Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-03-03

that her husband had said nothing to be
about it.
e "Chares," she said when he came HON
+ to dinner, 'whcre were you going out Q
town to day p
'EHow did you know was out of town !?
he asked a little sharply.
miss Priscilla Forbes saw you start
II wish Miss Priscilla Forbes would b.
kind enough to mind her own business"
Alice was silent for a moment then sht
asked:
''Did you find suitable place for the
children ?"
mo" was the brief reply
Alice inquired no further-she felt hurt
and resentful, and Charles paid not attention
to her silence If he could only have wit
messed the passionate burst of tears to which
she gave way by the couch Of her little
ones.
The farm house to which she and her
children were to be banished for the sum.
mer was not a particularly inviting spot
we'll shaded, however, stream of running
water through the grounds and plenty of
fresh milk and vegetables. But Alice
Lynde felt the lack of cheerful and congeni-
al society and pinned secretly, even while
Frank and Carry and little Lucy were
growing sunburned aad rosy and healthy.
Il wish Charles could spend more Of his
time here" thought she And it was scarce
ly to be wondered at that she REQUIRED some
times with thrill of yearning to the old
days when she was an heiress, under the
spreading linden trees Of Beech Grove -
! For Charles Lynde's sake she had given up
her beautiful home-had dared her uncle's
threat-afterwards carried relentlessly into
effect-of disinheritance had submitted to
all the trials and evils which must necessari-
ly surround a poor mans wife-and now
| Charles left her alone to amuse herself as
best she might.
So while the children grew fat and rosy
Alice grew thin and pale.
HE will come tonight" she thought
one Saturday evening, as she brushed her
| glossy golden hair into the shining bands
he best liked, and put on his fayorite blue
muslin dress, with long turquoise pin in
the ribbons that set off the transparent white
ness of her throat. "Oh it seems an age
since saw him last'''
But instead of her husbands presence,
the up train from New York brought only
note hurried and brief:
DEAR ALICE 81 cannot came up to-
night-business is too pressing. Love to
the children. c. L.
The note fell from Alice's fngers-a sick
ening sensation came over her heart.
And [ had watched for him so anxious
". Oh! Can it be possible that he has
ceased to love me ? me who CAV, up every
thing for his sake!
On Monday letter from DR. Carson was
brought to Mrs. Lynda letter iuclosing
letter for her husband.
''Please give this to Mr., Lynde," wrote
the doctor Il was at his Office twice on
Saturday afternoon, trying to find him, but
the we're closed and the clerk told me he
had gone into the country Tell him he's
a lazy fellow to neglect his business when it
is making him rich so fast.
Alice LIZ nde read the words three times
over before she fairly took in their whole
meaning.
''He has deceived me,' she though
at was not the convenient plea of business
that kept him away from NE Oh !! Char
les, Charles and has it come to this ?"
She sat down, still clasping the letter in
her unconscious hand, and gazed vacantly
out upon the sunny landscape that lay be-
fore her
eff it were not for the children, if it were
not for my little ones, [ would 60 away ana
never look upon his face more He loves
me no longer-the affection | so blindly
deemed my own is transferred to some other
object-and why should [ care what be
comes of me? Only-th, children p
And as blue eyed Garry ran up to her to
ask her some triaing q''estion, Mrs LYME
drew the child closer to her heart and burst
iuto tears.
I 'Mama !" exclaimed the astonished lit
tie girl, "why do you cry =? Are you sick,
mamma p
Sick yes,' sobbed poor Alice, Il am
sick of living. am sick at heart child. y
And the plentiful shower OF tears helped
to relieve her overcharged heart.
81 will eniure it for the sake Of these
little ones will suffer on and try to be
si.ent," thought Alice, pressing both hands
over her aching bosom.
The next week Mr. Lynde was to come
and bring his family home. Alice looked
forward to the day with a sick anticipation
"a shrinking expectation. She longed for
the hour of their meeting and yet she dread
ed it.
In this nervous state of excitement she
came to the door, leading little Lucy as the
carriage wheels granted over the stony coun-
try road, and stopping before the old fash
toned portico.
But Charles was not there--only the dri-
yer, who touched his hat with an awkward
attempt at politeness, as be descended from
the box.
elf you please, ma'am. Mr.. Lynde
could not come-but he'll be there to meet
you"
More neglect Alice answered not wore
but the hands with which she tied the blue
ribbons of Lucy's hat trembled sorely, and
her lip would culver, in spite of the resolute
little white teeth that held it down
The little ones laughed and chatted, and
played in the carriage as it rolled along, ex
claiming loudly at the various objects OF
the road Alice leaned back in the corner
pale and silent, seeing nothing but the fan
tastic visions of her own fevered mind
Once or twice the idea crossed her brain
that the journey was rather longer than sh'
expected, but she cid not reason at all up
on the subject, relapsing at once into he
painful reflections
"Mamma Oh mamma what prett.
place T. chorused the three children at once
= ssThere is tall white statue back of those Fl
trees, and a fountain all sparkling like dia
: mands, and oh, mamma, such beautiful bed