Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-12-20


1 They did not dream that she would have given
all this wealth and more too, had she possessed
it, to have exchanged places with them. Thus
it is, that in our blindness, we often envy the
things which we would most wish to shun.-
We forget that God knows what is good for
every one of His creatures
When the minister asked whether she would
love, honor and obey the man to whom she
was about to be joined for life, she said, slowly
and family after moments hesitation, and
with pause between the second and third
words-''I will try y speaking SO low, that
few besides the minister heard her, and those
who did attributed this strange reply to her
confusion, but they were wrong-she knew that
she did not love the man she was marrying,
and though the visible throng gathered there
could not read the recesses of her heart and
know this, yet there was another assembly,
even the angels of Heaven, looking down upon
| her that knew she was taking falsehood upon
her lips. if she promised to love the man whom
she scarcely respected-so she said II will
| try'-a promise which she resolved to keep.
When the ceremony was over and the bridal
pair had received the congratulations of their
| friends, they returned to Oak Vale where the
guests with dancing and other gay amusements
whiled away the hours, which flew by only too
swiftly for them a sr-a, s.lt an sria ooaI9
AS the young bride looked at their happy
faces and listened to their merry jests and
| laughter, she wondered why she was denied so
much of what they enjoyed. She felt as if
turning to stone, SO entirely destitute of feeling
did she seem to herself. The feeling all came
back with a rush the next morning, when as
she was preparing to leave for her new home,
her mother told her that Paul Vane had sailed
for Europe, and she cried out in her pain,
that her trial was too sore to be borne" 90 80
| Eight years more had passed aud Mrs Clar-I
ence Hope sat in her easy chair in her own
room. She was changed since we saw her last.
Her form has lost its fullness, and many and
deep are the lines which care and disease have
written upon her brow. Upon low stool at
her feet sat a boy Of six years, enough like her
to prove be was her child 'sMama," he was
saying, nurse told me yesterday that when
papa was living, he never stayed at home with
you, but instead, went out to dinner parties
and billiard saloons and left you alone. -.
s Nurse must not tell you such things, and
you must not listen to them if she does, she
answered almost sharply, as she was prevented
from saying more by the entrance of the house
keeper, who brought in the mornings mail.
e .'There is letter for you, Mrs. Hope," she
said, as she laid it down on the table.
Lorena reached forth her hand and took it
eagerly. Long years had flown away since last
she saw that handwriting. and yet how we'll
away with the house-keeper, she opened the
envelope, with trembling fingers, and unfolding
the paper, read
How Slowly has the time which have lived
without you flown away, Lorena. The SHOWS
of another winter are enshrouding the earth,
and still am lingerer in this vale of tears
But, though the snow is killing with its icy
touch the grass and the summer flowers, it can
not chill my affection for you. And here in
the solitude Of this twilight hour, the golden
days of our happy youth are borne back to me
upon the waves of memory, and though it
would be better to let the recollection Of those
have followed and will follow them as long as
earth pilgrimage lasts. / would not awaken
In your breast the chord of regret that trembles
in my own. o. 1t was stern and unyieidiDg duty
which rent the tie that bound our souls togeth-
er, and I blame you not. Though [ spoke
doubtfully of your faithfulness on that terrible
night, [ believed and still believe that you were
true to me It is all over now and it was for
the best. But for that | fear never would
have been brought back to my Heavenly
Father fold, nor have proclaimed the glad IL
dings of salvation to pershiDg souls. Life S
current is bearing US onward very swiftly, and
soon our forms will be crumbling into Dust and
! our souls will have met in the eternal world
| and the suffering we have gone through here,
will render that meeting al the sweeter.-
Thank God fc- ~ lis blessed hope. Adieu.
80 ' D,TTI -
rAvs-.
Again and again she perused and pondered
over that letter. And so the affliction had ac-
omplished that whereto God had sent it, and
he had learned the lesson OF submission to
! Heavens decree. Her sacrifice had not been
in vain and she did not regret having made it
| ,oh n hoH hor hod hoo h0
Instrument in God hands of obtaining for her
'ell-beloved an inheritance in the everlasting
agdom e9a o= .-a
She had been i'll for long time but had raj
| lie considerably within the last week, and this
was why she was allowed TO SIT up two hours
| to-day She glanced at her watch and saw
| these two hours had nearly expired, yet she
would take time enough IN write 70 Paul, While
| yet she had strength to do 50, which strength
might fail her tomorrow, and locking herself
in to prevent intrusion and producing her wri-
ting materials, she began: u81aa
DEAR PAUL IL And the unsteadlness of
her hand rendered the words almost illegible,
still she persevered. )-There is only the River
between me and home now am standing by
the waters edge waiting for the angel to come.
I Your letter is sweet solace to me in my last
!, hours, though / needed it not to assure me of
your fidelity, for it was my unwavering conf
'dence in that fidelity that sWeetened the cup,
which otherwise would have been too bitter to
drink Life has been full of thorns and almost
destitute of joys since last we met. but that is
all over now and | have loved you through it
all, and now am going home and would not
stay longer even for my boys sake. Thought
! il knew that his life were to be such as mine
/ should Gresa 20 cross the River, leaving him
on this side so unnttc;: iv fight tie battle of
| life. But his future is hidden :rc:,i me-per-
haps it is well, and now Paul, farewell. N
that beautiful land beyond the tide, shall
wait and watch for your coming
- LORENA''
That letter was to Paul Vane what green
and blossoming oasis is to weary traveller
across the barren desert, and cheered and re-
/, freshed by it, he pressed forward with renewed
courage over the waste of years that lay be-
| tween him and rest.
For the Spectator.
There are many who will remember Capt
Jas. Boyd Of the 25th Va. Infantry, who left
this county few years ago for Texas, where
| he studied law and was admitted to practice
under favorable auspices. His friends will be
grati6ed to see this notice of him, taken from
I the Frontiersman, published at Gatesvllle,
Texas.
Judge Osterhont has given very general
satisfaction to our people by his gentlemanly
bearing, and entire fairness on the bench, COM
bined with a ready knowledge of the law and
a disposition to enforce it In spirit Of mercy.
Those who expect to find in him the partisan
lawyer, if there are any such, will be agreeably
surprised to learn that he is an upright judge
and christian gentleman.
James Boyd, Esq.,, the District Attorney, is
| n vouno man accom- Mi he'd in his nrocass;on