Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-05-07

Eyes, my dear, I know but the memor,
of a good man never dies. His father wa
ole of the best of them"
So Brian's heart was at rest, and VIVA
was left Of it went straight to the outspokel
old soldier whose old-fashioned courtesy IN
| chivalrous attention to Kate seemed, in poo
Brian's eyes, the greatest charm he possess
ed. III
Two days after this, Brian's visit termin
ated. As bad luck would have it, Kate hat
a headache; the last day she neither appear
ed at dinner, nor yet in the evening. Brian
who made up his mind to speak out, wa
down an hour before any one else mex
morning, but Katesenly showed hersel
when breakfast was half over. So, as time
waits for no one,hs7had to take his depar
ture minus the hoped-for interview. ant
there was nothing for it but to trust his fat(
to the post. So after reaching London ht
wrote a manly straightforward letter, telling
Kate the truth, and asking her to be hi!
wife
In two days the reply came, and Brian'l
fate was sealed.
II am deeply grieved," wrote Kate
'smore deeply than l can possibly tell you
I thought you knew I was engaged to Gen.
eral Amberly. John should have told you
and I cannot understand how it was you new
OF heard the fact is SO universally known
amongst my friends, that I never doubted
you knew, and that will, I hope, enable you
to forgive me if my conduct has helped tc
pain you. I showed your letter to the Gen
eral, and he bids me say that he feels as I do,
very, very sorry, and that as your fathers
friend you must look upon him as a true
friend"
Over and over again Brian read his letter,
quietly enough, too but with the quiet that
m of despair. He saw it all !; and there
was not a shadow Of reproach of blame in
his heart against Kate !; but the light seemed
to 60 out Of his life, and for three weeks
Brian tried the old trick driving away his
misery by a life Of riot. At the end Of three
weeks nature gave way, and he was raving
with brain fever. Dissipation did not suit
him, luckily, the stop came before he was
utterly lost.
"You must leave London" said the doc
tor, "quiet is necessary-try a sea voyage"
Il must see her FIRST" thought Brian,
'sand then [ don't care where [ go: [ shall
see what [ want to know in her face"
So soon as he could move about, Brian
took the morning express, and hiring a gig
at Fast Cross Station, drove over to "The
Cedars." Mr.. Mellish was out the mistress
was with the baby, but would be down d.
rectly. So Brian went into the morning
room to wait, and presently, coming from the
garden, he saw Kate. She walked up to the
house rather slowly and hidden as ne was
behind the curtain, Brian could see without
being seen, and his heart grew sick, even
while a wild triumph seemed to fill his be-
ing ; for he saw that he had hoped, even
while he dreaded, in Hates face She stopped
opposite the window, and looked at the dog
cart, as is uncertain to whom it belonge1, or
whether to go on, then suddenly a flash came
over her, and she turned quickly down the
Brian had come out Of his hiding
place, and leant against the window, he was
desperate just then.
When Kate was out Of sight came the re-
Of where lie was, and the Ger
that ifhe staid he would have to face
Mrs. Mellish. If the thought of this inter
view had seemed difficult when be- first sat
down in the room, it became still more hard
after seeing Kate, and at last grew SO intol-
cradle that Brian turned and bolted, and the
dog cart was half way to the station before
Mrs. Mellish, who had waited for the nurse
to come up from her dinner, deposited the
baby in that functionary's arms, and having
seen that her hair was straight, descending
to speak with Brian, found the bird had
flown.
"What could he mean p she said after
wards to Kate. And Kate, looking very
pale, answered:
HE wanted to see John, perhaps won't
John 60 up and see him?"
And John, who was one of the most good
natured men in the world, went up to town
next day, taking Mrs. Mellish with him, and
they, having done some shopping, proceeded
to Brian's chambers, where they heard the
fat pronounced by the doctor, and learned
that Brian having tired of reading law,
meant to try a settlers life in Australia.
"You'll come back to us some day, old
was the Squirrels farewell.
cay, in ten years I'll spend Christmas
Day with you"
"Well, that's bargain; in ten years we'll
lay a knife and fork for you"
Brian laughed bitterly, repeating, Sin ten
and Mrs. Mellish coming up to him
put her hands upon his shoulders and kissed
him, whispering cher blessing to Brian;
you are a noble fellow"
She followed her husband down stairs and
a cab, they drove to Euston Square.
Kate was sitting by the library fire when
they reached home, and very wistfplly the
girl looked at her elder sister, who said, as
took off her shawl:
"We have seen Brian Kitty: he is much
better, and has been ordered a sea voyage,
so he is going to see how Australian air will
quit him. He has promised to spend Christ
mas with us ten years hence. How did the
baby get on without me q
Spring came; but the General was not
we'll, and the. marriage was put off until
Christmas, but when autumn came the old
man was PROSTATE. He fingered SO nearly
TWO yours, Naee nursing 4lt!i, aHu w l+ef Ap
left his PROPERTY. Once or twice during his
he had asked for news of Brian, and
by his request the squire had written to re-
lations and friends, but no tidlpgs coald be
obtained.
"He might have had the grace to write"
said John, when he told the General the re-
su 1t ofhis inquiries, But the latter shook
his head.
ebay, John, he is right. He that put
teth his hand to the plough and looketh
back is not meet for the kingdom of heaven.
The poor boy has done well he will come
back in ten years, and when he does, tell
him I said So"
When the Generals welfare was over, and
the old soldier had answered his muster roll
Kate remained altopether at The Cedars !: