Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-05-24

For, according to the popular rumor b
was going to marry one of the richest Cir
IN London. And Uncle Peckham took t
himself all the credit for the whole affair
''This is better than plodding on one
whole life behind counting house desk
cried Ralph, joyously rubbing together hi
lean and wrinkled palms. GA young mai
OF enterprise and resolution can accomplish
anything he sets about nowadays. Espe
clally if, like you, Dalmayne, he happens t
be tolerably decent looking"
A man does not usually degenerate int
villain all at once; and when Henry Dial
mayne sat down to write to Lilias
his frame Of mind was probably far from
envlable. But he got the letter writer
somehow. He wrote that no answer woule
be expected and no answer came.
Three months after, just as the prepare
tons for the much talked.of Esterbrook Dial
mayne wedding were eliminating, be
Glanced to meet John Hawley on the stree
joining the Raymond's farm. Dalmayne
stopped, with real pleasure on his face
John. is it you? Stop a minute and
tell me the news" .--.,..-..,--
'There amt much news" quoth John,
rather sulkily. In common with most Of
the neighbors, he was inclined to think that
Henry Dalmayne had behaved very ILL
Except that Lilly Raymond is well, and
prettier than ever
"Ah p Henry tried to speak carelessly
but without signal success
"And Squire Ingolasby's son is getting
pretty attentive in that quarter" went on
John ''and old Robert Raymond died out
in India last winter, and left Lilly clean
thirty thousand pounds"
''Did he :? am glad of that"
So Lilly was an heiress after all. Would
it not have been better-but Dalmayne res
olutely checked the half-formed conjecture
in his mind. He had put his hand to the
plough-it was too late to look back now
Yet he wondered if Arthur lngoldsby would
value, as be had done, the priceless treasure
of Lilias' love.
He told himself that he was glad things
had happened as they had but he knew,
spite of it all, that be would have felt better
if Lilly had pinned after him just little =
All women are alike, and all men-pshaw |!
there is no use in troubling his brain further
about the matter.
Uncle Peck ham met him On the Threshold
with troubled look.
''Have you heard the rumor, Dalamyne !?
No Well, of course it can be nothing but
a rumor. The house OF Esterbrook & Es-
Textbook is too well established to be shaken
by mere fall of French stocks -"
''What do you allude to p he asked
scarce comprehending his uncles meaning
in the abstraction Of his mind.
why. people are whispering about that
the Ester brooks have failed"
And before the sun went down on
"Change," the whisper became a trumpet
yoiee-ahe rumor was true. Esterbrook &
Esterbrook had failed, and Dalmayne was
engaged to penniless bride.
Henry Dalmayne, though weak and
yacsllating man, was no scoundrel. He
aIarried Sarah Esterbrook, and lives with
her now in Cover street lodging house,
daily growing more and more weary of his
life, while in his heart he cherishes the
sweet memory of Llias Raymond, now an-
other mans wife.
He had broken his plight, given up the
tenderest aspiration Of his soul, and blight
ed his whole future. to marry az he;ress-
and he had missed the heiress after all.