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

all the JnlnGS TO i've LOT, none. "
She spoke very bitterly.
"You, none, beautiful Maude ?"
| eyes, ! have cast away all that ever
did-ever will care for. Lucy, you little
think that rejected Justin st. Sohn last
October ?" e1G
H'No, Maude -
81 did. repeat it. I loved him! Oh,
Father in heaven, how loved him! But,
Lucy. I must marry a rich mani must
barter all hold dear for the love of ease
that governs me with power that [ can
not withstand! Lucy. I hate him ! I
going to accept John Jameson when he
proffers me his hand, and all because that
nand offers me a fortune. He will die he
must die! and then who knows what his
rich young widow can do %
| There was fearful tension in her voice
"a bright glitter in her eyes that fright
ened timid Lucy. IH
| ''Maude you must not. You are wicked
to talk so. If you have spurned Mr.. St.
John, it was your own fault. II you mar
ny Mr.. Jameson, you must learn to RESP eel
to love him ~
"Never the childish dotard! I, Ma1lde
Campbell, to fall in love with John Jane
son +! 1t is his fortune, Lucy!''
With the same steely ring in her toni IS
she returned to the SELDOM.
| Half an hour later Mr.. Jameson. will
all the gallantry of a youth of twenty, beg:
| Ar into i,
morning at nine.
| She allowed it, and the pleasure see, Sers
retired to their homes.
| & X
Arrayed in her tasty morning 70 be
Maude proceeded to the parlor to greet Ell
lover
cit has GOMEZ she thought, as descen d
ing the stairs she caught glimpse of h il
bowed form, as he chatted with Lucy MOI
daunt, who sat skvtching by the window.
AS Maude entered the door, Lucy grace
fully excused herself, and went into the
inner parlor. s-.,,
"Miss Campbell Miss Maude, if I may
presume to say it,' and Mr.. Jameson
made his most delightful salaam-s'I need
hardly mention the object of my. call this
morning. MY intention was to offer you
my heart, my hand, my name and my for
! tune"
He paused and, if Maude noticed the
dubiousness of his words, she only bowed
respectfully.
''But, Miss Maude, so old dotard as I,
whom you loathe, hate, despise, would be
very presumptuous to do it. Therefore
Miss Maude, announce the object of my
call to be an errand Of thanks-sincere,
grateful thanks to you that, when you dis
cussed this subject SO freely to Miss Nor
daunt last evening in the library, you spoke
sufficiently loud for me, in the next room,
to get the benefit of it. [ rejoice, though
my dream is over, here his voice trem-
bled, in spite Of himself-'sI awoke before
it was too late.''
He bowed adieu and was gone ere Maude
in her speeches. surprise and mortifca-
ton, was aware Of his departure.
With cry of pain and rage, she ran to
the window to see him descending the
| steps,
MY dream, too, is over. Fate seems
| determined to deny me wealth, so I'll make
the best Of it. can obtain love, though. y
| And her love came quicker, and she thought
of Justin st. John. HE loves me still,
know he does. Justin, darling, you shall
| be mine yetl''
| Her face beaming with delightful hope
Maude stepped to the door of the adjoin-
ing parlor. Voices arrested her attention
and she stopped. The door was aiar; she
could listen; she could hear; she could
see :; she did see.
''Lucy, I know it has only been couple
of months since Maude rejected my salit.
| But have learned to be thankful for my
escape from her mercenary hands, ! have
| learned to forget her and, Lucy. my own
| true little girl, 1 have learned to love you
as never loved Maude Campbell. Dar~
ling, may place this ring on your finger
may | call you mine-my very own for ev-
er %
| "Your very own, for ever, Justin St.
John p
He silently placed a sparkling jewel over
her plump little finger.
'They are diamonds, my pet, of the pur-
est water. I am not Justin st. John, the
poor man, though as a poor man have
won my prize. 1 am Justin st. John, the
millionaire, whose money can outbuy Mr..
Jameson twice over.''
Maude Campbell heard the words. Her
face grew deadly pale, and. with a shiver
that shook her heartstrings and a sigh
! that almost carried away her breath, she
turned silently away, a lone woman. ~
RUSSIAN PTFTY Are NOT Eha Russians