Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-10-15

and started up, slightly z bewildered, to
find Arthur Benton and his cousin by
her side. Her .self-possession returned
in an instant, as Arthur. presented his
cousin, Mr.. Ralph Wilson. In q week
Ralph Wilson had forgotten every
thing save the sweetness cf smile, the
rose charm that hung like. a !. witchery
about her, and the shy glances he now
and then caught from those brown
eyes, usually yelled beneath their long
lashes. Two, three, four months
passed, and yet Ralph fingered, anxious
yet fearful to tell the little village
maiden his love. s29
He bad firted .desper ately with many
city bellies, had breathed sweet nothings
in their ears time and again. Why
should he stand in awe of this little
country girl9 Hecould not fathom, the
reason. He had. never said to her
what he had said to them. In fact,
there had been no love passages be.
tween them. ..-....,......,. 80. g
He had fingered near her, he had
studied her every word and look, but
she was sacred to him as goddess.
Her manner! puzzled him. He believed
her not altogether Indifferent 10 him !;
yet, sometimes he fancied be saw a
look of contempt upon her face, as she
sat upon rustic seat in the yard, her
hands always busy with some useful
work, while he, lounging upon the
greensward near, toyed idly with his
cane, or threaded the wavy masses Of
his hair with his white jeweled hard.
September came, and Ralph was
obliged to return to the city.
"Do you koow, Agnes" he said, one
night. ''why have fingered here SO
long ?" .. .....
The brown eyes gave him one qnick'
puzzling glance, and then were resolute-
ly yelled.
Because your village is a charming
place to tarry in, presume" she an
swered, quietly. -t IT,
agnes" he said, earnestly, "you
know why have fingered 1t is be
cause / loved you ard have not dared
to tell you SO. I have wealth, Agnes,
share it with me-"
There was nervous trembling about
the sensitive mouth, a tremor of the
eyelids and then the eyes, grave and
earnest now, though humid with I'M
shed tears looked into his.
'Mr. Wilson-Ralph," slowly said
she, Il will not deny that you are more
to NE than a friend, but promised my
father on his death bed that l never
would marry man who had 30 pros
fession OF trade, one whose hands were
soft and white, who, should wealth
take wings, knew not how to labor,
either mentally OR physically for his
bread. You may think me peculiar
perhaps unkind-but you cannot fill
my ideal of true manhood as long as
you neglect to develop your mind. We
are not placed here to lead butterfly
existence" ...s
Frightened at having said so much,
Agnes hid her face in her hands,
Ralph sprang up like one awakened
from; a dream. New, thoughts went
hurrying through his brain. Reared
in af1iuence, with every wish gratified,
this aimless, inactive life, had become a
part of his nature. He was thoroughly
awake now all his dormant energies
were springing into life. He would
never again be the idle drone he had
heretofore been, Agnes stole glance
at HIM, and wondered at the transfer
nation. He was standing erect, bis
head thrown back, his really fine feat
ures lit up by an expression she had
never seen before. 81 Srii. ...-
"Agnes," he said, as he bent over her
and touched reverently the braids Of
her brown hair, "Agnes, you have spo-
ken the truth. am living like pal
troon upon the fortune my father
amassed for me. Little teacher your
words shall not be in vain. When ]
come to you again, will come more
worthy of you, or will never come.
Let me but kiss this hand it is all the
pledge l ask. Indeed l have no right
to ask any pledge. 4
Gently, reverently, he raised hel
hand to his lips, and then walked quick.
ly away.
Five years the seasons came and
went, and with them changes to Agnes
home Her mother was dead she was
all alone.
No word had ever come directly
from Ralph. She had heard of him in
the busy city as a rising young archi
tect. Her cheeks glowed when she
heard his praise, although she believed
he had forgotten her. For year sh'
had been teaching in a distant city
where she received better salary. 81
Five years from the time he first me
| har aha ratnrnad to her naiiva uilIan