Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-05-28

Barlowe abstractedly gathered a handful
} of thistles and feathery white flowers
, k pit aftt rwards. by his daughter all he1
life.
Useless to try and take the body up out
Of a grave of fifteen, to bury it in the Gem
etry at home, as had been Mrs. Barlowe S
fearful suggestion The Southern woman
cared for Nelly as q mother might have
done. s'Poor lamb" she called her. Ned S
uniform, penknife, revolver and leather
belt had been left in her possession. These
she returned to Nelly, refusing aught in
pay, good soul. A pocket OF the coat con-
tanned two old letters of Nelly's and one
Of Ned IS to her, begun in pencil.
The two, father and daughter, turned
their faces homeward, there to be received
by the sympathizing mother, upon whose
bosom Nelly poured out all her sorrow.
Grief, fatigue and fasting combined, made
her i'll, and she hoped in her despair that
she would die. But this was only the mo-
mentary wish Of a sick mind and heart.
For Nelly Was a Christian, anxious to per-
form her duty for the love of God and
knowing that there was much for to do in
the world, even though her bright hopes
were laid in the dust, and she should never
have another happy hour. Neither was
she of selfish disposition. inclined, be-
cause OF her own dependency, to throw a
gloom over the family circle. No, she took
able, trying to pursue he usual oecupa-
lions with as much interest as she could
master; thanking with wan smiles the I'M
wearied efforts Of parents and sisters to
turn her thoughts from the one subject,
and raise her spirits.
With such pale cheeks and dressed in
the deepest mourning, she looked like a
faded lily. Mr.. Barlowe watched his
ffavorite daughter with wistful eyes, doing
for her kind things in various odd ways.
For the dropping of his fair-haired Nelly
l.saddened him.
Lulu Beck spent a great deal of her time
with Nelly, consoling and petting her in
her childish fashion, saying sometimes in
a sage whisper, II know that Ned is not
dead; [ am sure he will come back again"
Sending with the words such a thrill
through Nelly's heart, that it was almost
more than she could bear.
| The summer months wore on, oppres-
sive days of heat and languor. Nelly grew
more and more fragile, and with failing
health her courage was fast waning away,
despite her brave endeaYors to bear with
fortitude the trial God hath sent her
On the 31st of October a severe head
ache obliged her to remain in bed. sorely
against her will. Though her mind re-
volved continually the events OF the past
year, that miserable grave in the South
holding its place as the predominant inn
| age. Compelling herself to rise. although
far from we'll. she joined the family, seek
| ing relief by companionship from distract
ing thought.
i At dusk she seated herself near the door
l in the parlor, which opened Immediately
upon the garden. With her hand covering
: her face, absorbed in thought, time passed
= unheeded, until, feeling gentle touch on
, her shoulder, she looked up with start
7 The gas had been lit, and Lulu was stand
ing before hey, huge ball Of yarn Rugged
up to her breast; q ball that Lulu had
been working at the pivelong day, winding
three together, belonging to her gran
mt ,ther, to produce this one. She fancied,
chin dixie, that much of the. charm lay in
| the il trgeness of the ball.
"Wl lat are you going to do with that,
dearie? "inquired Nelly.
"Why,, don't you remember, Nelly?n
answered Lulu. sit is Halloween. You
take the end Of this worsted in your hand,
and roll the ball into the dark, and your
true love will lift it,
Nelly pl 1t her hand before her eyes, and
the tears t. vickled down her cheeks. Lulu
did not moi ice her emotion. She placed
! the warn in Nelly's hand, and shut the
| fingers upon is one by one; then gave the
| ball slight pu sh. which sent it rolling off
| of Nelly's lap, md giving Whirl OF two,
disappeared out II the door.
| Lulu heard it ii lump softly on each step
as it fell on it, and also heard step upon
the gravel. The c. hild was standing with
neck leaned forward listening eagerly; and,
at this sound, Nelly stralghtened herself,
and putting her hal I'd on Lu.u's head,
| watched the door breat hlessly. The yarn
slackened, and then drel taut, as the sail
ors say, as though some ne had lifted the
ball, and drawn it to h. I'M. Nearer ana
nearer advanced the well-k noWn Step' ana
when the dear old face of Ned, haggard
and pale as a ghost, appeare vi at the door,
Nelly stretched her arms towards HIM,
gasped ''Ned!" and tainted.
| The ghost, if ghost it were, walked into
the room, and raised the insensi bic form IN
his arms, retreating to the sofas Where ne
sat down with her head upon his sh oulder.
Lulu, at this, fled affrighted into the
other parlor, uttering, as she went, lhefc-
ing little screams.
The alarmed household rushed to Inc
rescue, to find Ned bending alaXlous.V
over Nelly, and half-fearing that his SUD-
den return had caused her death. But
happiness never kills any one, and Nelly
soon recovered.
Oh! the scene that ensued, and the JOY
of the family! Nh Barlowe shook Ned's
hand with such hearty pressure that his
friendly digits left black and blue marks
on the unfortunate member for weeks af-
ter. A tear actually popped into that good
mans eye, traversed the broad expanse OF
cheek, and lodged on the toe of his boot.
| His next movement was TO leave the house
| for few moments, returning, ere long,
hatless aud painting, with Ned's widowed
mother and two young sisters to add their
affectionate welcome and delight to the
general happiness.
And now | must tell how Ned happened
to came back at all. It seems that he
/ ia Jox Of no Oh