Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-09-02
THE FORGED CHECK.

The tall white pine trees in front of
the antique red brick house were mo-
tionless in the balmy air; the sunshine
lay in latticed CLEANS athwart the plaz
floor, and far off, on upland meadows,
the voice of the distant reapers foated
down, like sounds in dream, to the
ear of Ellice May, as she sat in the
door way, her work lying idly in her
lap, and her eyes fixed on the lazy Au.
gust hills. Beautiful eyes they were
soft, large, and intensely black, fringed
with dark lashes that almost Swallowed
her cheek. There was something cas-
tern in the style of Ellice Mays beauty
the olive cheek stained with rose,
the small, scarlet mouth, and the
serene, straight features. AS for the
little hands taper fingered and pink
tipped--they certainly seemed made
expressly to beckon dark skinned
slaves and WELD jeweled scepter.
Nature owns no law of climate, and
sometimes you are startled by finding
this Arabian Nights type of face among
dove>eyed New England damsels, just
as fiery pomegranate blooms amidst
meek blue-bells and mountain daisies
on a farm house windowSledge
''Now, don't look off into vacancy so
provoking, Elice !" said a tall, hand
some man, who was leaning against
one of the columns of the piazza "Do
be gracious to fellow who has driven
all the way from town this broiling
day just to catch glimpse of your
bright eyes!'
Ellice turned her head and smiled,
but thoughtfully still it was plain she
was thinking OF something else
"How do you like my new pair Of
grays, Ellice?" pursued her companion
81 bought them with special eye to
your preferences. See them toss their
heads under the pine branches. l can
tell you there's blood there !"
"They are very pretty, said Ellice,
quietly.
Every pretty! and is that all You
nave to say? Ellice, what ails you to-
day? l don't believe you care half as
much for me as you used. Give me
one of your old smiles, now--do--or /
shall fancy that You haven't entirely
forgotten your old penchant of Hugh
Irving. l met him just below the
turn of the road as l drove over didn't
stop to speak, however. By>the-way,
Ellice, I've done pretty smart stroke
of business to>day, that, imagine, will
put Hugh Irving efectually down for
the present.
What, Frazer?' said Ellice, sudden
ly rousing herself from her temporary
abstraction.
81 mean that we man9uvred the
mortgage on the old Irving place into
our hands week or two ago, and |
foreclosed to-day at twelve o'clock,
just half an hour after it became due"
"Foreclosed it?"
Eyes, and l defy Mr. Hugh to help
himself. Of course they had no idea
Of the thing. kept it prodigiously
for have always wanted chance to
break Hugh 1rving's pride, and fortune
has favored me | should not wonder
if lie were ell route this moment tC
give directions to that old~times law.
yer of his, blessedly unconscious !! the
Irving place must go, for it will be
next to an impossibility for them tt
raise the money at SO short notice
and, with all the rest, 1t wont be bae
arrangement for me, pecuniarily speak.
ing"
But Ellice had risen from her sea,
with re ddened cheeks, and eyes that wer'
literally wells OF angry sparkle.
"Frazer Martin, you are not in ear
nest?'
"Never more 50 in my life, my
Lowell"
"You would not stoop to such dis
honorable, under handed proceeding
surely 2
"Not at all dishoncrable. Ellice; on
ly trick Of the trade. To be sure II
isn't generally done; but | would
stre,cl, a ONT or NO to make Hugh
Irving feel my pow err