Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-01-18

The fifteen years OF lis absence seemed
like a dream Was it not singular CO.
incidence that upon the very day of his
return from China, Walter Roehefort
should meet Miss Dean.
care you visiting New York u be
questioned.
: "No, we are living here. Papa is
dead-and We have lost good deal of
property" faltered Sylvia. Il keep o
little girls school IN Raven Street, now
No."
'And Miss Melissa p
"Melissa lives with me We are alone
together in the world. You will come
and see Melissa, won't you. Walte.Y'
Certainly I will, was the hearty re-
sponse.-" May l come to morrow even
ing 2" .-.-..
The soft, pink bushes glowed upon
Sylvia's check. as she thought the re-
spectacle old brick mansion in Raven ST.,
where she kept the little school, and Me-
LISA nursed the remains of her faded
beauty and cultivated her nervous"
"Why Sylvia, yon look as ma tural as
ever,p said Walter, looking kindly down
into her brown eyes.
"And you too, Walter Where have
you been all these years"
"Making my fortune" he laughed.
''Is it nader
well, yes, Suppose the world says
so. Then may come tomorrow even
ing3"
"To be sure you may come" said
frank little Sylvia, and her heart gave a
warm throb, half rapture. half a strange,
inscrutable pang, as she read in Walter
eyes ing that made her almos.
envious of the happiness in store fer Me-
LISA.
And the next day Sylvia Dean ,obadient
to her sisters behest, went out shopping to
do honor to the expected guests arriv-
a..
ga dollar and fifty cents unused Sylvia;
land l have only seventy left. Well
there is but enc thing to be done. Poor
Melissa will be SO disappointed if 60
home without the collar, and Melissa is
nervous and poorly, and can't bear disap-
pointmeN as [ can. A bit of black rib
bon will do just as we'll for a forlorn oh
maid like me. The pin always was a
piece Of extravaganza
And Sylvia Dean trotted briskly down
the street to jewelers., where she took
out the little gold ivy leaf that fastened
her plain linnen collar.
eff yon please sir, I would like to sell
this pin. Flow much -"
Il can't afford to give you nlore than a
dollar ma'am,' interrupted the jeWeler.
cycling the old fashioned ornament with
aontemptuous scrutiny.
"Weil, L must take dollar, then" said
Sylvia, with meek, half-smo.here high
Aud she received the dollar that seemed
so poor an equivalent for, the cherished
pin, and went back to purchase the cove
ted collar, bringing it triumphantly home,
with yard of pink ribbon for poor Me-
lissa's shrupken throat.
"Waltes used to like pink sa id Syl-
via. as she pinned The bow upon tho
neck of Melissa's dress. and stepped back
a little tie look at the effect. Her allegi-
ance had never once swcrved Or altered
from the fond faith Of her youth.
"rll tel. you what, Sylvia" said Me-
LISA, carefully brushing her scant t7esses
alas, for their vanished gold over the
heated curling stick, "you had better
lend me your black silk dress Mine is
too shabby to wear, and you have kept
yours so neatly"
land what shall I wear?'' humbly
suggested the younger sister.
20, giLgham is good enough for you.
Walter Roche fort won't notice what you
wear.
"Thats true enough" said Sy lvis,
with sigh; and she set to work busily
altering her LACK silk 1ress, which look
ed only degree less shabby than Mel ssa's
own. And she took the little corral car
rings out of her ears and put them in
Malissa's. and almost wished she could
rein force Melissa's til in towy hair from
the abundance of her own sh ing brown
tresses.
lyon look very nice, DEAR" she said
softly, when all was done; land how do
| look %
COZ, you look we'll enough" said
Melissa, without turning her head to OBJ
serve. Don't tease me Sylvia, l am
just finish ing my last curl"
So the two sisters sat down by their
neat Preside to await the coming Of the
old friend who had made his fortune.
And the tears came ppbidden into Sylvia's
eyes, as she thought how lonely that fire.
side would be when Melissa vss married
to Walter Rochefort and gone.
But am selfish to feel So" thought
Sylvia. Il ought only to think of Melis
sa's happiness"
Melissa's voice chimed il. the very key
note of Sylvia's musings:
L suppose you will keep the school on,
if I marry Walter, Sylvia? It's nice
enough place for you Of course you
can't expect to come and live with US.
"No; certainly not" said Sylvia feeling
guilty conscious that she had thought
how very nice such an arrangement would
be. as you say, Melissa, can keep
on the school,
There's the bell" exclaimed Ne LISA.
Run to the door, Sylvia, | can't be jumps
ing up and down stairs ike a housemaid .
Obedient Sylvia went;and as the hall
door was closed, Walter Rochefolt took
her in his arms and k Used her.
THAT'S for old times. Sylvia" he said
gaily;' 'don't look SO astonishcd. Surely
you knew ofmy love long before l went
away.
II did not know Of it, Walter said
Sylvia, blushing like June rose at the
unexpected Kiss. "but | suspected it."
'And now, said Mr. Rochefort, with
a face Of call determination, must have