Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-04-23
1EoNE'S ROMANCE,


ideal you'll never find your estimate
of men is too high" r..
"No, Arthur, it is but great est
mate, and you have no right to judge
me harshly, becauseI would not throw
my life away upon some society man Of
to-day. l am young yet, but twenty,
you know, and there is time enough
yet. ,+
eyes, time enough, Leone; but
agree with Arthur that you have too
high a standard of manhood, roman
tic school girl admiration of qualities
that few, if any man, possess.
complimentary, very, to your hus-
band, sir; but l wish for my husband
strength either of soul or body, mind
tar above the average, and determine
ton and purpose sufficient to raise him
from the level of the human herd;
mark me, if never find such a one, |
will ever remain Leone Lightfoot, an
old maid fond of tea, cats and gossip;
but l see Charles has brought my horse
around, SO gu revoir.
The speaker was womano twenty,
queenly in form, and whose face,
though possessing character beyond
her years stamped thereon, was radiant
with loneliness.
ROBBED in dark blue riding habit,
which chung gracefully around her su
perb form, and the face half shaded by
the dropping plumes. falling from her
jaunty cap, Leone Lightfoot was indeed
what she appeared surprising love-
ly woman; one who had visitors by the
score, for she was rich as well as &C
complished and beautiful.
Three years before she wasleft, by
the death of her parents, under the
guardianship of her brother, some ten
years her senior, and at his elegant
country seat in New York State she
had lived, the idol of society and the
pet of Arthur Lightfoot and his pretty
but weak little wife.
Between the three, Arthur Lightfoot,
Leone and Mrs. Lightfoot, was the
conversation held that opens this story
and the cause thereof was the refusal
by Leone Of the heart, hand and for
tune ola worthy bachelor neighbor.
I "She is incorrigible; the old Judge
would have made her a good husband, "
said Arthur Lightfoot to his wife, after
they had seen Leone mount and dash
away at full speed down the grand ave.
nue..
eyes, she'll never marry, fear,'
sighed Mrs. Lightfoot, who always
echoed the sentiment of her husband
In the meantime Leone rode on at a
pace that chimed in with her humor
and an elegant horsewoman, she held
her steed well in rein, and enjoyed the
springing, fleet motion as mile after
mile was cast behind.
But suddenly her horse SHE'D violent
ly and gave tremendous leap, almost
unseating his fair rider. who, recover
ing he rself quickly, spoke scothingly
to the frightened animal, and glanced
backward to note the object that had
The color fed from her face as her
eyes fell upon the form of man lying
by the roadside, and apparently life
less; but nerving herself by hard
drawn sigh, the brave girl sprang to
the ground and approached the spot,
glancing intently down into the pale,
upturned face.
The features were moulded with re-
marKaple regularity, the partly opened
mouth displayed even white teeth, and
the dark brown hair and moustache
presented marked contrast to the
white face, from which every tinge Of
color had faded. Dressed in a ligh,
summer suit, Leone even then discover
ed that it was we'll and stylishly made
while the gauntlet gloves and riding
whip proved that the stranger had
been on horseback.
"He has been thrown, doubtless, but
God grant he is not dead !" exclaimed
the maiden, as she knelt beside the
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