Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-05-24
SELECTED STORY
WHICH WAS THE HEIRESS.

| AIA&SA Eu Aa@SSs
A fair, slender girl, with the golden hal
blown away from the blue veined forehead
and a soft violet light shining in her eyes
and she stood there, living picture, frame
in by creeping vines and swinging sprays O
clematis-that was the last glimpse tina
Henry Dalmayne caught of Llias Raymon
on the summer evening when he went ava,
! to seek his fortune.
He had found it already, in IL certain
sense-in so far as man may find treasur
trove in the rich abundance of woman
love ; for Lilias loved him, and Lilias's hear
was gold mine in itself.
She turned and went back into the house
with the glistening dew Of tears upon hel
cheek and mournful culver on her lip.
"How silly I am p she murmured to her
self at will be but for year or two a
the fu,thest, and he has much more TO en-
dure aud battle with than I.
And Lilias repincd at the fate assigned te
her in the great play bill of the world L
was hard to realize the truth of the blind
poets W. rds, that 'tbey also serve who on
Iy stand and wait.
Ii she could have worked to earn money
and bel p him if she might,. also have beer
privileged to bear weapon in the strife
Alas it is so hard to count the seconds
which must clapse ere the crisis of our fate
dawns upon the leadep horizon of life.
So Henry Dalmayne went 10 London
and Lilias stayed behind to bear the separa
ton as best she might
"Eugaged, eh p growled old Mr.. Peck
ham, Henry's maternal uncle, whose skin
had turned yellow With the reflection o.
much gold, and whose heart was harder
than the marble of which his mansion was
built. "Nephew, you're fool p Engaged
at two and twenty"
"But, uncle Ralph, she is the sweetest
girl that ever you saw!"
s.Sweetest girl! Sweetest fidale-sticks ?
roared the irate old gentleman. *Ihefe
there, don't talk sentiment to me, I've nc
patience with it."
Henry was silent. The glitter of the
frescoed ceilings-the flash Of silver and cut
glass-the exquisite aroma of the rare red
wine, and the velvet flush of hot house
peaches, became distasteful to him, all al
once. Uncle Peckham had promised to
make his fortune for him-but Henry mas
not at all sure that he wanted his f'rtane
made on these terms One glance, one
smile from Lilias-were they not worth all
these hollow pageantries p
Here" said uncle Ralph, tossing card
across the table. 1--we got you an invita-
ton to Lady Brucc's party tonight. You'll
meet some people there that are worth the
knowing"
Henry Dalmayne hesitated /; it was the
evening be had set aside in each week fos
writing to Lilias She would miss her let
ter-but, after all it would only be one days
delay He could write as we'll upon the
next night.
So Henry Dalmayne went to Lady Bruce's
under the wing Of his uncle, the wealthy
stockbroker.
"Well," quoth uncle Peekham, when
the festivities were over, and they were once
more sitting beside the fire that shone anc
sparklcd like deep hued rubies beneath the
carved arabesques Of the marble .mantel II
the rich mans dining room; chow do yor
like Sarah Esterbrook p
every we'll, sir ?"
every well p sareastieal)y mimicked Mr.
Peckham. ''Do you know that her father
is worth quarter of a million p
els he, sir p
SIS he, sir Henry :" reared the ole
gentleman Il believe you're fool. Why
there are score of the wealtbiest young
men in town who would give half they pos
sess-say, the whole of it, if need be-fol
the smiles and glances Miss Esterbrool
vouchsafed to you this very night"
"She was rather polite, sir, said, Henry
with rather puzzled look "but-'
"Polite! And pray what would you have
Mr.. Dalmayne? Do you want woman t.
tell you out and out, in SO many words
that she likes you, before you can take
hint p
Henry colored like girl. 1t was impos
sible to be quite insensible to the charm Q
this Aattery, the more especially as uncl
Peckham was not ordinarily one who "bu'
tered his phrases as the expression goes
eyes, my boy went on the stock hold
er, tapping the table emphatically, with hi
finger ends, ''she does like you And In
not the only person that has noticed it."
"But, uncle, she is so plain p
"What of that ? All women can't b
Venuses, and the prettiest of 'em have
grinning skull and cross bones under thei
pink and white skins and fair ezterlors.
Beauty is only skin deep"
Henry thought of pretty Lllias, with
thrill of tender recollection. Miss Estel
brook, with all her golden charms could ne'
err hope to rival her.
Yet, as the weeks went by, his thought
and ideas insensibly changed.
The yellow lustre of the gold. worShlppln
atmosphere in which he lived seemed
wrap him round the surface glitter Of soci
ty ideas gradually uprooted the ola dogm'
axioms of his youthful faith. And one ev
ming, carried away by the witchery and e
chantment of the hour, be proposed TO Sara
Esterbrook, and was accepted.
Congratulations poured in upon him tt
next day
You're the luckiest dog going, d.
!. mayne," cried one: .hooo
II only wish I were in your Shoes
echoed second and Henry, dazzied
! the brilliancy of his prospects, believed tt
/. ,.a ,o.ll,, n moot fortunate man.