Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-02-10
She fastened up stairs to her room,


Mary; and do my hair III coils, please.
Maude looked queenly when she
came into the drawing room she wal
dressed in black velvet, with squares
cut bodice, and rich lace dropping ovel
her pretty white arms.
"You look like a picture, Miss
Naude," exclaimed Carroll, admiringly
4 Maude .smiled, and seated herself by
the hearth, the freight playing on he,
proud, queenly face, and on her luxu
RANT hair. She sat there, silent and
thoughtful, playing with pictured fire
screen, each movement of her white
hand causing the rings on her fingers
to flash brightly.
Captain Gary!' cried Carroll, at the
sound of the wheels on the drive
Maudes color rose little higher
but she did not speak, not even wher
Carroll said something about book
and left the room.
He came in unannounced-a man oil
twenty-five, yellow-haired, handsome
"a man any woman with unclaimed
heart might have loved.
Maude held out her hand, with q
laugh. 'ap 9aHtr aa" s5 I4t. r-a
81 didn't expect you tonight, Law.
renee" ~
He took it grayely, but did not at.
tempt to kiss her. There was some
thing in her proud face which checked
him.
"What a dreary day-isn't it?' she
said, in her softest tones, clasping her
hands together lest he should see them
tremble, and looking at him, her whit e
lids dropping little.
How beautiful she was! The soldiers
face heshed little with pride as he
looked at this queenly girl his prom
ised wife. g"
at is rather damp, my darling, he
returned, gally. rst .....=-5
She played with the rings on her
fingers, loosening one, bright cluster
of diamonds, and half drawing it of.
'sThls old house is dreadfully dull. 7
am utterly miserable here utterly mis-
erable!"
"Maude!" her lover cried, in grave
Her eyes flashed as she looked up at
him proudly. . 4 .
"Don't you think it must be dull, wil b
two old women for my companions
He bent over her eagerly.
1T must be dull, dear, l know. Don't
spend the winter here Let it form
our honeymoon, passed in sunny Italy,
my darling
Her proud lips quivercd with pain ,
put she laughed Jig htly.
4 shall not spend the winter here.
am going abroad-to Paris; l have
friends there, and shall see a little of
the word. l do not know my own
heart, Lawrence .
Lawrence bit his lip with annoyance.
Il hardly understand you; you are
in strange mood to-night.'
She went on recklessly, twisting that
bright betrothal ring. 7'' aD '.7.n
at was, hardly fair to claim my
promise so soon, Lawrenee-I am fet
tered before I have known anything OF
the worlds real life. They may be
golden chains to you to me they are
simply CALLING"
The insulting words stung him to
the quick. 1ii e. ag.i ..ar
p "Fetters do you call your words OF
promises have ro wish to chain you
Maude-Miss Thornton, if you will,
he returned, hotly. 81 a.I u .s.lE
She rose up, playing carelessly with
her rings, e',,.ar=
They are fetters-easily broken,
THOUGH. when no love bjnds the links
There-take back your ring. >
She slipped it off and held it out,
laughing the while. He clasped her
wrist aud the ring dropped between
them.
"What do you mean? Are you
playing with me? 1t has gone too far
for joke"
Loose my arm, Captain Gary-you
hurt me. | tell You my promise has
become a CALLING chain. I like you,
you know, but not well enough to give
up better chances in life. I am hand
some-I have ten thousand year. A
captain III marching regiment is not a
good parti."
"For Heavens sake, stop!" he ex !
claimed hoarsely. 81 won't reproach,
you, Maude--I am glad you have drop.
ped your mask. You are not worthy of
an honest mans love! I will crush
mine as l crush this bauble!" He
stamped upon the glittering diamonds
with his heel as he spoke.
"For shame! You have spoiled a
ring worth the Rectors yearly income! +
she exclaimed, lightly.
But he needed not the words in his
angry pain. He caught the girls