Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-04-14

'tHeaven pity mel" The words came lik
wall from her lips. She was alone in thu
chamber, flung PROSTATE upon low couel
with her face hid in the cushions. TIL,
sound of the rustling foliage of the garden
and the cAirping of the birds, came through
the open window with the damp evening
breeze. and the pale light of the rising
moon filled the room with a soft radiance
but she was unconscious Of everything bu
misery. The house was so quiet that the
sound of a footstep crossing the hall below
fell upon her ear, and aroused her to mo.
mentary interest She heard door open,
the library d or, and then a voice uttered a
few woras Of common place greeting. She
remembered it well, and sprang to her feet
with desperate, insane thought Of flight.
But the door closed, the house was still
again, and she was calmer
She crossed the room listlessly and drew
the curtain of the window. The scene with.
out was beautiful. The moonlight lay
broadly on the garden, turning to silver the
tops of the trees, and making the little lake
beyond look like great white pearl. Gaz-
ing earnestly do INWARD she saw tall, shad-
owy figure standing beneath the shade of
the old elm With low cry she sprang
| from the room, and, moment after, stood
beside her lover.
Come at last, my treasure" cried Mark
Winchester. folding her in his arms. She
remained leaning passively against his
breast, while he pressed passionate kisses
upon her forehead, cheeks and lips
why have you made me wait so long,
darling ?" he said softly and taking both
her slender hands in one of his, he pressed
them to his lips. "Why how cold you are
How you tremble." he continued, as she
chung to him "What is the matter,
MayY'
81 waited because dreaded to meet you,
Mark"
"Why? What do you mean ~
And, brokenly through her tears and
sobs, she told him all. He did not stir
while she was talking; and when she had
finished there was long silence. She
lacked courage to say more--he woull not
ask She repeated the last words, ''and to-
morrow must give him my answer" Still
he did not speak.
She looked up at him. In the dim light
she could see his rigid, agonized face, white
lips, and cleaning eyes. She stole her
arms about his neck, and drew his forehead
down to her lips.
ssSpeak to me, Mark say that you do not
blame me-
He knew then that she had decided, and
what that decision was.
"And you will leave me May, and marry
that old man p
"Heavcn pity me, Mark, for must [
will become his wi e, and [ will be true and
faithful to him, for he will be kind to me.
You will hear of me thus, and when you do,
remember my words, Mark, that yoI have
my heart.
II will remember, May. Ccd help us
both, for shall never forget you. They
shall bury me with this upon my heart - =
And he drew tress of soft brown hair from
his bosom.
For moment more-one little, precious
moment h. held her against his heart, and
then kissed her, put her gently from him,
and was gone,
For moment she stood alone under the
trees, with clasped hands and face appraised
to the quiet sky, and then she turned and
walked silently towards the house A light
from the library window streamed down on
her, and as she looked up, she saw the
shadow Of bowed figure fall across the
curtain.
'Father, you are saved p she murmured.
A hand was laid suddenly on her arm,
and she started with low cry
"Good evening, Miss May" said Colonel
Leighton II have been seeking you"
She bowed, and stood silently before him
with a calm, downcast face.
81 have been talking to your father" he
continued, careessly pulling a rose from a
bush near them s'He tells me that you
have promised to think of my proposal, and
lot us know what your decision is to.mor-
row. Is there anything I can say which
will influence you to form that conclusion in
my favor?"
"You cannot say anything which will in
fuence me in the least, Colonel Leighton.
AS my father has said, you shall have my
answer tomorrow"
lie glanced at the young face, so sad in
its calm dignity, and then looked down at
his fingers again, which were busted in tear
| ir to pieces the blossom he held, and al
lowing the crimson petals to fall to his feet,
as if they were fragments Of the heart he
was breaking. In the long silence that fol-
lowed she glanced up at him once with the
thought of finging herself upon his mercy
by giving him her confidence. but the stern
expression of his face repealed her.
miss May" he said, suddenly, you are
averse to this marriage"
His tone aided in rendering his words ar
assertion She was startled, but replied
quietly, ''Do you think SO p
II must be blind if could think other
WISE" he continued, with sudden energy
"May Warren, you know that you hate
me-that you would die rather than become
my wife, were it not for your fathers sake
Before she realized what she was doing
! the monosyllable Eyes" slipped from he
lips.
"And in doing this, do you realize how
you would wrong us both p
She was silent.
cit shall never be. I will never call 20,
MY wife, knowing that you do not love MI
that yoar heart is not in my keeping.
will not tell you of my hopes, how | hav
dreamed that my last days would be m.
happiest ones--it would not interest you
Now l have only to say that you are as FREE
as if had never seen your sweet face"
He paused for reply, but she mad
none. Bewildered by her position, she die
not know what to say
II know that have only myself to re
proach,' he went on. "My motive in Of
seriug your father my assistance was pure