Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-08-11

On the following evening Mary again
sat by the CRATE in the drawing-room.
She was alone now, and her face was more
pale than usual.
But she was calm-as calm as the mar.
BILE statue that stood near her.
The outer door was opened, and she
heard the tread of heavy feet in the hall.
Then the inner door swung back, and her
father entered. She looked up and saw
another man-it was he to whom she had
promised her hand: the man whose money
was to save her parent.
Mr. Goldthwait introduced Mr.. Smith.
Mary arose and extended her hand. 1t was
cold, but it did not tremble. She looked
up into his face, and she saw man OF
medium height, with high brow, dark
eyes, and neatly-trimmed beard. He
greeted her politely, and took scat.
Some half an hour was spent in CONVEX
sation, generally between the two men,
and the remarks grew gradually less, until
a silence ensued. ~
Nearly ten minuts elapsed before an
! other word was uttered, and the stiffness
was oppressive, when the visitor broke the
spell.
"Miss Goldthwait,'' he said, in low
soft tone, ''you are of course, aware of the
object of my visit here this evening, and
1 know you will pardon me if 1 speak
plainly"
Mary looked up, but she made no rep
ly. The tones of the speakers voice were
so kind and gentle that she began to pity
him. She felt that he ought to 60 and
find some wife who could love him.
''Your father has spoken plainly with
me,' resumed Mr.. Smith. "He has told
me that you feared you have no heart to
give, but that yon will yet be my wife.
Yet he assured me that you will learn to
love me in time. I once thought should
never love again, but the sight of your
face dispelIed the illusion. will tell you
all, and then you shall judge for yourself
whether even have heart for you"
Mary now fixed her eyes steadily upon
tho speaker. and her features had assumed
an eager, wistful expression.
'sLong years ago 1 loved beau tiful
girl: and she loved me in return. I was
young then, and only thought of love,
and did not dream that fate could crush
my SOULS dearest hope. That fair girl
was all to me. 1 held her in my sonl as
my very life, and not thought had of
the future but twas of her. And 1 knew
that she loved me as we'll, for she told me
so hundred times. But a terrible crash
came upon my joys. My idols father was
wealthy, and was poor. He was mer-
chant-I only an humble clerk. When I
told him of my love he spurned me from
his door, and bade me never enter it again.
O, heaven, what a wreck of soul was that!
What shall picture the midnight of the
blasted and broken heart?. Who shall tell
it's wailings, and it's deep, dark griefs :?
All crushed and broken down, [ fled the
place where my love had grown up, and
in the heat and whirl of business tried
to forget my SORROWS. Worlds fortune
seemed to single me out as it's especial fa-
vorite. My widest and most reckless
transactions turned out well, and money
seemed to fly out, as if by magic, from
everything placed hands to. Thus pass
! ed away eleven years, and then came to
this city where 1 settled down. That
was one year ago. I saw you, loved you:
you opened my crushed heart and let the
tide of love forth. 1 asked the merchant
again for his child, and-and-and-"
The speakers lips trembled, his bosom
seemed heaving with powerful emotion.
'.Mary," he said, in a breaking tone,
81 have asked thy father. and he has told
me-yes. Will you be miner"
The maiden had no more doubt. Years
seemed to have passed like magic from
the calendar of the past; it seemed only
yesterday that a loyed youth told his tale
of love, for since then only grief had
been hers, and grief was no more now.
She sank forward. and on the next mo-
ment she was clasped to the bosom Of the
man who for long years had possessed her
| heart.
"James Smith," gasped the old man,
starting to his feet in establishment.
eyes, sir" returned the younger man,
looking up through his tears, but yet hold
ing the loved one in his embrace.
| ssThe James Smith who used to be my
brothers. clerk?"
Eyes, sir; the very same. Do you re-
tract your promise?"
"No, no, no! Oh, my soul, no! Take
my child--take her if you love her, for
give her father"
CALI replied the happy sutton, as he
led Mary to a seat, and then sat by her
side and drew her head upon his shoulder,
eff 1 forgive, then 1 must remember to
forget, and that will do. Let us forget
all the past but it's joys, and look to the
future for what duty and true love can
give us. I am now content.''
'sAnd so am l." uttered the aged parent.
"And what say your" asked James,
gazing into Mary's face.
'Ah," she replied, in tone too deep
for mere passing emotion, ''content were
! too poor a word to tell all feel. God
grant that I forget Him not in this great
joy ~
In a few weeks wedding occurred, in
which two wounded young hearts were
made happy.
WAsHINaToN's TEMPER.-Whlle talk
ing one day to Gen. Henry Lee my father
happened to remark that Washington had
a tremendous temper, but held it under