Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-10-15

The man smothered cry of surprise,
and his face grew strangely pale, even
in the ruddy light of sunset. 1t must
have been strange emotion, indeed,
which could thus stir the heart of Rich
ard Steele. Presently he said:
''And what was your mothers name
before she married ?"
"Violet Dale"
''And she is dead ?'
He spoke the words in deep whis-
per. as though fearing to utter them.
"She is with the angels"
A silence 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 softness which mono
in Milford had ever heard in its meas
ured cadence.
"And this boy is your brother?"
"Yes, my brother Richard"
"Richard? For whom was he named
TINS %
Mr.. Steele asked the question breath
lessly, with an earnestness very strange
and foreign to his stony nature.
''For a schoolmate of my mothers"
''And this schoolmate's name-do you
remember it %
''It 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 you ?"
The boy came forward and replied
"His name was the last on her lips when
she died and, two days before she left
US. she gave me letter which l was to
put into his own hand and we are
searching for him, my sister and l, and,
when we have found him, we are going
to live with cousin of my fathers, in
Portsmouth"
"You need look no further for Rich
ard Steele, my boy; he is before you
Come into the house, and give me the
letter.
The children followed him into the
great parlor, and calling the astonished
hOusekeeper, he bade her prepare them
some refreshments then, receiving the
packet from the boy, he went up stairs
to his chamber, closed and locked the
door, and sat down in the arm chair 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 fin
gers of the dead had fixed. The contents
of the sheet were as follows:
RICHARD STEELE:
Now that am dying. it will wrong
no one to confess what has hitherto been
kept secret in my bosom. Ycu believ.
ed me false and tickle (; you despised all
women because of me, and have suffer
ed you to 60 on in ignorance, while all
the time my heart has been slowly break.
ing for want of your love. When you
left me to 60 out into the world in search
of fortune, my love for you wrongeC
Heaven 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 fire.
quent, ceased altogether, l sought no ex
PLANTATION of your silence.
Georgia Dale, my step-mother, wai
my counsellor, and because l listened t.
her my whole life has been shipwrecked
She it was who first whispered in my
ear the story of your devotedness to ;
fair heiress; she it was who brought m,
the letter containing the tidings of you
marriage. Oh, Richard, Richard VIII,
shall picture to you the days of agon,
which succeeded ? But for my pride,
should have lost my reason
Well, after that, Charles Gray sough
my favor my step-mother approved o
him, and L perjured myself at Gods al
tar. Too late | learned the truth ! |
was all a vile plot of Georgia Dale's;
stood between her and you but for m,
she hoped to win your love. You know
the result ; her plot was failure. Yor
fed from the country, hating me in you
heart, and never guessing that the smil
ing bride of Charles Gray cast out
thought after you.
Seven years ago my husband died
and during those intervening years
have earned my own and my children
bread by the labor of my hands. Onl
once in that time have | looked on you
face, and then you thought me hundred
of miles away but my love was potent
and | journeyed, on foot and alone,
hundred leagues to see you once more.
You were walking in the garden, an
the woman you turned away when sh
, asked for draught of water was Viole
Dale. l would not reveal myself to you
it is better as it is. And now Heave
!, bless you, Richard Steele / have love
you long, and you only; and in th
Heaven where l am going, there is ne
ther marrying nor giving in marriage
meet me there. VIOLET GRAY.
l He finished the manuscript, and, bov
l ing his face upon the open sheet, IL
s long-pent sorrow of his heart burst fort
: in tears-tears such as only one lii
e him can shed. The closed chamber W;
e opeued at last. the double granite doc