Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-04-17

1
But Marian Esterley had sense as wei
as good looks, and she was not deceived
by their pretensions.
She remembered the time when the pool
school-mistress might have sat evening af
ter evening at parties and social gather
ing, unnoticed and neglected by all these
obsequious, fine gentlemen who now pro
fessed to be so deeply in love with her; and
so she treated them all with a GOODNESS
which drove them to the verge of distrac-
ton.
( She had been just a year mistress Of Hal
lowell when one day old Gilbert came to
her with with a troubled face, and asked
an audience.
| She babe him sit down, and speak with
out restraint, but the old man made blum
dering work Of it. Marian had to ques-
ton and encourage him continually, but
at last his story was told. In effect, 1t was
| this
When EstelIe Hallowell had died, years
and wears before in an obscure. Scottish vii
| lage, she had left a sor-George Hallowells
child, born three months after her separa-
ton from him. This son had hated his
father for the wrongs he had felt inflicted
upon Estelle, and had never made himself
known to him and Mr.. Hallowell had
lived and died unconscious Of the fact that
he was a father.
This son had died two months previous,
leaving one son behind him-George Hol-
lowell's grandson and heir-at-law.
Clement Hallowell- was the young
mans name-was now clerk in a bank in
London, on salary of one hundred and
fifty pounds year, and all unconscious of
the fact that by right of kin, he was the
heir to enc hundred thousand pounds.
These facts old Gilbert had just learned
through a friend of Estelle's-an old man
who had strolled to the village, picking up
a living by stunning on an ancient harp
and singing a few old ballads. He had
been player in company with Estelle' IS
father, and had always, so to speak, kept
on track Of the family.
Some woman would have doubted the
old stroller's story but Miss Esterley did
not She saw him herself, and got out OF
him every minute particular.
Old Gilbert was greatly distressed.
II thought it my duty to tell you,
ma'am,' he said to Marian ''but I'd rath-
Ell have cut my head off. said to Polly,
said I J; 1T seemsa wicked, burning shame
to go and disturb the dear young lady's
peace, now that everything is allowing on
so beautiful And said Polly to me !;
Gilbert, always do your duty, man, and
you'll be happy"
"You did perfectly right to tell me, Gil
bert,'' said Miss Esterley, kindly. Il
should have been very sorry if you hadnot
There has been a great wrong DONE
Thank Heaven, it is in my power to right
it,
'sWhat will you do, ma'am ?" asks the
man, though, from his knowledge of Miss
Esteriey's character, IL is not difficult for
him to guess.
"Never you mind, Gilbert" said she !;
II will do what is right
So she made a confident of Lawyer
Secors, and caused him to set on foot in
quiries relative to young Clement Halo
WELL The information which he gathered
settled the fact, beyond the shadow of a
doubt, that he was George Hallowell's
grandson, and also that he was a young
man who had led a noble and irreproach-
able life, and, though very poor, he was
respected and esteemed by all with whom
he had come in contact.
Then Miss Esterley caused conveyance
of the Hallowell estate to be drawn up,and
by it she gave everything into the possess
sion of the heir-at-law. Her commands,
that he should come at once and attend to
his inheritance, were imperative but it
was some time before Clement Hallowell
could be induced to take advantage of his
good fortune.
1t was not until Miss Esterley had de-
livered everything into the hands of law
yer SecorS as agent, and herself left for a
distant town, where a school was offered
her, that young Mr.. Hallowell came down
from London and took possession Of his
own.
Shortly after Marian's school began in
Westlake she became acquainted with a
young gentleman named Burke-a poor
artist, handsome and cultivated, but with
out money, friends, Oh influence.
He secured board at the house next to
the one where Marian lodged, and he al
ways waited until her school was out for
the day before he took his walk around the
park by the beautiful lake and she al
ways went with him.
AS a natural consequence, they fell in
loYe with each other, and Marian was so
happy in her choice that it never occurred
to her to lament the splendors she had lost
in renouncing the Hallowell Inheritance.
Young Burke was very eager for the we'd
ding not to be delayed and one Summer
morning they were married quietly in the
little church at Westlake, and then they
set out together for her husbands home.
About this home he had never told her
anything had she inquired; so
you may understand she was very deeply in
love with him-for nowadays the "estab-
lishment'' is often of infinitely more con-
sequence to the young lady than the man
who goes along with it, by way of incum-
brance.
Marian was little puzzled by one thing
AS she had stood in the church, and lis
tened to the solemn words of the marriage
service, the name of the bridegroom, though
uttered by the clergyman in very low
tone of voice, had soundednew and strange
to her. She had not understood it; never
theless, it hadnot sounded like plain John
Burke.
Seated in the train by her husband s side
she asked him about it.
Ill. u L.