South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-11-30

'And she is deade"
He spoke tue words in . deep whis-
per, as though fearing to utter them.
"She is with the angels"
siiencc fell upon the group, broken
only by the suppressed sobs OF the girl
and the heavy breathing OF the man.
When he again addressed her. his
voice had taken . softuess which none
in Milford had ever heard in its measur.
ed cadence.
And this boy IL your brotherY''
Yes. my brother Richard
Richard For who was he named
thns?'
Dir. Steele asked the question, breath.
lessly. with an earnestness very strange
and foreign to its stony nature.
"For schoolmats OF my moth.
er's--"
And this schoolmate's surname-do
you remember it'll"
cit was Richard Steele, sir"
How the cold face lighted up, and
the stern, mouth grew almost tender as
this proof Of the power of the old love
was given him.
did violet-did your mother ever
mention this Richard Steele to your"
The boy came forward, and replied,
"His name was the last on her lps
wheE she died, and two days before
she left US, she gave me letter which
was to put into his own hand and we
are searching for him, my sister and /,
and, when we have found him, we are
going to live with cousin OF my faith.
er's in Portsmouth"
"You need look no further for
Richard Steele, my boy; he is before
you Come into tue house and give me
the letter."
The children followed him into the
great parlor, and calling his astonished
housekceper, he babe her prepare them
some refreshments then receiving the
to his chamber, closed and locked the
coor, and sat down in the armchair by
the window. He held the letter some
time in his hand, gazing intently on the
superscription, which he could scarcely
discern for the mist that dimmed his
eyes. At length he kissed the writing
and gently broke the seal. which the
fingers OF the dead had fixed. The con-
tents of the sheet were as follows:
ORCHARD STEELE,-Now that am
dying, it will wrong no one to confess
what has hitherto been kept a secret in
my own bosom. You believed me false
and tickle; you despised all women
because of me, and have suffered you
to go on in ignorance, while all the time
my heart has been slowly breaking for
tue want OF your love. When you left
me to go out into the world in search of
fortune, my love for you wronged Heav-
en-; was an idolater and you Richard
were my idol. But if my love was
strong, my pride was stronger. and when
your letters, after growing less frequent,
ceased altogether, I sought no explana.
ton of your silence.
Georgia Dale, my stepmother, was
my counsellor. and because l listened
! to her my whole life has been shipwreck.
ell. She it was who first whispered in
my ear the story Of your devotedness
to fair heiress she it was who brought
me the letter containing the tidings of
your marriage. oh! Richard, Richard,
who shall picture to you the days Of
agony which succeeded? But for my
pride should have lost my reasonl
"Well after that, Charles Gray sought
my favor, my stepmother approved OF
him, and perjured myself at Gods
altar. Too late learned the truth 1t
was all vile plot of Georgia Dale's I
stood between her and you; but for me
she hoped to win your love. You know
the result her plot was a failure. You
fed from the country, hating me in
your heart, and never guessing that the
smiling bride Of Charles Gray cast out
a thought after you.
"Seven years ago my husband died,
and during these intervening years
have earned my own and my chiidren's
bread by the labor of my hands. Only
once in that time have / looked on your
face, and then You thought me hundreds
Of miles away bat my love was potent,
and journeyed, on foot and alone,
! hundred leagues and more to see you
once more.
"You were walking in the garden,
and the woman whom you turned away
when she asked for draught of water
was Violet Dale. would not reveal
myself to you; it is better as IL is.
And now Heaven bless you, Richard
| Steele l have loved you long, and you
only; and in the heaven where am
/ going there is neither marrying nor Civ.
ing in marriage; meet me there.
VIOLET GRAY"
! He finished the manuscript, and bow.
/ ing his face on the open sheet, the long
pent up sorrow Of his heart broke forth
in tears-tears such az only one like
him can shed. The closed chamber was
opened at last, the double granite doors
we're rolled back, and the angels Of ten.
der memory flew in and took up their a.
/ bode there.
Violet Dale the soft. eyed girl whom
/ he hal loved with the freshness OF his
| youth and the fervor of his manhood !;
Violet, who had made bis whole life q
/ failure And yet she had been innocent /;
| hafnrn the lrihnnal of hia indnmnnt ahn