Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-04-21

ting, and whispered, s'Oh, Nellie, Nellie. !.
thought to die SO happily, leaving him will
you, and now-'' She could say no more
out sob told the rest. 5s T
Poor sickly Anne! She had asked for SC
little in the world. and that little was deni
cd her. And she died so far away from the
| yiolets and primroses, tue scent of new,
mown hay, and the sound OF the sea al
Thorncombe.
x x < 4: !:
Very gently the Autumn glided away
passing INTO Winter. Then came ST ring
aud Summer again, bringing tune round to
the old point. and the year was gone
A christening ball at Druth Court OF
course the Nortons went and who Should
young Mr. Druth single out as partner
but Nellie. Yet he stopped da' cling soon
it was round danse-and led Nellie to-
ward the refreshment-room only toward it,
for he turued off in the hall au went quite
another way.
''Mss Norton, { am doing the rudest
thing he says. - take you away from
all the company into a little ssh tum of my
Wits where wish you to take charity 90 a
friend OF mine. He arrived ten minutes
ago. too tired for gayety, so I have put him
in place of refuge. then I ran up to see
what lady would do the inequalities of Drutl
for ne, and / fixed on you. Am L right :?
10 you min leaving the ball room to pour
out Tea for sick traveller I"
Nc. ind ed. l aln very Pleased, . said
4 :. ,I.,I
stranger
Stranger Oh, dear, no ; you are quite
an old fliend.''
His hand is on the door as he says this,
and. before she can speak or wonder, il
swings open. and she stands with affrighted
eyes and cheeks glowing with burning
bushes.
|'Bartelot, I have brought Miss Norton
to do the honors of Druth for Florence, who
is dancing with all The heavy weights of De-
Won Are you better, old fellow y
YES; thanks" But Darcy Druth has
not stopped to hear the thanks He is gone.
and the door Is shut Then that gauut
shadow and ghost Of Stephen Bartelot holds
out his hand ''Would you know me, Miss
Norton I am very changed in face"
Il should know you any where, ''Nellie
says, and she looks timidly into his worn
eyes. Her hand is still in his, and he
draws her gently toward him, his eager
looks deyouring her fair face.
'.You are beautiful as ever, Miss Nor.
ton"
And then. signing, he relinquished her
hand ABRUPTLY ~ a.,
There is great piers lass at Nellie's side,
and, afraid to look at him, she glances into
this, and sees the weary aspect of the man,
his work and travail, his gaunt Woe, aud all
the pains Of years and sorrows written on his
face she sees, too. her own fresh bloom,
and the rounded grace and loneliness of heI
untred wonanhood. With the vision
there darts into her heart great pang, ano
question, like fiery fame: Vino ha'
heen the real sufferer of these two? Wht
has toiled-who has borne the brunt Of th'
worlds battle-who has fought, and weari
ed often. yet fought again All, heavens
has she ever dared to think she had thorn
See this man scathed and SCARED, wear,
and worn-a conqueror, may be, but cou
queror with his beauty marred, the glory o
bis youth gone-perchance his health bro
ken. Stephen p she says, softly, am
tears start to her eyes.
Stephen Bartelot turned and looked upo
ker face. All her heart was there, and i
read it, He rose, he put his arm aroan'
her, and drew her head 10 his breast.
II was afraid you had forgotten me
Nellie" was all he said
"No. no. never A little pang for thu
small Inconsistency for Robert-a little smll
to think how foolish it was-aad Nelli
raises her head shyIy. As she raises it, b
stoops, aad-"ell yes, their lips met.
Nellie. three years ago gave you
sealed heart, but the seal is broken now an
you may read it ali if you will"
But there IS nc time for more; servan
enter. then Darcy .Drutb, and Lady Flo
ence, and soon it is time to go.
As they say GOOD night" Stephe
whispers, Il shall cone for an answer tt
morrow"
Dear me p says Mis-. Norton in tt
carriage, WAS that young Mr.. Bar'elot
caught a glimpse OF as we drove away =
He's sadly altered"
In her own room, Nellie seiz"s the lit
packet and breaks the seal on the heart
last. Then, out drops letter-a tiny fol
ed letter: .,-
"DEAR NELLIE:
Il leave you in keen distress. My fat
er is ruined, dishonored man, yet a
not without the hope of saving him. L {
to give all the energies Of my mind to th
purpose. If succeed, come back OF
day to Thorncombe to ask you to be n
Wife ] cannot tell you why [ build up'
the hope of your love, yet l do; and in tt
hope l think 1 shall conquer. Nellie, n
whole love, my whole heart is yours but
dare not tell you SO, for, if my father
House fails, I shall be so bankru
in fortune, that I shall never try to see yc1
face again. In this uncertainty it would
cruel, dishouorahle to speak Of love. Y
my heart, sealed in silence though it be.
yours, and put my whole happiness
your hands now as fully as shall q trus
in that future day, when the seal is krok e
Dear Nellie, l leave you free ; but love b
its superstirions, and mine is that you W
not forget me. You called ME your vale
tine this morning, and that little word b
given the idea of sending you this seal
heart holding, untold, all my love, al
, something of my folly. You will open TIL
and read it. when my lips have already to
its secret Give me an answer then, NJ
lie, and may heaven grant me strength
bear it. if you have by that time forgotte
, , STEPHEN BARrELoT.
Down upon her knees, with the pap
tight against her breast, OR held close up
her lips, while her tears wetted it, Mel
thanked heaven, and wondered at herse
: with sea upon sea of thoughts rising, swe
!, ing. sinking all round her soul, till it see
ed faint with joy and praise.
o All this time-this long dreary time. s
It had such treasure as this in her keepln