Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-06-30

kindly anxiety concerning my health;
am sure that Mr. Budd does not shar
it," was perhaps the worst of all the line
by which told her, not in frank homes
lines, but in a manner that no woman
could fail to understand, that | did no
choose to remember that we were be
trothed.
After that no more letters in yellow en-
velopes came to trouble me, and l paid at
tention to Miss Hanover, and invested
my money according to Hannover's adj
vice. And days, and weeks, and months
rolled by, and if thought Of my little
Rosebud, fading because the sunlight Of
my love was withdrawn from it, crossed
my mind, drove it away with sigh.
could not help it, said; it was fate. Fate
meant me for Miss Hanover, for Violette
and we had met, that was all. Not quite
all; one day. remember it was the day
| after a splendid ball, and called ON Vic
lette, whose secret had been the night be-
fore-one day made this latter statement
to Violette Hanover, and she having
heard it, bestowed on me her most aristo-
| cratic stare and asked me if ] did not
know that she had been engaged to Mr..
Twenty plum for six long months.
| "And will be married next week Mr.. Mark
ham, added she. $50 you see you must
| be mistaken about fate.''
"And you have only been flirting with
me ?" [ said bitterly. "Do you know that
10 h m
from you ?"
81 know it is time for me to dress for a
| drive" she said. $50 you must say good
afternoon; and don't look ridiculously
tragic, Mr.. Markham. [ hate scenes.''
And 1 felt that l deserved it all, as I
went for the last time down the steps Of
the Hanover mansion.
In fortnight Violette was Mrs. Twen-
typlum. In a month Mr.. Hanover was
bankrupt-one of those who take a foreign
trip with plenty of money in their pock-
cts, while others lie crushed beneath the
fragments Of their broken branches at
home.
My money went with his. [ had come
to London with a moderate competence
had increased it by speculation until [
was absolutely wealthy Now [ found
myself almost poor.
There remained to me only the Moss
wood property, which must be turned into
farm, and myself must leave my hope
of being one of the city millionaires behind
me, and become a plain farmer--a man of
the same social standing as Rosebud's
father, without his comfortable knowledge
of money in the bank to comfort me,
However, with the bursting of the bub-
BILE fortune; the circle which gathered
about Hanover had been seemingly scat
tered to the winds, and people knew that
Miss Violette had Tilted me, and also that
my money was gone. The city had lost
many Of its charms, and [ wrote to the
old woman who had kept the house at
Mosswood for my father until his death,
to make it ready for my return. Then
selling the furniture of my bachelor rooms,
and packing my smaller belongings in
few trunks, 1 started homeward.
[ must go back to Mosswood and become
a farmer, I should find Rosebud fading
gradually away, of course, and yet knew
she would be prettier than ever. How she
had loved mellow ungrateful had been
for that loye. Now 1 would make amends
L would write as many repentant letters as
were necessary, and she would of course
forgive me. No woman ever forgets or
ceases to love any man she has eyer loved
you know. Yes, after It little maidenly
resistance, Rosebud would bloom for me
again. was as sure Of this as the train
bore me onward, as [ was that the moon
would rise that night.
There is no adage more true than the one
that declares that misfortune never comes
alone, but in troops. Often, of course,
one brings the other. In my case the
anXieties that had trooped so thickly about
me made me nervous, and so led to a Sc
we're accident
Having alighted at a certain station, [
delayed my return to the carriages until
they had started. remember running af
ter them, and then-what do [ remember
then? Darkness, dreams, pain, an AVA
kening in little room, with white cur
tains and toilet table, and a vision
charmingly dressed. Then some one saw
ing slowly:
eyes, yes, yes (; think he'll do.''
And understanding this was my old
friend Hiram Roper, I asked:
Chow did [ come here ?'' trying to sit
up, and failing in the attempt.
"Well," said Hiram, 'swife and T were at
the station, and 1 saw you were a good
deal hurt, and we brought you on. You
know this is my house."
"Yours !" said I. ''And you are map
ried, and in practice suppose ?''
eyes," said Roper. ooh, yes; getting
on famously. And you've had a bad time,
but you'll be on the right soon. Come and
tell him he will, Rosebud.''
And there-yes, there was Rose Ate,
I had ruminated on the fact few min, l.
ties, felt that truth was stranger than 4ic
ton.
care you better, MI. Markham ps, said
Rose, bending towards me-
Here was poetical story worked ont i,
our proper persons. A wounded and re
pentant hero, 1 had been sent back tt
Rosebud to be nursed and forgiven. Hat
she not forgiven me, she never would have
flown to my aid. All that could do ius
! then was to squeeze her hand
She took it away rather quickly: but
that was very natural. had not seen he1
for three years. She did not know of my
contrition. But she had not pined OF
faded; she was, on the contrary. stoute]
and roster than eyer.
Just then, DR.. Roper. being present.
said nothing, but afterwards as the even
ing shadows fell, she brought me tea an6