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

! AANS3 "AAuSAA5 III A"uND PtsooiOAotSiy
"Frazer, Inever would have believed
this of you'll"
"Scold away, darling!" said Martin
caressingly touching her braids of shin
ing black hair, as you might pet s
child. you've no idea now swee,
you look with those cheeks blazing
and the great eyes dilated. I like to
see you get excited (?
eff it is really so, Frazer" pursued
the girl, eagerly, ego Immediately and
undo the work of evil. Do not let
Hugh Irving suffer for mere legal
technicality. Remember that the place
is his home-his ALL Hasten back to
the city, for Heavens sakes"
"Never!" said Martin, decidedly, and
with an almost demouiac light in his
eye. 81 tell you Ellice, / hate the
man, and will not bate my hold up
on him!" Aa
''Then, Frazer" said Ellice, calmly,
''our engagement is at an end. I will
never marry man who has taught me
to despise him!"
"Now, my darling, don't talk so, "
said Frazer Martin, coaxingly "You
know very well that you love me--that
you are my alliance wife. Tell the
truth, nows own up that you only want
to tease mel
He would have passed his arm about
her waist, but sh e drew back with
dignity.
81 might have loved you once,
Frazer, or fancied that did but your
own words have dispeled the illusion
Henceforward you are no more than
the merest stranger to me"
Martins handsome brow darkened
care yon serious, Ellice May?"
81 am
"And You really dismiss me fro m
your presencea'
81 do"
Every we'll. I accept the dismissal.
Return to your first love, if you choose;
but remember, my tickle fair one, that
you cannot smile me back again when
you are wearied of playing the croquette
Make your election now or never!'
''It is made; good evening, Mr.. Mar
tin" said Ellie calmly. And calmly
she stood there, her white dress futter-
ing in the sunset breeze, while Martin
twiched the reins of his splendid grays
from the post and sprang into his
carriage, driving off like whlrlwind.
Noble little Ellice! she was true to
her womanhood, true to herself; and
even at the time when Hugh Irving
lost his ancestral patrlmony he gained
wife who had learned TO love him for
himself alone. 1t was ray of hope in
the darkness, and with brave heart he
set to work TO build up the fallen
fabric of fortune once more.
"Quite romantic, upon my word"
sneered Frazer Martin, as he read the
marriage Of Hugh Irving and Ellice
May in the newspapers. ''Just as they
can afford! But" he added, between
his clenched teeth, elf the days of Faust
were here once more, would sell my
self to the evil one, soul and body, for
the chance of striking that mans cup
OF happiness to the ground
Twenty years had wrought but little
change in the dark beauty of Ellice IT.
wing. One or two threads of silver
had, perhaps, interviewer themselves in
the abundant braids of ebon hair, and
the peach blossom color of glrlhood
had given place to softer rose on her
cheek; but ElIice was lovely still as She
stood, in the frosty October twilight,
shading her eyes with one fair jeweled
hand, while the Other pushed aside the
crimson trials of the frost-toucbed vine
which hung over the piazza pillars
Looking for her husband. All! there
was no loving eye to watch for Frazer
Martins erring footsteps!
At length he came, welcomed home
by the glow of freight, and the merry
voices of little children, and .he peace
full calm of Elice's smile! The word
called Hugh Irving fortunate man
because he had prospered exc eedlngly
in its paths of commerce; but what
would the world have said could it
have peeped into his bright home
circle? There must yet be an undis
covered word to express such bliss.
"But, Hugh, something has annoyed
you; you look grave and thoughtful,
said Mrs. Irving, when at length the
noisy crew of little ones had beer
safely piloted to bed, and husband and
wife were sitting together Hugh in 8
velvet easy chair, and Ellice on low
ottoman beside him, her cheek resting
on his knee, as she had been used tc
sit in the days of bridehood.
sYou are veritable witch, Ellice!'