Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-10-26

| AAOW uuOy WoiC 1niSO' AoaooAooo' So"'AAA'
J a1oat with radiance, intelligence, arc
mirthfulness. You knew they were won
drous eyes, SO cleaning, so scintillatine
were they. You felt those eyes, you ad-
mired those eyes, but you never knew
whether they were lapis-lazuli OR of than
der-cloud darkness.
| There Maude Campbell stood before the
mirror, while flash of "omanly pride
| lighted her statuesque face as she noted
how becoming the trailing blood-red silk
| was that she wore; how well the cool
calm, stately pearls contrasted with he1
eager, passionate eyes.
| Suddenly frown, first Of thoughtful
ness, then of sorrow, afterwards Of anger
crept oyer her brow; and with gesture
of impatience, she turned away from her
| review of herself.
81 know am beautiful. People tell me
so, and can see it myself. And Of what
! avail is it unless 1 can make my fortune by
it? may be pretty, but am certainly
poor; yes, indebted to a generous charity
for the very shoes on my feet, the very food
1 daily eat! ~
Her teeth closed with a very hiss, and
she murmured to herself: eTrue, Mr..
Mordaunt and little May have been father
and sister to me, yet 1 am dependent
they simply almoners OF their own bounty.
1 must be rich; should die were L de-
prived of the luxuries, the elegances that
have surrounded me since was tiny
girl"
She arose, and from a little inlaid draw
er drew forth a miniature portrait and her
eyes full Of that eager, passionate light,
pressed it 20 her lips.
s'Justin, my darling, my darling, this is
my last caress; it is my farewell! On.
Justin, you never will know how my heart
aches with love for you; how I long to
have you fold me to your heart and feline
how you love me? Justin, my darling I
cannot marry you. You are poor and I
am poor; and-and Mr.. Jameson is worth
half a million ~
With a trembling, icy hand, Maude
closed the drawer; she paced the floor a
second clutching her own hands in ago
ny Of that unnatural sacrifice. Her heart
gave many a superhuman struggle against
the bond Of slavery she unrelentingly cast
about it and the emotionless, beWilder
ingly fair and heartless. Maude Campbell
went forth to fight her way from love and
content, to riches and ambition.
| X X X
Above them the clear, blue sky, around
them the leafess chestnuts, their brown
arms all aglow with the glory of the setting
autumn day; beneath them the leaf strewn
forest-path, where, in a perfect blaze of
warmth and beauty, lay piles of orange,
russell, crimson, and dull green foliage.
There the two stood alone with Nature
in Natures vast-aisled temple.
s'Maude, ''-and Justin st. Johns voice
came in a tenderly-loving manner, while
his arm stole around her tapering waist
SMaude, my darling, the time has come
Wen can no longer refrain. I must tell
you I love you; I love you, Maude !"
He bowed to kiss her, his whole face
lighted by hope and joy.
With aquick little gesture of depreciation
she wheeled aside, then looked up at him,
her wondr Gus eyes filled with amazement.
"Why, Mr.. st. John p
That was all she said, but the flush on
her checked deepened and the fire in her
eye frightened.
81 may repeat it, then Come to me,
Maude, and let me hear you tell me that
I am as dear to you as you are to me.
Come, Maude.'
She gently shook her head.
''Mr. st. John, you must not allow your
self to be mistaken. Forget what ha S
passed, and let us finish our walk as we
commenced it-good friends, and nothing
more"
She extended her hand, and Justin st.
John grasped it with might that brought
a cry of pain to her lips.
''Maude Camdbell, you dare to set aside
my offers of love? You who have taught
me the sweet lesson-you, my teacher
Maude, what does it mean ?"
His voice was full Of quivering anguish.
Then, by mighty effort, Maud silenced
the loyal cry in her heart, and looked cold.
ly up at him.
''It means this-simply this. We never,
as long as the sun shines, can be more to
each other than we are to to-day-nor even
as much, if you annoy me fnrther."
Her voice was cold and calculating, for
she was thinking OF John Jamison and his
half million !; so that she did not see the
contracted look Of supreme pain that came
over st. Johns handsome face, and the
white, haunting culver of his moustached
lip, as, for an instant, he bent beneath the
sudden force Of the unexpected blow.
s'Then, Miss Campbell, we will return
as we came. But may God keep me in this
hour, when the woman love tells me that
I annoy her offering her as honest, as.true
q love as man ever possessed"
Homeward they went, while the sun
sank lower and lower, while damp chill
succeeded the genial warmth of the air,
and, as they silently, gravely bowed adieu
at the house door, a sudden gust of wind.
fresh from the dim forest aisles, came
shrieking upon them like a wall of despair
to both their bleeding hearts.
x X
The glory Of the autumn had given way
to the Frost King; and from the window
of Lady Mordaunt's palatial home cheerily
streamed broad banners ofruddy light over
the snow, while within all was gaiety and
|.revelry.
Maude Campbell was there, queen OF
grace and beauty, as usual, surrounded by
her admirers as a sovereign by her court
iers.
Lucy Mordaunt, gentle and lovely, had