Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-10-01

domestic affection, Miss Fletcher
Why not run away from her the first
thing in the morning?
cit is not Miss Fletcher" said Helen
hesitating over the words. cit is-Mr.
Hastings"
"Why did you not tell me sooner?
asked Tom, in hard, constrained tone.
IL did not know till this evening,
she replied. "The telegram came only
an hour ago-just after we had finished
tea"
"And you are glad 2" Tom question:
ed, looking at her with keen glance.
Eyes, suppose SO; it is my duty to
be glad"
This is goodbye, then,' said Tom
after some minutes of embarrassing ST.
lence.
s'Shall I not see you tomorrow she
asked, little falter in her voice.
"No; l shall be off by sunrise for a
last day in the valley. I can take the
evening train at March's Bridge, it
Stacks there. and the conductor knows
me, and will not object. If Mr. Has
tings is what he should be, you will
not want me; if he is not shake hands,
Helen. Don't look out the window
when I go away should only think
of you as looking little later for Mr..
Hastings coming"
"Poor Tom, said Helen to herself a
few minutes afterward, as she heard the
room door close with emphasis, 81
wonder if Ralph ever bangs doors or
gets into small ras es. He never lum-
bers, at any rate, and how the porch
floor did squeak when Tom walked
across it 2"
81 think can get down there" so
liloquized Tom Ford, the next after
noon, peeling over the rocky wall. cat
least it is worth my while to try-it will
save mile of walking if l succeed"
Swinging himself over, he crept eau
tiously downward. Half the descent
had been safely made, when his foot
slipped and he tell, carrying with him
the rock to which he was clinging.
When he recovered consciousness he
found himself lying at the bottom of the
preclpice, pinioned to the ground by a
mass of rock and earth which had fal
len upon him.
"Unlucky that have not the use of
both arms" he thought, having finish
en- the contemplation of his situation.
"Well, l must see what l can accom-
plish with one. Phew! how it pains
me; must have bruised it badly com
ing down. -
AS he spoke he attempted to lift the
free arm, but it dropped powerless by
his side. "Broken, as sure as fate !" he
exclaimed with a grimace of mingled
pain and amusement. "Was ever a fell
low in a sorrier predicament?"
at won't do, he said, after a score
of fruitless efforts to free himself. Il
am here, and here I must stay until
some one comes to my assistance"
And thereupon he shouted at the top
OF his lungs for help. The valley gave
back the echoes of his voice, but there
was no other response
Still, again and again he called each
time more weakly than before, for his
strength was fast leaving him; but no
lucky chance sent a person by within
reach Of that despairing cry. The pain
OF the broken arm was intense, and his
cramped position added to his misery !;
his throat was parched with thirst, while
the glare of the sun, as it rose higher,
we'll nigh blinded him. In such agony
as he had never dreamed he lay as the
weary hours dragged by, and the day
journeyed towards its end
Would help ever come ? he wonder
ed, straining his ears to catch the slight
est sound.
The place was a lonely and deserted
one seldom visited, except by some
wandering artist in search of the pictur-
esque, and there was no one to miss HIM
or grow anxious at his absence. Hell
en- would take for granted that he had
returned to the city, and SO he would
be left to perish slowly of thirst and
starvation.
And while he was thus dying she
would be laughing away the joyous
moments with Mr.. Hastings by her side.
His fancy pictured the pair together,
and he ground his teeth in impotent flu
ry and despair.
Then, as day declined, and darkness
stealing through the valley, wrapped
itself about HIM, half delusive fancies
came to make him forgetful of pain.
Helen was beside him he could hear
her soft tones, feel the clasp of her hand;
she did not love Mr.. Hastings, but him
self, and she had sought him out to tell
him so. AS the vision vanished he lost
consciousness for the first time in his
life.
te,Hha view does not st,ilo No 90 a