' %

who was wiling to place so much conh-
dence in Giles Hapgood.'
The approach Of another party inter-
rupted the conversation, and Wallace
shortly afterward returned to the house,
where Ellen Lamprey met him upon the
piazza. He would have avoided her, but
she took his arm, and claimed him as her
prisoner; and by and by she led him to
the garden. Little dreamed she. as she
prepared for the attack. what he had
heard within the hour
When they had entered upon the flower
fanked avenue Ellen spoke of Clara Ed
gerton. She spoke at first sympathizingly
and lovingly, then pityingly. and then
she gradually verged upon the condemna-
tory.
The arbor was now not far distant, and
she must make the final stroke. This
she did by speaking of Clara's approaching
marriage with Mr.. Hapgood. at the same
time adroltly working in a repetition of
the story she had before told of the lady's
harsh jugdment OF himself.
The arbor was reached, and Ellen
stopped for her companions reply. She
felt sure it would be bitter one. .
Wallace Parker took her hand, and
looked down into her face. He had heard
her words but they had not so much
place in his mind as had other words
which he had that evening heard from
the lips of Giles Hapgood.
Miss Lamprey,' he said, slowly, and
almost sternly, you and had best come
to an understanding at once. I am will
ling to believe that you are mistaken. At
all events, I will never believe that Miss
Edgerton could willingly OR Intentionally
speak i'll of me until | can hear and Judge
for myself. When you first told me what
she had
%! Mr. Parker In mercy's namep
But Mr.. Parker did not heed the inter.
ruption.
What Clara had said of me, was
grieved bat | am sure you mast have
misunderstood her.
Ellen Lamprey trembled like an aspen,
and could not speak. Her companion
continued:
Never. while I can help it; shall the
bright vision of Clara Edgerton, as a
pure and blessed spirit of light, be wrest-
ed from me. AS God is my judge, I be-
lieve her to be incapable of deceit. But,
if she has faults, I do not wish to know
them. | took her image into my soul
years ago, and [ wish to hold it there,
enshrined in purity. Had not dire mis-.
fortune come upon ME | would dare to 60
to her, and ask her if she despised me i;
but noW-now-'
She can speak without the asking ?
sounded a voice from the arch of the ar
Dor. %! Wallace-how blind you have
een.-how blind And all these years
have had no heart, no love, that was not
yours
And Clara Edgerton, advancing from
the sheltering bower gave her hand to
Wallace Parker, and rested her head upon
his bosom; while Ellen Lamprey, almost
| bereft of sense, shrank away to the house,
her steps lettering and uncertain like un-
to the steps of one who is drunk with
much wine
On the very next morning, without her
breakfast, Ellen Lamprey, left Newport.
She could not bear to witness the happi-
ness of the pair she had sought to put
for ever assunder, nor did she care to re-
main after the story of the ridiculous man
ner in which she had got caught in her
own trap should have leaked out.
La the joyous event which lesitimately
grew opt from all this Giles Hspgood did
himself infinite credit aud honor. He
demanded and received the privilege of
acting as groomsman at the wedding.