Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-12-28
4 NEW YEARS SURPRTS E

It was New Years morn. Andrew
Foster was up much earlier than usual !:
III truth he might as well have remained
up during the night, for although his head
rested on a downy pillow, sleep never Wis
tied him during those long, last hours of
the old year nor the first of the infant sue
cessor. AT the best Of times when man S
or a woman's heart is free from the burden
of disappearing conscience, there is some
thing deeply impressive about sold years
night" AS we watch, passing, passing so
swiftly, dying out, those last moments,
how many heart is filed with vain re-
grets But there is another chance-a
better time, he says the morrow we will
begin anew, make amends for the past, to
him or her. Yet, o! if, with the passing
year, that one that we might have made
happier has gone too-gone beyond recall
then ours are ceaseless regrets.
1t was not thus, however, with Andrew
Foster. The particular one whose happi-
ness he had marred still was with him.
Daily he saw the face, once SO bright
and BEAUTIFUL, growing paler: missed the
merry birdljke voice that filled the house
with the sweetest music Yes! although
he knew she was fading under his unbend-
ing will, he would not bring her back to
life-aye: for what is life without love
Constantly during those midnight hours,
as vainly he wooed sleep, there would
come instead the plaintive little face, with
the great beseeching looking eyes. Why
could he not yield ? Why, because pride
said nayl Could he, AnreW Foster, one Of
the wealthiest men Of the city, give his
child to one SO far beneath her in position,
and possessing nothing more than his own
good name ?
Harry Landon was one of her fathers
clerks, and Certie Foster, despite the great
gulf between them, grew to love, with all
the devotion Of her nature, the handsome
young man. Every one liked Harry, and
respected him /: and no one in Andrew
Fosters employ possessed more fully his
confidence. Many times he would remark
to his friends. "Landon is q fine fellow
a noble felloW!' But when the truth
came to the proud father that this young
man had dared to love his child, his opin-
ion must have undergone a great change,
for he could scarcely restrain his wrath
sufficiently to treat, with any show Of de-
cent politeness, Harry Landon, when he
came to him in a manly, truthful manner.
and told his love.
''Have You presumed to tell Miss Eos
ter this, sir ?" asked the Indignant father.
s'No, sir, [ came to you first, scarcely
daring to hope you would give me per-
mission to speak. Still, there was posi-
billity, and l seized it. But I am sure
Miss Foster is not ignorant of my feelings
~
s'Why, why are you sure, sr?'7
"Why? Oh, sir! why do the blind know
| that the sun is shining, when their whole
being is filed with warmth? Need we tell
them what it is? Every true woman knows
when she is loved. Her heart tells her.
Oh, sir, I ask you not to give her to me
now-not until l can prove my worthiness
Let me speak to her,
| Impossible! [ will never consent. TITS
useless to say any more On the subject. And
after this conversation l suppose you will
not feel SO well contented in your position
with our house."
II was about to ask, sir, if you would
give me letters Of Introduction to some
other establishment
:'Certainly, certainly, landon, I will see
that you have position quite as good, to
say the least, as your present one, IL
am sorry this has happened. I am your
friend in every other way. You must re-
member and command my services when
you wish.''
And so the young man and his en-
ployer parted.
Days passed until fortnight had
elapsed, and Gertle had not seen Harry