Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-06-22

denial, she had saved from her hard earn
ings. He noted with dreary pain that she
grew paler, thinner, and shabbier at every
interview, and the money seemed to fairly
blister his fingers as he counted it out.
But when he thong hit to tell her to come
no more, his courage failed him. A year
rolled away and the news from Kansas
was encouraging. Henry Wallace was be-
coming a steady, hardworking farmer, but
as yet had no control of money. But Mon
roe Farnley had spoken to some of his
many lady friends, and they had exerted
themselves to find scholars for Genevra.
Her class increased steadily, and amongst
the weather. people who were able to pay
her far better prices than those she had
been obtaining.
The payment to Monroe Farnley became
larger, though he noticed that Genevra's
dress was still of the cheapest description,
though neatly made. There was still near
ly two hundred dollars left of the debt
when news came from Kansas OF Henry
Wallace's death.
Monroe Farnley read the announcement
with sinking heart. ''Now she would
come no more ~ He knew in that fear how
he loved Genevra Wallace and he felt all
the agony of hopeless love. She was so
young, so beautiful, so talented, and yet
so gently modest, he felt there could be no
hope of loving man old enough to have
been her dead fathers intimate friend.
And yet it saddened him beyond express
sion to think of seeing her no more, for in
their many interviews they had strayed be-
You'd business topics, beyond the interest
each felt for the erring man whose crime
had first brought about their intercourse,
and conversed as two intelligent, refined
people can talk. They had founded their
friendship upon firm mutual respect, and
neither had ever lost one iota of that rev.
erence Genevra felt for Monroe's kindness
and forbearance, and he for her sisterly
devotion and self-sacrifice.
Two weeks wore by slowly till the fif-
tenth of the month. the day appointed for
regular payments Of the debt Genevra had
taken upon her own slender hands. At
the usual hour Monroe Farnley found it i'm
possible to work, impossible to fix his mind
upon his correspondence or his daily &C
counts.
When the door opened and a slender,
black-robed figure came in, he could have
shouted in the relief to his overweight
feelings. His visitor was very pale, but in
her large, soft eyes there lay a quiet, rest
full expression which Monroe had never be-
fore seen there.
"You have been very patient with me-"
she said, land more than kind. After to-
day [ shall tax your patience no longer.
My uncle has sent me the balance of the
money owe you, as payment for Henry's
services, and my brother himself request
ed me to use it to lift his debt. l think
you will be glad to know that Henry did
most earnestly try to redeem the past,
working ever steadily, resisting such temp
tations as beset him, and being most sim
cerely penitent and resigned when death
called him.
There was no answer. Monroe Farm
ley's face was turned away where Genevra
could not see it, and he did not extend his
hand to take the roll of notes she held to-
wards him. While she waited, wonder
ing greatly at this strange silence; he lift
ed his head, and she was startled at the
pallor and agitation in his face.
''You will come no more,'' he said, in
hoarse voice, "you will pay your exacting
creditor, and shake him off with the bur-
den of your self assumed debt. You will
forget me soon, but can never forget the
one CLEAN of sunshine that has come into
my life, only to fade and leave it in
darkness.
It was Genevra's turn to grow pale and
agitated.
81 have led a selfish, sordid life," Mon
roe Farnley continued, hurrying out his
words with a quick, painting breath
"Alone from boyhood, fighting poverty
and ignorance hand to hand from the time
I was orphaned at fifteen. have made
my fortune by hard; continuous toll, by a
rigid self-denial and closest application. -
Before realized that 1 was cutting my
self off entirely from social happiness I was
a middle aged man, and a wealthy one.
The fortune which 1 saved was mine :;
What more? Nothing! Other men of my
age had wives and children was alone.
The last time ever clasped hand in true
was when held your fathers
hand in mine. have no life outside this
counting house, only lonely, bachelor ex-
istence, homeless. friendless. Genevra,
why did you come to make me know this
l was content, as slaves are content to
wear their chains till they see freedom be-
fore them. [ was droning out my life, pi-
ling dollar upon dollar, till you came to
show me the depth and the purity of a SIS
ter love. [ never had sister, Genevra.
No woman has loved me since my mother
died. And you came to let me learn wha
my dead heart Weakened to life to crave,
the loving companionshlp of true woman.
| am an old man compared to you, Genev-
"a, but you will meet no truer love than
mine, you will find no heart more ready to
give you loyal devotion. Geneva, having
taught me so to love you, will you leave
me desolate and alone again ?"
He held out his hands as he spoke, with
a sudden gesture of pleading that was start
ling in man so grave and reserved. And
into the broad, strong hand fell the slender,
white ones, cool and soft, as Genevra said:
"Never. I could not think you would
love one so young and ignorant as 1 am,
you who are so noble and good. And am
the sister of the man who robbed you.''
''None the less my love, my darling. my
wife -
The quick blush upon her cheek, the soft