The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-12-09
sTAJJNToN VIRGINIA. THURSDAY. DECEMBER g. 1862


her parents than for any strong love she
bore her husband, yet have every reason to
believe that she had learned to love Sitting
Aeet-an excellent, though impetuous man
exceedingly, i not passionately, But again,
woman is enn;gmatical and was sorely .puz-
zled !; but, giving Mrs. Stillingaeet the bene-
fit of the doubt, dermined, however unpro-
fessional it might appear, to visit the lady to
whom this letter had been addressed, and to
discoverif she could indeed, be a party to
20 aiseraceful an intrigue Being intimate
" acquainted with the lady, 1 should find
the task less difficult than if she had been
unknown to me. On my way to S. an
hour by mail from the city. [ thought over
and matured my plans. 1 was received with
evident pleasure, and we chatted, for time,
on family matters. Presently she enquired :
"How are the Stillingfects?" 7slI4i9st !
"Well, I believe. But1hIr. Stiilingfaet Is
away from home, and will be absent for some
days" answered" let9ha3 ae s9f' ~
(,ae"Indeed, said Gertrude. Poor Grace she
WILDE lonely must take this opportunity
Of visiting her Will you stay and take din
| ner with us ?" 3sa aU 9dai 81 tta2s 9i9g
II thanked her, but stated that must go
off by the next train. 'ii p sf5i 10 sI9f
'.Then you will, at least, take glass Of
vino. "ae!saaasi5 oa sag a7slis 1aat seae
And suiting the action to the word, she en-
tered the next room, leaving the door parti-
ally open. I was lneaing over an album du-
| ring her absence, when heard to my sur
prise, Charlie Fearon's voice-not distinctly,
but could have sworn, it was his. | listen
led. ] Silence ensued for few seconds,
when heard Gertrude say, in a merry
voice: 81 eaae4 y1A5i'i7 {9g'l9 sfaa
"At last Charlie, you shall make a stolen
visit to your Grace" lfa#s7l e s'a'a
And then followed most Enthusiastically the
sound of a kiss. oiil 'eq<ss
Infamous young woman! [ muttered.-
| "Not only lost to a sense of shame herself,
| but she endeavorsto entrap another !"
When she returned, it was with difficulty
that swallowed down the wine; then bid
| ding her hasty adieu, Ihurried off to meet
the train. This Charlie Fearon, a wealthy,
handsome, but indolent young man, was the
pet of the ladies, but had never, until now !,
believed him to be one Of those scoundrcls
who make business for the divorce court
| My next move was to call on Mrs. Sitting
feet and inform her that her husband would
be away for a few days She appeared griev-
ed at the intelligence, but she answered that
she supposed it was necessary, and that such
absences were the common lot Of wives. She
looked very beautiful and very innocent in
her elegant morning attire but l was too
much man Of the world to be deceived by
woman's manner, and as returned home,
I almost dreaded to meet Stillingfeet, lest
he should read in my face the almost convic-
ton that had forced itself on my mind that
there was something wrong. Poor Sitting
| feet had envied him once, but now pity
took the placeof envy. 1t was cruel blow.
However, [ told him that was investigating
the matter, and, in spite Of my doubts, en-
couraged him at least to hope. Att o'clock
the following day, I despatched messenger
with letter to Gertrude bidding him avail,
an answer As l had expected, he brought
'llwora that she hadleft by an early train for
the city tfe 20 e
CHOW, said I to StillingAcet, you must re-
turn unexpectedly. will accompany you
If your wife be really guilty, there will be
visible signs of agitation, and an attempt will
be made to conceal this fellow Fearon. You
have already promised me that you will in
any case forego5a divorce, and arranged sepa.
ration therefore the step we are about to
4 take is, | am convinced, the wisest." 81
4 He had promised to control himself, and
knew that he would do so. Using his latch
i key, we entered the house, but not before We
had been perceived by Gertrude. Without
appearing in undue haste, we opened the
parlor door, and as we did SO, we saw that Of
h. 7 ~ Nfrc Ct,ll,vc.
a feet say Charlie, weiarc discovered at last ]!
/ Poor Stiilingfeet heard her also, and as
his wife approached him, he seized her by
the arm with one hand and pointing to the
opposite door with the other, exclaimed
while his face was white with emotion:
sYou are too late, madame! Whom are
you concealing in that room ?" 70 ai "
r. I shall never forget the momentary look Of
horror on that sweet face, nor the delicious
little laugh that followed It, as she exclaimed
''You darling old goose p I q. '.. PEI.
/ At the same moment Gertrude opened the
awful door, and saying, Behold the Culprit Y
Charlie, come forth p. exhibited to our, as
] tonished gaze beautiful little dog-a verita-
bic king Charles.'s ,igt6i al, !. est 10
"Thank God 7 exclaimed StillingAeet, as
| he pressed his dear little wife to his heart !;
4 was brutesto doubt you'll" sa,fa mi BE- /
at was not necessary to explain all to the
ladies. How thankful were all parties con-
cerned that / had not been precipitate I
was informed that Stillingheet having been
bitten by dog wheRa boy, had always evinc-
ed mortal aversion to che canine; race
Grace had, therefore, during her engage
/ ment, entrusted her little pet, the gift of an
absent brother, to the tender mercies of Ger
trude. and was only waiting the time. when
1 she could overcome her husbands prejudice
to have him with her. Hence the lcoatre
temps. IF / had not commenced to prosper
from that time, beliaye that Stillingfeet
would have gone to law with his tailor or
grocer rather than allow me to be without a
client, so rejoiced was he at my friendly
handling Of my first divorce case. iie are
| Work AND WAIr,-There are two things
that always pay, even III this not over-remu-
neratiye existence. They are working and
waiting. Either is useless without the 9th.
err Both united are invincible and etri-
u,nphant.. He who waits without working
is simply man yielding to sloth and despair
He who works without waiting is ftful Il
his strivings, and misses results BY impa
tienc. He who works steadily and wait.
+ natiantlv NAV have a lonu . :n,,,.r i & -.