Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-11-06
Fred was quite willing.

Just as you think best said he.
Only tell him to keep it a secret; let
me be the one to tell my father. Good
night, precious little wife, since you
won't let me come in with you
He kissed her and put her out oil the
carriage and drove away leaving her
standing at the door. locking after him
for moment, the happiest little wo-
man in the world, in her own estlma-
ton, in spite Of her present anxiety.
Then she turned and rang the bell.
The door was opened hastily. A famil
lar face looked out upon her, white and
scared. 1t was her landlady.
oh, Miss Amy, is 1t you at last?
Where have you been? We've been
sending all over for you! Your poor
father
The woman stopped AMI hesitated.
Amy had entered and stood looking in
her face, her own features blanched
with sudden terror.
Yes, yes-my father? What OF him
Is he wOrse:'
He is--dead, Miss
With a scream of horror the poor girl
fell faintins-wedded and orphaned
! =. a.. 4 honr
He had died in his chair, almost
without a struggle. An invalid this
long, long time, she had been told that
he might go suddenly;but she had never
realized it in the least. And now that
the summons should come during her
absence. that she should have had no
parting kiss, ne farewell word Of bless-
ing oh! it made that sad bereavement
doubtly hard to bear.
Her uncle Elliot was very, very kind.
He attended in person to all the neces-
sary arrangements, and whom the iu-
neral was over, took her to his own
home.
'Fred's company will cheer you, and
YOU shall be as a daughter to me, my
dear he said, az she sat in the carriage
beside him. She laid her head upon his
breast aud wept-oh, how bitterly ! re-
eecting upon how she was his daughter
indeed. and dare not tell him so.
The question of Fred's marriage with
the heiress. Mss Staines, had been
forgotten in the shock Of Alr. Riyers's
sudden death, Mr.. Elliot appeared to
have restored his rebellious son to
favor, and no more was said about the
matter for several weeks.
Happy weeks were these to the Sc
cretly welded overs-happy to Amy
even in spite other grief. Fred was so
ardent. 50 devoted, and she loved him
so. No one interioied with, or took
and particular notice of their proceed
lngs-thcy were cousins, and had been
ife.long friends ana playfellOws; their
mutual pleasure in each others COM
pany was natural. No one saw any
thing strange in it in the least
But this could not last. Very soon
Mr.. Elliot returned to the attack. de-
mandng that his son should propose to
Mas Staiuas Immediately. Fred refuS'
I'd. They we're alone, and angry words
ran high between them.
What YOU desire is impossible now
cried Fred-'imposslble! The law al
lows man but cne wife alta time, and
have one already
lie arose as he spoke those decisive
wolds. and looked his father resoluIelN
in the face. Mr.. Elliot rose, too. pale with
fury,
is THIS a jcst:' he demanded
hoarsely.
.No lest an swered Fred, respectful
liz. but firmly, although he rembled
100. i have been married now TWO
months. My wfe-I hope You will not
feel so bitterly, father, when YOU learn
that my wife IS
'Sileucen His fathers voice. inter-
rupling him. was SO hoarse aid strain
ed. so changed with deep and violent
emotion. that be started at tho sound.
i refuse 10 hear her name, | refuse t"
~cco0u,ze her existence. Never shall
her foot cross my threshold-never l
have no lohser son. Leave this house,
sir, leave at once aud forever!'
Fred walked quietly to the door;
reaching it Ae turned and addressed his
father:
Hear me but a few words, sir. You
have refused to hear my wife's name;
so he il. Isec no reason to force the
information upen you. Some day you
may desire to learn 1t. would have
obeyed all your reasonable commands
asI have ever done, but this matter in
volyed the happiness of two lives and
7 have taken it into my own hands.
shall 20 forth into the word and earn
nv own bread, as man should. do
not reproaeh you that you, having
reared NE in ideness and in the c1-
pec,atlon Of being your heir, have no"
turned me adrift upon the world; but
some day perhap, your own conscience
may do so. At such time you will bt
Glad to know that have still portion
Of my last quarters allowance left
amounting to n hundred dollars. 1t Is
not much to start in life with, but il
shall do, please God. | tell you this in
10 spirit Of defiance, but for your COM
fort hereafter. Farewell, sir. Take
care Of my dear cousing Amy 'and-God
bless yeu, sir
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