Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-11-13

"A duke for Instant suggested my
loYer coldly.
Yes, | think that would do
Hugh didn't tear his hair or threaten
to commit suicide because I retnsed him.
He even had tile impertinence 10 laugh,
and locking down at me said:
You absurd child l doubt ifyou will
ever see duke. 1 shall wait patiently,
for of course. we will marry some day.
l have felt it ever since | saw you sit
ting on the stoYc that morning.
Now, had no good excuse for act
ing as | did. 1t was simply centrarlety.
Hugh Chaloner was a noble man, and
in NV heart ofhearts, l knew loved
him, but ABBY and Juliet calmly con-
tented themselves. longed to see mo
safely landed on the shores Of matri-
mony, hence l determined not 10 marry.
but to enjoy my freedom as long as l
pleased.
We were going to have a double we'd
ding. Abby and Juliet were to be
married on the same day, and my two
fair sisters were deeply. traly happy.
One evening just a week before the
wedding, Mr.. Grambling called, looking
very grave.
Il bring bad news. ladies. he said, ab'
ruptly, and it concerns your uncle
Ifelta cold chill creep up my spine.
Well said Abby.
Mr.. JeGerys left a later will; 1t has
lust been found to day aud he left his
property TO an orphan asylum
Then there was lsng silence, and [
questioned the reality OF all earthly
things. Three white shocked faces
confronted the lawyer.
1T can not be true l cried out at
last Uncle Marrce surely vas MT so
wicked
But it was true, and we were as poor
AZ when we lived in Mrs. jenkins back
attic.
ABBY and Juliet accepted this reverse
of fortuac very calmly, but | wept aud
refused to be comlortcd, and took
pleasure in hating uncle Maurice.
WisbIa magnanlmi.y worthy Of praise
MI. Cbaloncr again came forward and
proposed but pride made me reject him
this time.
No, 1 said proudly, 1 wouldn't mar
rao ysu when | was rich, don't ask me
to now.
Then | went up stairs and cried until
nv nose was the size ola teacup,
Ny sisters thought would natural
ly make my home with them, but had
not the rcmotc.t idea of such a thing. We
had warm discussion on the subject
one night, and came of victor.
But what are you going to do, Cllii?
asked Abby.
I am going doTn to Picken'vllle to
teach school and wear out all the fin
cry
so after the wedding departed ter
Picken.ville. ThIA highly interesting
village was composed OF two dozen
houses. five stores, and a set OF the
most respectfully stupid people that l
ever saw.
The mild dissipation the Pcken'Tlll-
ians INDUCED in, whsn compared to that
had just given up, was like blue skim
med milk to rich, red wine.
NV life was dreary sameless from
week to week. II | had kept dairy 1t
would have been as barren OF events as
Mark Twain's on ,hip-board. Here
would have been an entry:
Eat nv breakfast, went to schocl'and
whipped all the children because theY
wouldn't obey me. Dismissed at hVe
O'Clock. went home and put on ono oil
my prettiest dresses, and spent the re-
maipder of the day in the delightful oc-
cupotion Of tor menting JOS. James the
village lawyer
ABBY and Juliet wrote regularly each
week. and as regularly begged me 10
give up ny foolish pride and come back
to them but stubbornly refused.
One morning when l started to my
daily torture-teaching the youth OF
pickcnsyllle was a torture to mel iell
50 blue. and spiritless, lonsed to lie
down BY the wayside.and never rise any
mere.
All through the day inwardlJ moan
ed ever my lot, looking back rcsretiulIj
to that year cfpleasure, that lay Ike a
rift of warm light across the graYneSS o.
my life.
At treccss, when with several distlnc'
tive yells my unruly scholars departed
for their Playground put my head down
OH the desk to have good comfortable
cry.
The first cheer. bad just 'pashed
down when the door opened and Hugh
Chaloner entered. My hear throbbed
fast with JOY. but l dried my eyes, and
tried to appear as cool and calm as
Nav morning: but didn't succeed.
'Ysu have been crying Clid,' were
among the first words he said TO me.
Il haven't [ cried indlgnantely.
We'll. there are tears on your face
anyhow
'O-I that-is'
You are not good at telling stsrlss'
he interrupted with a laugh. Then he
looked keenly al me and said:
A