Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-03-11

sented to the trial, and come what
might, she would hide all suffering,
and act her part.
That evening was fair sample of
the days which followed. Edward
rarely sought Florence's side, and she
stood proudly aloof, never by sign or
word exhibiting her true feelings.
To do Edward Earle justice, his love
for Florence was still the same. He
was merely fascinated with her cousin,
and repealed by her manner toward him
he soughr Lora's society. Had Flor-
ence acted differently, he would never
gone 80 far as to release her from her
engagement. Her cold manners, to-
gether with few insinuations, from
the artfnl and treacherous Lora Dean,
made the work Of parting two loving
hearts very easy. Although no hard
words had been spoken on either side,
both realized that great guilt was
fixed between them.
The finishing stroke came in the
shape Of note, in the familiar hand
writing of Florence, which fell in Ed'
wards way, It was addressed to a
young man who had formerly been a
lover of hers, and filed with regrets
that she was bound to another, while
hor heart was always and would be his.
Gould Edward Earle have known
how much time that Lora Dean spent
upon that very note, in which she
forged her cousins hand writing so
cleverly, he would have taken a diff
ferent course that memorable afternoon.
With white, stern face, he sought
Florence in the summer house, which
he had seen her enter with book in
her hand.
Florence heard his familiar footstep,
and her heart gave great throb, while
a glad light came into her eyes; bit
when he entered her presence he only
saw her lift her eyes from the box she
was reading, and bow coldly.
With the words of that note still
burning in his brain, her manner almost
maddened him.
"Miss Ray, / think we had better
come to an understanding at once, and
I have taken it upon myself to offer
you freedom from the bonds that have
proved SO irksome."
For moment Florence sat as if
stunned. Although she had felt for a
long time that great distance was
between them, she could not realize
that it had come to this. In his offer
of release she only saw glad escape
on his part, that he might wed her
beautiful cousin; aud, forcing back the
cry ofangnish that would have risen to
her lips, all the pride in her nature
came to her rescue, and and helped her
through the ordeal. With no more
visible emotion in her white face than
if it were carved from marble, she drew
the costly solitaire diamond from her
finger and held it toward him. The
last link that had bound them together
had been severed, and without word
he took the ring and left her presence
Alone in her room, with no eye but
Gods to witness, Florence Ray fought
with her love and pride. Pride con-
quered, and she went outsboldly, deter
mined to die rather than give one sign
Of her suffering.
Days grew into weeks, and still 14ora
Dean fingered at the farm house. Ed
ward Earl and she were almost con-
stantly together.
One afternoon Florence stood by the
window,in thought living over the past,
and contrasting it with the present, land
wondering if she could ever again think
the sunshine beautiful with that dull,
weary pain at her heart.
A familiar form was coming up the
road, and her heat beat almost audibly
while crimsoned spot came to either
cheek.
How beautiful and innocent Lora
looked out in the garden among the
flowers. Her voice trilling some happy
love song, foated in through the win
dows to Florence's ears. AS she listen
ed for moment and only for mo-
ment-a feeling OF bitter hatred against
her cousin crept into her heart and was
harbored there. Lora Deans graceful
attitude did not look as if it were stud
led; but she had caught glimpse OF
Edward Earl's handsome figure, ais
though she was, to all appearance, un-
conscious of his approach.
He opened the little gate and entered
the garden. Florence saw them stands
ing together-saw them stoop, pick a
rose, and place it among her dark tres,
SEES; then they walked down the path
in the direction of the lake.
When the trees hid them from sight,
Florence sank into chair buried her
face in her hands, and the glistening
tears fell through her white fingers.
For moment only she sat thus, and