Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-06-11

place of the bitter feeling. All Kate, i
you had but then and there banished forever
the desire to trife, all might have been we'll.
Encouraged by the fattering attention be-
slowed upon him, young Lee called often at
the residence of Kate, and one afternoon,
shortly after the night of the ball, the two,
seated in superb carriage, drawn by a
splendid pair of prancing bays. drove by the
young lawyers Office
"HalIo !! look there! exclaimed Ned
Thompson, a friend of Vane, who at that
moment happened to be in the office, "that
looks as though young Lee intends to storm
the castle and carry off your lady love right
from under your very eyes. But have an
engagement to fill, " he went on as he noticed
the panied look that came over his friends
face, land must therefore bid you good
day" .a ps s
A long while the young lawyer sat in
deep thought after his friend left him-the
look of pain still visible on his face. Long
and deeply he pondered. Then change
came over his countenance, and rising, ne
took down his hat drew on his gloves, and
with long rapid strides. set out for the res
idence of his betrothed.
Kate had not been long in from the drive
with young Lee, and answered Vane's ener-
getic ring in person, She ushered him into
the handsomely furnished parlor, and taking
seat beside him, playfully asked him why
he looked 50 grum.
II hardly know how to approach sub
iect so delicate he answered, "but you
know, dear Kate, that | love you fondly,
dearly, and that my chief desire is to make
you happy therefore you will excuse me if
I talk rather plainly, for rest assured it is
my love for you that prompts me to do it.
You are young and thoughtless, and do not
take note Of your actions as others DO. For
the past few days there has been considers
bic gossip afoat concerning yourself and
Mr.. Lee, and it grieves me sorely to hear
your actions publicly commented upon. Do
not think me exacting when I say that it is
my wish and I think it for your good that in
the future you should be less free with Mr..
Lee"
AS Vane finished speaking Kate angrily
rose from her seat, and snatching the spark
ling engagement ring from her finger, flung
it at his feet, exclaiming
"Thcre; sir, take back your ring, and
with it the VOWS you made me. From this
moment I will be free-free to go with
whom I please without being lectured by
you. And there is the door, sir. Go, and
never trouble me with your presence again. %
A moment Vane stood as if struck dumb,
and then turning his eyes, full Of sorrowful
reproach and tenderness, upon her, said !:
Farewell! and may heavens choicest
blessings rest upon you--may you never be
called upon to drink Of the cup that | am
now draining to the very dregs!" and with
one last lingering look at the fair being, he
turned and left the room.
A moment she stood and gazed at the
spot he had just quilted, and then sank
weeping to the floor. Bitterly, indeed, were
the hasty words Of a moment before repent
ed of, but repentance came too late,
The next day Kate sent tiny note round
to Vane's office, begging that he would for
give her for the shameful conduct of the day
before that she had, oh how bitterly, re-
pented of, and that she would be pleased to
have him call that evening, as she could new
er rest contented without his forgiveness.
The word brought back by her messenger,
who also brought her unopened note, sent
the life blood receding from her bert. Vane
had sailed for Europe.
Three years passed by, during which time
Kate heard often through her friends Of the
distant traveller, her once scorned lover,
Morton Vane From the time of Vane's
departure from the city, Kate was changed
being Immediately after her rude conduct
drove Vane from her presence, she quietly,
yet firmly dismissed Mr.. Lee, and from that
time forth she never once resumed the old
habit of trifing The third summer after
Vane's departure, Kate spent with Miss
Ettna Raymond, who lived at the old home.
stead in an adjoining county, and while
there she learned that there had been a reg
ular correspondence carried on between Vane
and the heiress ever since the formers de-
parture abroad
"A month after Hates return to the city,
her father brought in the daily paper and
pointed the following paragraph :...a
"HoME AGAIN We learn from good au-
tuOilty tilat NuOl IoH v uu0, d III uiSi iVoiuoHo
of this place, who for the past three years
has been travelling abroad, reached this city
late last evening" t...r.,-
Kate read the paragraph through, gave
the paper to her father, and without word
left the room She ccould not bear other
eyes to witness her emotion at the moment.
A few weeks later as Kate was standing
in the doorway, the newsboy came along
distributing the morning papers, Kate ran
out and picked up the paper the boy flung
in at the gate, and carelessly glanced over
its columns until her eyes rested upon the
following notice: ri....,ai s. r....
"MARR1ED.- On the evening Of Deem
Der I'd, 1856, at the residence of the brides
cousin, by the Rev. E. P. Smith, Mr.. Nor
ton Vane, to Miss Ettna Raymond ID.
With many sad and bitter thoughts of the
past and Of what might have been, Kate
read the marriage notice, and bowling her
fair head in sorrow upon her ieweled hands,
mentally acknowledged that her punishment
was just. .a j.. H.,
Stopped his Paper.
ILL., c,1Jo,r.n,, c,,.,Joto oc Al, 1nlo M,