Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-11-03

graceful ana very "KnOWlng. DuG NIL.
Edenhall had always abhorred it more
than words could tell.
s'Will he care ?'' asked the low voice.
"Will who care, my dear ?''
s'Mr. Edenhall when he finds out that
you do not love him 20
Little stupid, do you suppose 1 shall be
such a goose as to let him find that out
Not while he owns bankers book, and
has the power to draw check for me, my
DEAR"
''Oh, Isabel -
s'And oh, Jane !" echoed the belle, with
a silvery laugh. :.
'sIt seems to me, by the way, Miss Jane,
that you take a great deal of interest in
the old fogy? Eth? Why, how you blush,
child I can see your whole face turn
crimson even by the light Of the new moon.
1t was true, then," she added curiously,
'that you took a fancy to him when we
were all in the country last year? 1 sus-
pected it at the time, but could never be
quite sure, and you would never own it.
Oh, Jenny JENNY"
There was no answer. But Mr.. Eden
hall caught glimpse of a slender figure
and a bowed head beside Isabel, and knew
that it was her younger sister, "plain little
Jane" as he bad been used to designate
her heretofore IN his own mind.
You won't confess even yet, eh ?'' Isa-
bel went on. sWell, Jenny, he is too rich,
or would give him up to you gladly. But
after we are married you may f1irt with
your brother-in-law as much as you please,
if that is any comfort. 1t would be great
thing for me, confess, for it would keep
him from watching me if Itook fancy to
firt myself"
'sFor shame, Isabel!' broke in the earn
est voice. ''You may laugh at me if you
choose, but I am not ashamed of what [
feel for him. And how you can allow your
self to speak and think of him as you do
good and noble and generous as he is"
Mr.. Edenhall heard no more. He stole
as silently out Of the house as he had ems
tered it, and strolled down toward his
club
But all the way this bowed figure and
this ''plain face" went with him, and he
could scarcely blame himself for having so
surprised the secret thoughts of both Sis
tiers, since through that accident he had
heard what he SO wished to hear.
The Stewards went into the country, and
to divers watering places that summer, and
Isabel Graham accompanied them.
But Mr.. Edenhall, strange to say, was
not of the party.
July saw him visitor at the quiet little
farmhouse where Jenny Graham lived
with maiden aunt, and in August Isabel
was astonished by the receipt of wedding
cards, together with a letter from her sis
ter, signed 'Jenny Edenhall," and written
on board of Cunard steamer, just as the
happy couple were starting for their bridal
tour to Europe.
Isabel is still unmarried. But cousin
Ernest's ship comes home this year, and
Jenny, who knows more of her sisters
heart than any one else, has determined
that the lieutenant shall be aided to settle
on shore by her husbands influence. After
that, as Jenny says, sswe shall see what we
shall see."
AS for Jenny herself. no one thinks of
calling her "plain" now, since dress has
developed her latent good looks, and hap
piness has transformed her healthful face.
And Mr.. Edenhall has the wish of his
heart-a tasteful and happy home, where.
by his "wife and children he is very sure
that he is loved for himself alone.''
The HAND OF THE MoTHER.-Loye is
full of services. 1t is tireless in ministry.
It is always giving. 1t is of busy, active,
energetic principle. 1t finds it's happiness
in working and spending. What will not
the mother do for her child What the
wife for her husband ? Let the recollec-
ton of your childhood, let the experience
of life testify. We have seen many a
snowy hand, fair and plump, and sweet to.
look upon. and fingers whose purity rival
led the gems they wore, but the hands that
live in recollection fairer than they all are
the lean, thin, tOil-wrinkled hands of
mother. They were once full and fair and
white as any lady's. and all Of us, her chill
dren, know how and why they had become
thin and worn. They were made so by
toiling for us. The dear old weariless
hands, without ornament save the one plain
circle of gold-worn through all the years
from marriage day to grave day-what had
they not done for us all ? They had lifted
us, and soothed us, and fed us, and labor
ed for us increasingly, and to-day they
stand in recollection the symbols and type
of serving love-those aged, shaking hands
of our mother. 1t was love that made
them tireless. And what a joy it was,
when she was aged, to sit and hold them,
and smooth them, and caress them And
now that they are folded in everlasting
rest, they live in vision, and will live until
we clasp them once again upon the ever
lasting shore.
| AN EARNEST LIFE.-Earnestnes does
not always move with a clatter. There are
other things in this world which are quite
as pleasant and as edifying as the rub-a-
dub-dubof snare drum. In fact this kind
OF melody is not generally the highest style
of music. HaYe you never known man
busting and officious, and clamcrous and
loud, but who did not weigh heavy after
all, a thing very well understood by
every one except just the man who Nigh
have pro6ited by that piece of information?
And have you never known a man, quiet
and transformations and faithful, and who
was perpetual blessing, a golden man,
deep-souled and true, whose memory
fingered long after he was gone, like light
upon the hills after gorgeous sunset ?
The shallow stream rattles along it's
course; but when it is met and drowned
bu the majestic tides rolling in from tho