Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-02-10

w J
and for the solemn promise you have
lightly broken !"
! He wrung her hands and strobe out
of the room, his heart beating fercely
with pain and anger.
| With low heart-broken cry Maude
dropped upon her knees, and covered
her face from the light.
Miss Carol, coming found her sobr
bling wildly. The companion knelt
down, and her hands tenderly around
her.
"Miss Maude, dear Maude, what is
the matter Where is Captain Gary 7
Maude put up her hands with pas
sionate gesture.
Gle is gone, Car. He will never
come back any more. He doesn't love
me, Car"
"Not love you'll" echoed Carol, in
high disdain.
'sHe doesn't-he seeks my money!
And Maude sobbed out the whole story
the whispered words behind the lau-
rel fence, and her own hard words to
Lawrence.
"Dldn't you tell him what you had
heard?' .....
"Tell him?" questioned Maude. her
face flushing holly. "No, indeed!"
"Then you ought to have done so,
Miss ''Mande. Many heart has been
broken by keeping back something that
mil ht have cleared all trouble Listen.
Miss Maude, dear I am nearly forty,
and my hair is gray but, twenty years
ago, there wasn't a brighter face or a
lighter heart than mine in all the village.
was engaged to young doctor, and
we loved each other dearly. I was a
clergyman's daughter, you know, and
we lived in the rectory, for the living
was in the hands of some canon, and my
father was curate. in-charge.
Maude moved her head impatiently.
What were the loves and sorrows of
these people to her, in her supreme
grief?
Miss Carroll went on hastily
"Well, we were engaged; and one day
that we had arranged to go to pic mic,
some miles away, John came over look
ing troubled. He had to go on business
to the town, and couldn't join US at the
pic mic. l was very sorry, but did not
think much of it till Lizzie Towel, one
of my friends, told me long story of
some young lady John went to see
some beauty of the neighboring town.
Jealousy is a strange thing, Miss Maud
1t makes one think the worst of our best
and dearest. / accused him bitterly.
He was proud at first, and angry; but
then he begged me to tell him all. l
wouldn't and we parted in anger-in
anger, Miss Maude, I never saw him
| again till l looked on his dear dead face.
He was stricken by fever, and died.
Miss CAROLS voice dropped. Over
the dreary plain of twenty years the
food of pain was surging again.
"Poor dear Old Carl" Maude ex-
claimed, rousipg herself. 81 am so SER
ry." a..
The companion wiped her faded eyes
tremblingly,
s.Heaven's will be done, Miss Maude;
but it. of no use to mistake our foolish
pride for the Aln,ighty's will, dear. l
wish you had told Captain Gary"
Maude rose up, shaking out the folds
of her d ess with an impatient sigh.
"Go and have your dinner, dear and
send me cup of tea-nothing else"
Miss Carroll kissed the beautiful heir
ess, and went briskly away. After see
ing that the aunt had all she required,
and sending the tea to Maude, the com-
panion took we'll worn cloak from he:'
wardrobe and left the house. 1t was
still raining, but the wind had gone
down, and thick mists Swallowed the
meadows round the Rectory.
Miss Carroll walked quickly up the
garden path and pulled the bell halfh
den among the ivy leaves. She was a
welcome visitor at the Rectory, and the
servant ushered her at once into the par
lor. The lamp was burning low, and
Polly's piano was shut. Polly herself
with little conscious color, came for
ward to receive Miss Carrol She had
been standing by the fireplace talking
to Lawrence Gary.
s'Give me your cloak it is wet" She
took hold of it, and carried it out Of the
room.
The little companion hesitated mo
ment. She was terribly afraid of this
grand, tall soldier But love conquered
fear. She went up to HIM, her face
flushing and her voice trembling. but
strong in her purpose.
Captain Gary, Miss Maude is breaks
ing her heart about you. She thinks
you love Polly. She heard you say
something this afternoon
A great light came into Lawsences
face.