Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-06-19
ROMANCE OF A HIDDEN HEART.

ROMANCE OF A HIDDEN HEART.
Mr.. Steele had never married: he en-
ioyed his riches without companionship
he had rot a relative in the world. A
hard, selfish, grasping man, beloved by
aone and respected only because o
his great wealth. Spite ofhis power tt
de good, the world was none the better
for Richard Steele's existence.
Ne ere in Milford rene mbered Mr
Steele as other than the miser he was
to-day; for fifteen years he had been a
citizen Of the town, and no change eth
er for better or worse, had come ever
hlm, in a moral point Of view.
His garden, of lreton Hall were the
finest for scores Of miles; the yellow
pears and luscious ncctsrines mellow on
it. walls, the ungathered grapes prrpled
on the trellises, aud no schoolboy's dar-
ing hands disturbed the ripe treasures.
Mr.. Steel's great deg, Pluto, was as
selfish as his master and as savage as
his master, and his cruel teeth were al
ways ready to inhict summary punish
ment on all depredator..
Ons quiet afternoon, as Mr.. Steele sat
en- the piazza gazing out en- the broad
acres o. Ireton, his eye fell on two lit
tie children whs were csming down the
read, hand in hand. They arrived in
front ofthe gardens and cast vistful
locks at the damask roses which hung
over the quantity gate.
For a moment they conversed togeth-
er in subdued voices and then they turn
ed in at the lien guarded gateway, and
went slowly up the avenue.
An angry scowl contracted the brow
of Mr.. Steele at this unvonted intrus-
ion. and he half arose from his seat as
if to drive away the unwelcome guests.
They were the first children whs had
ever dared to trcspass on the estate Of
Ireton Hall.
They came fcarl.ssly UP to the piaz-
a,still holding each others hands. The
eldest was boy Of perhaps twelve
years, brave, noble little fellow with
brown eyes and dark, glossy hair. The
other was girl; she cssld not have
been more than nine summers old, and
beauty like hers is seldom seen save in
some eld, rare picture.
The sight Of her face struck strange
thrill to the heart Of Richard Steele, and
involdntarily he beat down to look at
her. She was fair as lily, save the
crimson which tinged her lips and leap
ed at intervals to her white cheeks.
Her eyes were deep blue, and her hair
like ripplss Of molten gold touched by
sun-beams. Both the children wore
mourning garments, cheap and coarse,
but neat as human hands could make
them.
The little girl spoke first.
Please, sir, will yeu give brother
and me some roses p
The tone was musical, and sweet as
harp notes, but the rich mans counte-
nance grew hard and cold. He point
ed to the highway.
BE OFF, he exclaimed; Il do not
raise flowers for beggars.'
How the dark eyes Of the boy flashed
and he was about to make some SHARP
answer, but the presence Of the girl's
fingers on his arm checked him.
We arc not beggars,' she said, calm
ly; but mother is dead and we are Or
phans. She loved the roses and We
love them, tes. Please give US one
apiece. 1t will seem so good to smell
flowers once again
The hard face did not relsx-the long,
thin finger still pointed to the gate but
the blse eyed petluensr did not msve.
She was regarding him with an ex-
preston strangely tender and pltyng,
and 1t annoyed him more than anything
else to be pi.ied.
why do you look at me in that wsy?'
he demanded, hsrshly.
Because I am sorry for you,' she
said, sweetly. You are old, and sad,
and all alsne. Where are your chill
dren? p
Il have none,' he answered, and won
dered at the time why he did so.
None! Have ysu no little girl to
sit on your knee, and call you papa :
I'm sure pity you very muchp
Humph! y
But do! Indeed | dol 1t must
be dreadful not 10 love anybody. Did
you never have anybody to love you''
A spasm sfpan shot athwart the rig
id face Of Richard Steele, and his tall
frame quivered 1t might be with agony
or anger, one could net decide from his
words. He pushed the child away.