Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-06-04
ituation. giving nv mothers name, Foster

situation, giving my mothers name, roster.
The lady, Mrs. Norris, was satisfied with
my attainments and engaged me. She was
about removing to this city, and | entered
her service with thankful heart, glad to be
leaving my old useless life behind ME. [
have been with her ever since; she is kind
to me, and am content"
'sAnd is that all ?" said William.
eyes, that is all what more can | tell I"
s'What more ? All! Hope, you forget;
what of the weary days and lights Of weep
ing when you heard that the friend you loved
was married and when your father tried to
force on your acceptance man you hated 7"
'sBut all that and more Hope has hidden
in her heart" "
"Wen, thank heaven !" said William, af-
ter short silence, that is over and now,
Hope, you are mine entirely"
She did not answer, for Hope was proud
and she had been thinking that perhaps
William had only asked her to marry him
from generosity. If he had been the poor
clerk aud she the rich heiress. how gladly
would she have taken him but now their
positions were reversed. ''He knows [ am
poor" thought she, land he may sacrifice
himself for MY sake and repent of it after
ward"
''William," she said aloud, in a faltering
voice, lido not think me ungrateful, but [
am no wife for you now. might have been
once, but am not the girl you knew and
loved years ago. am now nearly thirty
years old, and woman who has suffered too
much to retain the freshness of mind and
heart which your wife ought to possess, for
you are still a young man, and deserve a
younger, fairer wife than L." ...s. IF 3.
'Hope," said he, looking at her with as
constituent, edo I hear you Alright ? You
surely do not mean what you say; have |
not told you that every thought and wish l
have had for the last ten. years has been for
you? 1 may truly say that I have served
for you, and now when come to claim my
Rachel you give me a Leah instead. A
younger wife Iwant no wife but you, Hope
Ainslie, if you were fifty instead of thirty.
You will be my wife; will you not, little
Hope :" and his voice grew tremulous as he
spoke. 4..s r. - Il. i. la9as asu
Who could resist such pleading? But
Hopes pride was still i'll the ascendant; she
would say him nay though her heart should
break with the effort .sl4 ITS. b.
Il cannot" she said s'you must not
sacrifice yourself for me-" and she rose from
her seat
William Douglas started from her side
els this your answer, Hope ?"
YES" she said, in a trembling voice
He folded his arms across his breast as
if to keep down the rising passion
every well, my search is ended, and have
found not the tender, noble woman [ expect
ed, but one cruel and heartless, who thinks
nothing of the past, but destroys my future
without remorse, and all for pride. Do you
see that vessel, Hope 2" pointing to the pic
ture, ''that will be my life without you, an
utter wreck. Crushed yes, that is the
word, crushed" and he clcnched his hand,
''by woman as cold and remorseless as the
icebergs; but so be it. Goodbye, Miss
Ainslie I leave you to what you consider
your duty, no doubt" and he turned to 60
Hope trembled from head to foot; her
heart cried out against this sacrifice of her.
self to her pride. s'Oh do not let this no.
bic soul, this generous heart go from you !"
it said, ''you love him, why condemn your
self and him to lifelong misery Call him
back =; it will soon be too late.''
Hope obcyed these promptings, although
the struggle was great between her pride
and her affection.
William she said, softly.
Il. Il IL
the faint whisper and turned toward her.
She held out her hand.
"Take me, William, if you think me
worth having, old and faded as ! am :"
He took both the little hands in his and
held them fast; he dared not press her to his
heart in that place, and with Master Harry
staring with all his eyes, and making up his
mind to acquaint his mother with the whole
proceeding,
1t was dark when they reached the street,
but what mattered it.; Hope had strong
arm to lean On and warm and tender hand
to clasp hers-a protector, in short, who
would never fail her as long as she lived.
"Ah little Hope" said he, as they
walked slowly through the dark streets, II
knew you would not let me 60 from you.-
Confess that you could not have lived with
out me after seeing me again
Hope laughed softly. II don't choose to
make you vain by any such confession; but,
William, no one but you would have cared
for me now without you confess 1 should
have been hopeless old maid. g
Nonsense, Hope, you are lovelier than
eyeri lovely is the word that suits you
mere prettiness is nothing in my eyes,"
o. William Douglas pressed more closely
the hand that rested on his arm He was
content, his long search was over, the hap
piness was within his grasp. The young
ladies who had seen him that evening in the
art-gallery, looking 50 stern and grave,
would hardly have known him now, 50 radi-
ant was his face, sojoyous his whole bearing !;
and they would have wondered at his admi-
ration for that little pale-faced woman when
he had disdained GLANCE at their more bril-
liant and youthful charms. But he saw in
Hope Ainslie whole treasures Of mind and
heart, which would never fade or grow less,
but would outlast all the rosy cheeks and
sparkling eyes in the world Cultivate
these, young ladies'; and when the rosy
cheeks grow pale and the lustrious eyes lose
tAeir brightness, you will still be beautiful,
and your presence will be sought by those
whose friendship is worth having, and whose
affection will last as long as you live
Long before our friends reached their des-
tination, poor, tired Harry was fast asleep
in Mr.. Douglas arms, still holding the
watch tightly grasped in his little hand
WILLIAM nl was enabled 70 make lis peace with
Mrs. Norris when he presented himself with
his sleeping burden; and she was obliged to
consent to the loss Of her valuable governess
sometime in the Spring. They are to live in