Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-02-09

LOVE AND PRIDE.
BY BIRDIR BELL.

ne the right to your full confidence, Edith.
And l believe that an engagenen
should no longer exist when one party
mistrusts the other 'ir I. =. II
lido not mistrust you, but think 20,
ought to give an explanation Of a circum
stance SO PECULIAR ,tca ii .2sTsE ...,:
For all answer, Edith Tudor drew {
ring from her forefnger and steadily held
it towards Raymond ,Warburton. n
Edith y he exclaimed, while darl
flush overspread his cheeks and temples. :
Our engagement is over Her voice
was low, but calm and measured. L DE-
not choose to explain what you consider
SO peculiar. will not be accountable
even to yoa, for all my actions So let
the past three months be blotted from your
memory, as | shall erase them from mine.
With a proud gesture, Edith Tudor
laid the ring upon the card-table before
her, and walked toward the door, which
she opened. and then stood coldly waiting
the departure Of Raymond Warburton.
He looked at her facet was white and
still as marble; not culver disturbed its
expression.
Raymond's spirit being fully as naughty
as that of the girl before him. he spoke
not Ole dissenting word but, taking the
ring, hs bowed himself out of the room,
and in second the street door closed
upon him. ..-- ~a
Not till the sound Of its shutting reached
her did the features of Edith relax from
their eoldness but when she knew he
was, indeed, gone. her forced composure
gave way, and, clasping her hands with
passion and pain, she cried .s." o..
oh, Frank ! Frank What more
what more? You have broken my heart !
Up and down the apartment she walked
with restless steps, sometimes clasping and
unclasping her hands, then again stop
ping for u moment while she buried her
lin her trembling palms ; but her grief
brought no tears-it seemed too deep to
stir those fountains of relief. - g..
While Edith was struggling to overcome
her emotion, Raymond was striding with
fierce steps to bis rooms. He had passion
ately loved Edith Tudor, with all the
strength ola very strong nature. The
TWO were very much alike in character
proud, exacting. self-willed. passionate !;
yet. withal, theirs was the spirit to do au-
to dare great things. They had BEEN emp
gagged but short time, and as yet, none
Of the their friends knew of the relation
which existed between them. ...-- -.-
A day or SO previous to their quarrel
aud parting. gentleman had mentioned
to Warburtou the fact that he had been
much surprised, while walking through
one of the city parks. after dark. to OBJ
serve lady hurrying in front of him, and
that, just as he reached her, he preceived
man rise from bench close by and join
her. As he passed taem, the light from
lamp fell upon the lady's face, and dis
closed the features of Edith Tudor. The
man was shabby and dissipated in appear
ance, but evidently knew Edith we'll, from
the familiar way in which he accosted
her. Hl'-its 2' 3~f' sI
This was the peculiar circumstance
which Raymond desired explained, but
which Edith steadily refused to do
With all the jealousy of his exacting
nature aroused, Raymond went from her
presence, resolving to cast out the love
he had Sc t in his heart as his treasure
for life. That night he slep but little,
and, the next day. made plans for hasty
departure for Europe. 'efh -
In week he sailed, and Edith Tudor
listened, with calm face but fercely
throbbing heart, while lady friend de-
scanted on the great .strangeness of Mr..
Warburlon's going to Europe just as every
one thought he had settled himself for the
winter. ~ a 43#
But, in month, even the grief Of this
rupture with her lover was swallowed up
in the greater sorrow Of the death of ner
father. But when Edith Tudor found
that not only was she left sad and DESC
late orphan, but that poverty was also
added to her trouble-that she, who had
been SO tenderly nurtured, was now oblig-
ed to earn the food she would eat and the
clothes she would wear-then, indeed,
did all that was strong and noble in her
soul sprung up aud assert. itself. The
bread Of dependence shs would not eat,
so she left the gay world. which had once
been 80 glad to do her homage, and.
buried in obscurity. toilel aud struggled
with the accomplishing patience Of q
proud nature.
Raymond Warburton remained Ia Eu-
rope two years, and then, 6niing that the
face Of Che only woman he had ever loved
sill haunted him amidst The splendoss
aud gaieties Of its most fashionable resorts,
be resolved to lie wanderer no longer,
but to return to his native city.