Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-03-21
"The best friend fellow ever had
thonrht Panl M the trim moved off

euouSut dui US Tue tCulu ulOSeu Ou.
But be could not see the sardonic gri
to which the curve of the farewell smile a
tered when the little country station wa
lett once more to silence AID loneliness"
Now" said Nortoo, Van Brugh. 9
shall have the f Ii all to mys II straug
how fascinated have allowed myself TO be
come with mere country girl But tber
certainly is something very winning in be
type of beauty"
! Bessv Hay never answered Paul Estcott'
farewell letter nor did the latter once sus
pect that it was because Mr. Van Brugl
never had delivered it,
! Paul firing up under the fevered impuls
Of his old enemy. jeelously took refuge ii
silence Nor did long epistle fr,m hi
Aunt Jemima. which contained more new,
possible and impossible-than any gov
ernmeut bulletin. serve to cool the flames
Folks saw wrote the epistoiary spin
t:r that Eliza Hay is going to marry tht
widcwer. Sirclair. because he s rich. There
was deal Of talk about her and young Var
b ngb, but he went, away all of sud len
folks ought it likely with flea in his ear
Eliza knows pretty well which side her
bread is buttere3 on, and Sinclair can't live
long with that cough Of his.'' .-....:
1t was no wonder that when pretty Bes.
81 hay made an excuse to come to Auut
Jemima's and asked wistfully aud with a
certain culver in her voice if Paul's letter
contained no message for her. the elderly
gossip mopger answered
Dear me, no! You didn't expect to
hear, did you ?"
Bessy went back home, her little heart
as cold as lead in her bosorn.
She had refused Norton Van Brugh she
said "No' to Mr.. Sinclair, in spite Of Aun
Jemimas knowing progu ostication and
people began to wonder if pretty Bessy Hay
was going to he an old maid after all.
why doesn't be write to my or send
me at least word to show that he has not
utterly forgotten me ?" az.-.l
why doesn't she answer my letter p
thought Paul.
So the world wagged on until Mr.. Est
colt came home from the far off flowery land
net indeed with the fortunes of which he
had dreamed in such sanguiue fashion. but
with sufficient competence to live we'll and
comfortably in place as modest as his ra-
tive will ,ge.
1t was stormy November evening". with
threatenings Of snsw in the chilly air, and
low wind stirred the last with red leaves
upon the boughs. when hA alighted at the
station boxing almost into the eyes of Bes.
sy Hay. who had come to the post-ofice to
ask once again for the letter that never
came.
How seldom are our visions realized !
Bessy had dreamed thousand times of
meeting Paul Estcott, but never in such
way as this.
Paul" she quavered r.
cab, F." said Paul, dofing his stylish fur
travelling cap. Il hope you are well"
For he did not exactly like to call her
Mrs Sinclair as yet.
l be red stains Of sunset had almost faded
out of the sky when he overt ok her about
a hundred yards from the station
His heart smote him when he saw the
look Of m eek endurance in her face
''Are you alone, Bessy ?"
Eyes. Paul"
81 suppose" he said with an effort,
"that must call you by some new name
now 2"
Call me Bessy Hay" she answered
quietly.
"You are not married ?
mo, Paul !''
He drew long breath that was almost
like sob.
"Aunt Jemima said But Bessy why
cid you not answer my letter p
"Wby did you not write to me Paul p
Before they had reached the old Hay
farm, where the. current bushes had long
since lost their leaves. and the garden was
already beginning to be whitened with the
falling snow fakes. the mists of doubt and
misunderstanding were all cleared up. and
Bessy Hay had promised to forgive and for
get her lovers seeming neglect.
Ivan Brugh was scoundrel," uttered
Paul, "but without his aid could scarcely
have been in position to marry you ! It
has been a long time to wait, but it's all
right. Bessy. after all -
''It's like story, Paul" said Bessy,
where people go through all sorts of trials
and tribula'icns, but are happy at the last !!
"Oh, P ul, l never thought l. should live
story -