Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-04-26

when we consider the awkward errand or
which he came
4 heard Of Miss Meals misfortune las
evening, sir, and | assure you with deep re-
greet
Miss Meals misfortune? What the deuce
dye mean ? said the old gentlemen grufay,
with whom the young man was by no means
favorite.
WHY, the failure of Bolton Bank, to be
sure.' Mr.. Wells responded quickly, the
suspicion entering his mind that the shrewd
old lawyer was tring to dodge the question
'Oh, ali. yes, [ think | do understand
you. Well. what of it?
Only this, sir. that deeply as regret the
necessity, the high regard I cherish for
your ward, and the knowledge that | shall
be unable, at least for some years, to offer
her such home as she is accustomed to
and merits, demands the sundering of our
engagement
''That is to say. in plain English, my
ward, having lost her fortune, Mr. Wells no
longer desires to marry her.
In spite of all bis efforts, Mr.. Wells felt
bis cheeks Jingle beneath the quiet scorn in
the eyes that rested upon his countenance !.
you put it rather harshly,' be said, fore
ing smile; but we won't quarrel about
terms
very good. All have to say is. that
what you are pleased to term Miss Meals
misfortune. promises to be the best thing
that could happen her. Good morning.
When Mr.. Thornly saw bis ward again.
in the evening, his countenance wore Gu
rious expression.
Il have important news for you Ellen !;
one portion Of it rather bad, but the other
so good as to more than make up for it
Indeed, as I told certain young man this
morning, consider it the best thing that
could possibly happen to you. First, for
the bad the bank in which your money
was invested, has gone up, and won't proba-
bly, pay two cents on the dollar. Now for
the good I; 10 consequence of this, Mr.. Fred
erick Wells called to express his regrets,
that he must relinquish the honor and hap
piness of making you his wife
is it possible {? exclaimed Ellen. How
[ have been deceived in him Thought he
loved me for myself alone. o, Mr.. Thorn
ly, how thankful I ought to be that have
discovered how false his heart is, before it
was too late
Mr. Hayden is in the parlor and wants
to seen Miss Ellen said servant opening
the door.
Ellen entered the parlor in rather per.
turbed stated of mind; much as she rejoice
ed at her escape, she could not but feel
deeply grieved at this discovery of the un-
wo' thness Of him, whom she had hitherto
esteemed SO highly as to often reproach her
self that she could not love him as he de-
served.
Mr.. Hayden $ mind was, also, much dis
] 4srbed, though from. very different cause.
% 1t was in vain that young >gentl"r,.- :, ~
to recall that neat little speech, that he had
conned over on his way to the house as is
usual in such cases, it completely vanished
from bis mind as soon as he found himself
in the presence of the lady, whose benefit it
was intended.
At last, making a desperate effort he
broke the rather embarrassing silence by
saying:
MY dear Miss Neal, I have heard of
your loss of fortune, and cannot express
what great burden it lifted from my
heart. was SO truly rejoiced, as to quite
forget
Here, startled by the indignant astonish-
ment depicted upon E(len's countenance,
the poor fellow stammered, and then stop
ped.
'Sir-Mr. Hayden, faltered Ellen, deep
ly wounded at language so different from
what she had anticipated. L am at loss
to understand why you should rejoice over
my misfortune
Dear one, know it is very selfish in me,
and yet was never half SO happy in my life as
when [ learned that might, without being
accused of unworthy motives, tell you what
privilege I should deem it to cherish and
! care for you, as man cherishes and cares for
the dearest object of his love-
The sudden revolution of feeling, CAUSED
by these words, sent warm, happy tears to
Ellen's eyes.
1 thank heaven for the reverse of fortune
that has given me the rich treasure of your
| love- she murmured, as she laid her hand
softly in his
| Half an hour later, the lovers were re-
ceiving the congratulations, and the warm
approval Of Ellen's guardian
The old gentleman listened silently, and
with evident enjoyment to the plans they
laid for the future. ...
I'm sorry to spoil your pretty romance
of ''Loys in Cottage" and all that sort of
thing, he said at last, "but the fact is, Ellen
though, as I told you, your fortune was
invested in the Bolton Bank-T happened
to Withdraw the money the week before it
failed But don't be doWnhearted about it,
my young friends, you'll find plenty Of peo~
pie who will gladly relieve you of its bur-
tbens 1fyou can't dispose Of it in any
other way, you might donate it to found a
emission SCHOOL, for the "Feejee Mer-
maids" or some other equally as practical
Bile missionary enterprise,
We can't say as to whether our young
couple followed this suggestion, but this we
know, that throughout her long and happy
married life, Ellen often had occasion to
bless the fortunate blunder.
Alexander Hamilton once said to an init.
mate friend ''Men give me credit for ge-
MUS. All the genius | have lies just in this
when I have subject in hand [ study it
profoundly Day and night it is before me,
l explore it in all its bearings. My mind