Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-10-19

I time Sans father died and was Dur1et
over on the hillside, while his mother went
to a distant town to live with her sister, il
was said.
Eight years and once again Sam Weldon
walked about the old familiar streets OF
his boyhood's home. Everybody knew bin
the n oment they saw him, for although his
face was bronZed and a blonde mustache
hid his sensitive mouth, his big blue eyes
were just as earnest and honest as ever.
and in them lurked the old mischievous
smile With his hands in his pockets he
sauntered about the town whistllng in the
old merry way, occasionally stopping to
shake hands with some one who remem-
bered him kindly, but generally giving
only careless nod to those who recognized
him>
Dell Casey, a stylish young lady of TWEEN
ty-four, peeped at him through the blinds
land wondered if he had any money, and
wasn't it funny no one knew where he had
been or what he had been doing all these
long years?
He had certainly grown handsome, and
it almost seemed as if there was sort OF
a d5stingue air about him: but then, he was
nobody but Sam Weldon, and so she didn't
put on her best dress and company man
ners, when her father brought him home to
tea. While Sam talked with her father, a
dapper young clerk from the biggest dry
goods store in the village, called on Miss
Dell. and when Sam noticed the cordially
of her greeting and compared it with the
the GOODNESS hehadsmet with, the old smile
which lurked in his big blue eyes grew
brighter and more intense, until it illumi-
mated his whole face, just as the sun, COM
ing out from behind the cloud after sum
mer's shower, gives us first but feeble
ray, and then grows brig liter and brighter
until it floods the whole landscape.
The next day Sam took a cross-lot cut up
to the old country schOolhouse where we
first saw him. He paused but moment,
however, at the schoolhouse, and crossed
the road and walked down the path to the
cottage of the widow Bright.
Maggie, q BE- autiful girl of %, with soft,
brown eyes, brown hair, pure pale COM
plexion, and an expression Of kindness,
and gentleness in her face, more beautiful
than form OF feature, was sitting in a low
rocking chair near the door absorbed in
the occupation Of making bouquets from
the basket of flowers near her. Something
like tear glistened in his eye as he paused
a moment to admire the pretty picture she
made Then leaning forward, he spoke:
Maggie, have you no welcome for the
despised Sam Weldon p
Maggie started to her feet with half cry
of joy, then catching the expression of the
blue eyes bent upon her, she became sud
denly embarrassed, and reaching out her
hand, said politely
Il am glad TO see you Mr.. Weldon, will
you walk in p
No, thank you, Miss Bright [ prefer
to sit on the doorstep, if you hav'n't any
objection
He sat down and a few remarks were
made in regard to the weather, etc, when
he suddenly exclaimed, in his old. enthu-
siastlc way
ooh, come! What's the use Let's just
be Sam and Maggie, the way we used to be.
[ never can talk to you if l must call you
Miss Bright
sAll right, Sam said Maggie, now quite
set at her ease, and i'll few minutes they
were all talking of old times and telling
each other of what had happened since
they had parted eight years before.
Sam learned that Maggie was supporting
herself, and mother by giving music lessons,
end Maggie learned that Sam had spent
several years in Europe as tutor to rich
mans son, and very pleasant it was to hear
him tell of the far-famed mountains and
cities of " hich she had read so much. The
afternoon slipped away and it was 10 in the
evening ere Sam had thought to take his
leave.
OF course he came again the next day
and the next; they took walks and rides
nuations of the country gossips.
One day they had been taking a longer
walk than usual and were tired, so they
sat down to rest on messy bank not far
from the old schoolhouse where they had
first known each other.
Maggie said Sam, do you remember
that day you came to my desk with those
flowers SO sympathetically, and said, i
1iI-o xro, Sam Weldon -
Maggie remembered and blushed at the
memory.
Maggie he continued gravely, do you
like Sam Weldon now?'
There was no answer. Something in the
tone of his voice had startled her, and
Maegie's blushing face was turned from
him while her little hands, nervously clasp
ed and unclasped in her lap.
Maggie, dearest whispered Sam, taking
one Of the little hands tenderly in his own,
I love you. All these years your face has
been guiding star to me. I want you in
my home. Maggie will you marry nobody
but Sam Weldon? p
The last sentence touched her. What
right had the people to speak so of him ?
She turned her face toward him, all beam
ing with the light of love and trust, as she
answered. You're the best man in all the
world and I love you,' then hid her face on
his shoulder.
A few days after that, as they were plan
ming for the future, Maggie crept closer to-
his side and whispered. Are you so very
poor. Sam ? Because have saved few
hundred dollars, you know
For answer Sam drew a tiny package
from his vest pocket ,and, opening it,placed
a diamond solitaire ring upon her left fore
finger, while the old smile glimmered and
glowed in bis eyes, as he marked her look