Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-10-03

me-, cried Vane, furiOus!y striding W
aud down the parlor.
You appear to be agitated," she
carelcssly remarked.
81 am" he replied. Good even ING y
Nv here are you goiug?" she asked.
TONG: | am going to engage rooms
IN lunatic asylumn'
II hope you will find them comforts
tie, she said ,oolly. as the door closed
on the form of the discomftted Vane.
81 have been too cruel" though,
Helen, as soon as Vane left the room. =
Il might have refused him without Wound
ing his amour propre. Yet lie had no
business to introduce my name at the
club. But | am afraid / have punish
ed that youthful indiscretion too severely
am sorry, too, for like the boy. Blu,
It won't hurt him-a little check in the
beginning only serves to render these
youths more ardent; he will return to the
contest With renewed vigor.i
Helen was right Vance returned in
very short time. He had scarcely left
the room when it occurred to him to re-.
turn aud pursue a different course of con.
duct. He had been actuated before
partly BY something like love and partly
by desire to win the bold bet that be
had made at the club; but now another
and more powerful incentive was added:
revenge ior the wound his vanity had re-
celved at the hands of the heartless fiirt
50 after walking half dozen squares
maturing bis plans for another and more
successful attack, he again resented him
self at Miss Hammond's door. She was
still in the parlor.
"W hat" exclaimed Helen, as Vane
entered, thought YOU had gone to en-
gage rooms In "a luna,ic asylum"
They refused to receive me without .
certificate from you" said Vane. .Buta
true to pleasantly. ! want to talk serious.
ly.
That will be new vein. But am
fond of novelty said Helen.
We'll, then, | came back to ask your
pardon; l acted hastily. nay, foolishly.-
:" hat you intended merely as politeness
construed into proof of affection, and
when | received the punish which
my presumption and folly justly merited,
| was angry, even rude. Still, Miss
Helen, think it was unkipd to wound
the vanity Of an old friend by affecting
sleep" Q
You surely cannot expect youn Q
lady to sit calmly and listen to words
waich come merely from the lips, and 10,
from The heart of the speaker. In other
words can you expect ME to allow myself
to be successfully tlirted with merely t,
crafty the vanity and conceit of young
mar?'
"Flirt." exclaimed Vane. What,
attempt to firt with the brilliant and
fascinating Helen Hammond. No, no; he
who hopes to win your hand is an am
bilious man; but he who attempts to alrt
with you is presumptious IDIOT"
Then you are one" said Helen. DID
you not boast, nay, even bet the other
night at the club, that you would pro-
pose and be accepted by the notorious
firs Helen Hammoud?'
This unexpected attack for moment
dlconcerted even the cool Vane. bot he
soon recovered himself and answered
with smile of concealed triumph:
Il did make such bet Miss Helen
but you are not aware of the ciroum
stances which led to it | heard YOU
accused and condemned as heartiess
hlrt whose only ambition it was to be
admired, whose chief pleasure it was te
intiict pain Alone I attempted to defend
you; but, opposed by dozen adversarie,
found | could do nothing, so offered tc
back my opinion by a wager-that
would either be accepted or else refused
In SO kind a maner as to prove that you
were not the heartiess woman the world
believed you to be. I lost my bet
Still he continued, taking her hand
which she made 10 effort to withdraw
still, cannot yet believe that contact
with the gay and fashionable world can
have changed you SO completely from the
sweet girl thasyou were few years since
Helen was silent for some moments,
during which sweet memories of the past
seemed to crowd themselves on her mind
"No, Charley, | am not quite the
heartlcss woman the world thinks me -
There are still some true and noble
sentiments in nay heart which your pres
ence and your words have awakened
Notwithstanding my apparent heart
lessness this evening, | am not indifferent
to the good friend who defended me al
the club"
Y ane was totally unprepared for this
tender admission For moment he was
silent and almost forgot his thought OF
revenge. But alas for poor human nature
it was only for an instant. He again re-
verified to the cruel manner in which his
declaration had been received, and re-
venge once more became the ruiz Dc pass
ion Of his heart.
mot Indifferent to me-" he said in a
soft and tender tone. Yes; but l re-
quire more. Do you think, Helen, you
could give up your books, your home.
the balls and parties you enjoy SO muoh /:
could you give up your old associations.
the charming society of Baltimore, the
many friends you have-could you give
up all these and 60 TO some wild and un-
congcnial soil with one who has only his
profession to depend upou?"
She leaned her head upon his shou lder
and sweetly whispered:
Il think I could, Charlie"
81 am glad to hear it" cried Vane.
My friend Tom Harris is looking for a
wife to accompany him to Texas. I will
mention your name to him. Good even
ing. Miss Helen continued the now
triumphant Vane; you are free now,
shall not disturb YOU Washington
Capital.
The longest bridge in the world is said
to be one the Mobile and Montgomerv