Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-07-15

fectly," said Mr. Delmayne, as Mis-
Butterfly paused a moment. But h
spoke with certain mournful polite
ness that was by no means lost upol
Viola.
When they got to the fair tina
morning, after quite long drive in the
hot July sun. Viola decisively express
ed to Miss Butterfly the sentiment thai
she wished she hadn't come.
"Just think of that poor sufferer
home there all day!" she added, witt
much pathos of tone. give good
mind"
| But she did not finish her sentence
| Miss Butterfly. however, mentally fin
ished it for her, and, about an houl
afterward she whispered to Viola:
"Cofnelia Briggs is dying to take
this table OF yours. Why don't you
let her and"
"And what?" asked Viola, looking
very meaningly at the speaker.
"Go home tothe poor sufferer" fin
ished the sympathetic surprised He
doesn'. expect us till five o'clock. II
you don't think it's proper to sit alone
by the poor fellow, why you can per-
suade your aunt to leave her bedroom,
which she SO rarely leaves, and keep
you company. AS for me, I can go
home in the Briggs wagoh."
Of course Viola accepted this prop
osition, and surrendered her table to
the beatifed Cornelia Briggs. The
ride back to the homestead was several
degrees hotter than the ride therefrom
had been. But Viola didn't mind the
heat much, though she had complained
considerably while being driven to
D.. Circumstances very materially
alter cases sometimes
On reaching the homestead, she
found its lower hall quite as quiet as
she had anticipated. Something caused
her to enter the large seldom-used
parlor before going up stairs to tn
sspoor sufferer" Or, rather, it would
be best to say that something caused
her to have such desire only, for,
when she reached the threshold, Viola
paused.
The door was partially ajar, and the
parlor had two inmates, neither OF
whom had observed her soft. approach,
although any moment might reveal to
them her presence.
Viola lifted her hand to her eyes, land
for brief period actually rubbed them,
to persuade herself that she was not
dreaming.
Right in front of the mantel, with
his hands underneath his coat>tails, and
his legs well stretched apart and a
lighted cigar in his mouth, stood Mr..
Delmayne! The ''poor sufferer had
been suddenly and miraculously freed
from his torment Viola felt as if pure
establishment were gradually ossifying
her while she stood and watched him.
James, he now remarked to the
other occupant Of the room who was
standing near, and who had again and
been enjoined by Viola and Miss
Butterfly never to lose sight of the inva-
lid during their absence-"James, my
man, l think I'll go up stairs. Its
sort of-of dangerous down here, don't
you know7 ANY of the servants might
pop in here at any moment. I'm glae
I've let you into my secret, James
becausesif l hadn't somebody near me
who knew the whole thing I should no
be able to carry it through"
| At this moment Viola dashed into
the parlor.
"You abominable fraud! she began
in the most successfully melodramatl
of screams. elbow dare you enter
respectable family IN this shameful
waya Who are you? What are you
To think that I've actually been vast
ing pity Oh you, and came home from
the fair in this broiling sun to aeurs
you! No, it's enough to turn lady,
mind with rage. Please leave tn
house directly: 1 don't belive you
name is Delmayne at all. I dare sa.
it's Smith or Jones. Ugh! you wretch
you!'
The pseudo>invalid was standing
very penitently now before his fai
annihilator, having more or less re
covered from his first shock of amaze
ment at Viola's unexpected entree.
s'My name isn't Delmayne, he said
with meekness, "nor yet Smith, no
Jones. It is-but perhaps you'd rathe
not know.
t 81 don't care ore way or the other!
G exclaimed Viola. 'Why should
care? Go away from this house. Your
a vile impostor!"
"l'm so sorry you think so, was tn
S gentle response ''because I'm-I'r
+ Ebert Duane"
|, These simple words were to poe
n Viola like the bursting ola conditio
of bombshell. while she stood befor
: this man in a condition of astonish
] | ,,,o,at a,rora crroator fhat xrlaich b q