Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-05-19

| There is a passage in holy writ which
says =: ''There is no fear in love, but perfect
love casteth cut fear, because fear hath tor
mcnt. He that feareth is not made perfect
in earthly love-" She knew no fear II
would be hard for him to be away two years
longer, but if he desired it, she should not
complain. ,-...-..T
/ She had already lent him, so great had
been his extravaganza, every penny of her
principal
She took up her pen and thus wrote:
Rupert, God alone knows how much |
long for you each day, but if it is your wish
to remain away two years more, do not let
me deter you You know father did not
leave me as we'll provided for as was anti
cipated, and now all is gone but the home
stead If you think the two years neccesa-
/ ~, I will mortagege it"
| He did not think two more years requl-
site, but he wrote so touchingly about her
sacrifice that it seemed almost as if he was
comforting favor on her by taking it, than
her on him by giving.
It was mortgaged. Every dollar she
realized was sent to him. Her own servant
she had dispensed with all but one-was
discharged Then she stood alone. What
was she to do
She could not appeal to her sister; she re-
membered the taunts that her sister had ex-
tended her.
She went out and procured a situation as
governess in wealthy family, one of her
old friends. Public indignation became in
tense Judge Atherton's daughter COVER
ness ! People blamed her for her folly, but
she smiled serenely Her reward was yet
to come She believed Rupert's fame
would compensate her for Ill I!
Two years passed away, and even she
could not deny to herself that she had failed
greatly during that times Then letter
came to her it said :
"My patient dove, [ am coming at last.
Be ready for me in May Write me one
m ire letter %
Accompanying it was paper containing
a notice of him and his great medical skill
American papers congratulated themselves
upon having such rare acquisition to the
medical fraternity She read and wept tears
Of joy.
lie Was COMING DIT laot
ssYou must not be surprised" she said
in her responsive epistle, "to find me much
changed I think my health has failed du-
ring the past two years quite rapidly
All to how many hearts such an an
uouneement would have carried terror
She knew the name Of the ship in which
he was to sail. and watched the slow, seem
ingly endless days 60 by.
She was full of peace and joy +; he was
coming-she was content. Those that
knew her said her face wore the expression
of an angel Be that as it might-her
heart wore the happiness Of one.
She heard when the steamship arrived.
They only lived twenty miles distant-sure
he would come the next day. But the next
day came, and the next, and the next, and
he came not.
She saw his name among the arrivals )
was he sick She was tempted to go down
and see, wien gentleman called upon her.
81 have seen your friend, DR. Kingsland,
in the city," he said HE. told me to in
form you that he had been detained, and
would soon be up"
The announcement took one pang from
her heart only to add another. He was
well-she thanked God for that, but could
she have been within twenty miles of him
for a week without sending him some mes
sage?
That was all the repro ch she allowed her
gentle heart to make, while she formed a
thousand excuses for his cruel neglect.
Two weeks went past, and they number
ed three Then note came, which com
menced as fellows
"My dear friend, feel as if can say to
you, through note, that which wish to
say, better than face to face. Estellc, you
have been my best friend, my good samari-
tan, and am sure you will rejoice at my
happiness. I was married last night to
Miss Morse. You remember her A young
lady of wealth, beauty and good position in
society.
She read no more. Some one in the ad
joining room heard heavy fall, and rushed
in They found her on the floor, apparent
ly dead. They picked her up and sent for
a physician.
"A severe shock )" was his conclusion -
ssShe is dying of the heart disease"
She became sensible again, but her heart
was utterly broken. Seven years of wait
ing and then the false-hearted lover had
left her-left her, alter squandering her
property, to die in misery "a.
Even then she uttered no complaints
She had all his letters, little keepsakes, and
every trife pertaining to him brought to
her. She bound them up and addressed
them to him.
cafe I am gone send them to him, "
she said.
A week later they laid her away, and full
filled her request.
He began to practice early, and his sue
cess was wonderful, despite the notoriety
which his falsehood had brought upon him.
On the first day after he returned from
Europe, Mary Morse gave a party. She
made her brother promise to watch DR..
Kingsland, and bring him up with him.
s'See if don't win him from that faded
Estelle Anterior p she exclaimed before he
met her
And she did SO. His tickle heart easily
proved recreant to every vow of love, every
tie Of honor.
Two years after, she was about to 60 down
flight Of stairs, when she uttered loud
shrek, and fell forward to the bottom.
When she became conscious, she said (:
"Estelle Anterior stood at the foot of the
stairs p
Whether it was merely delusion of her
guilty conscience or not we can never know.
Any way the fall fractured her spine, and
until this day she is miserable, repining,
cross, faded invalid, frightened to be left
alone for a moment. And she is con-