Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-11-20
bore, and believed her q pure, tru

bore, and believed her a pure, true
woman. vi 8ka
Have you ever heard her singf"
'sShe never sings. 81 m
ain those days she sang
SIN society, her voice, cultivated and
powerful, was app!auded as one Of
the finest ever heard in an amateur
performer.
"But for us, Aunt Edith and me, she
would sing soul music, wonderful
German melodies full of the past. an d
soft, sweet home tunes, that seemed
like echoes of childhood.
''In society, men applauded her
brilliant conversational powers, her wit,
her reading. and her almost masculine
I.grasp Of intellect.
s.For us she had sweet, low-toned
home talk; would tel us Of her aunt's
country home, of the little childr en-
| who loved her, and who were dear TO
her.
"Had only met her abroad, sho1ld
have admired her and passed o,s but
meeting her true self, as believed, in
our home circle, seeing her woman
illness, her gentleness and sweetness, I
loved her with every throb ofmy heart.
81 was always welcome guest in
the private sitting room of herself and
father.
''Mr. Leigh was usually crowded
with engagements, but his sister was
with Honoria; and when they had a
quiet home even ing, was often with
the ladies'.
81 found an opportunity to tell my
love, even in the whirl of gaiety, and
was accepted by Honoria. " 't
"She frankly told me her love, laugh
ingly promising to abandon all f1irta-
tons. past, present and future, for my
sake.
"For one month I was sbso lutely
and supremely happy.
81 loved Honoria. and trusted her.
81 was her escort everywhere, and
our engagement was Que Of the topics
for the comments of society.
"Yet in the very midst of my hap
piness [ was. often griesed by the
weight Honoria gave to the attentions
of other men.
'She delighted in knowing she was
30 beautiful, so bewitching, and she
could not entirely control the spirit of
coquetry that seemed the only fault in
her disposition.
''She seemed to love me, yet sh.
would torment me sometimes in very
spirit of mischief, by accepting atten-
tions did not like, ever making peace
by pretty penitence and loving con
cessions afterwards.
"Our engagement was but one month
old, and l was hoping soon to have a
day appointed for the wedding, when
one evening called upon Honoria.
Gas | crossed the hall leading to the
door OF her private sitting-room, saw
just ahead of me gentleman, about
my own age, evidently just arrived
from long journey.
''Nothing strange in that, you will
say, but the servant who preceded this
gentleman, knocked at the door of
Honoria's private sitting room, and
answering voice from inside, opened
it, saying ....- ..-......
''Mr. Graham, Miss Leigh"
'In moment my Honoria, with a
glad cry, was folded in the embrace Of
the stranger, who kissed her fondly,
and called her by afectionate names.
'The door closed, and I was shut
out. | rushed home, wrote an angry,
reproachful letter to Honoria, babe
Aunt Edith farewell, and started by
tie midnight train. ...s-
"The following Saturday sailed fol
America, only returning month ago.
l have never seen or heard from
Honorla since, until | came here to find
the man l supposed my successful rival
lowering always about her.
/ ''Day after day have resolved to
speak to her, and reproach her for
my wasted life, and now you tell me
my wretched jealousy has led me into
an absurd error" -p1ae -
"Mr. Graham is certainly the brother
of Mr.. Leigh's motha," said Nat,
| gravely.
"You know the family.'
"Assuredly. My mother was one OF
Mrs. Leighs most intimate friends, and
after her death she always kept up a
warm friendship with Honoria and
aunt Louise. Your story partly ex
plains the dangerous illness which
changed Honoria from the bright girl
you describe, to the cold, impassive
woman she 10 now"
! "Illness! Was she ill.,
eve all suppose at the time it was
DIR. Leigh's troubles
| TROUBLES! | never heard of them.
{ thought he was one of our most dis.