Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-07-10

reckoning for leap year?' flippantly in
ouired a youth who sat opposite the SER
ious gentleman.
You should not jest under the shad-
ow af a great calamity, said the first i'm
pres.ively, regarding the youthful unbe-
hever severely through his glasses; then
TO the lady-'the traveller was observed
to have jet black bair the night before,
in the morning it was snowy white
Part of the people at the table looked
serious, part were amused. Among the
latter was Redmond. His eyes twin
kled with suppressed amusement, but
he concealed it. Blanche and Louise
had been interested listeners to the mar
rative, growing some what diSniied
by the discussion at the dinner-ta-
bic.
You see how much foundation lies
benearh this apparently i die gossip. l
believe discretion is the better part OF
valor on eur part
Louise, from under her long lashes, shot
wltherIng glance at the man who lsv-
ed her, but did not deign an answer
She could not make out this man. She
believed that sometimes she half des-
pissed him.
Il believe 1 shall take the stage fol-
Ashdale, announced Redmond.theH ext
afternoon, looking at his watch. Have
a little business there to which wish to
attend
Louise flashed quick glance from.her
large dark eyes,
What! going to leave us to take care
ef ourselves?' said Blanche. We want
you to help bouy US up when the water
rises
,hallreturn tonight. | have
no idea of being absent from such an in
teresting adventure he replied. That
is, if can positively see the gentleman
l am seeking just five minutes. Good
afternoon, ladies, and he bowed HIM
self out of the room gracefully.
There am not surprised at this
action on the part Of Redmond Clarke
said Louise. lie will not come back
here tonight. l say,as l have said be-
fore. he is a coward
why, Louise, this move Of his has
nothing to do with the superstitious tale
we have just heard
L believe 1t has, The secret desire
to think and believe high and lofty
things OF his name, drove her to sudden
anger at any suspician of the opposite.
Whoever knew one Of these blue-eycd,
blcnde-mustached men who had a spark
Of true courage and she looked any
thing but feeble character herself as
she paced the floor rapidly, her eyes flash
ing Indignantly with the Intensity OF
passion to which she had wrought her
self.
Take care, said Blanche, warningly,
in a low voice. You remember Ham
ilton Belmont saved my life at the risk
Of hts own. He was n9nC ofyour hcro-
ic-looking men.
You will find that Redmond Clarke
is not a second Hamilton Belmont. Ill
could know for a certaiuty that he ran
away from any danger, threatened or
real, l should never again allow him to
touch even my finger tips. l should
feel so humiliated that such man had
ever dared to ask for my love-
Don't Judge too harshly-too hastily
SAID her friend, gently. You know that
Redmond Clarke and Louise Randwere
fitted to make each other happy could
the latter have the mists of doubt clear
ed from her wilful eyes.
Clarke had really intend to return to
the Cocassett House as he promised, but
the gentleman whom he sought was abb
sent, and the last stage left before his
return.
Ashdale was a primitive, unambitious
town. Its only connection with the
great world was regular stage. Its
hills and valleys had never yet echoed
with the shrill whistle Of the locomo-
tive.
He paced backward and forward on
the piazza of the quiet little hotel where
he was 10 pass the night, under the po-
etic skies of fine evening, thinking Of
Louise Rand. Her naughty imperious-
ness had charm for him. lie smiled
to himself as he thought, SHE will thor
ouchly believe now what she suspected
when | lett her, that should not re-
turn tonight He was prouder than
she. There was depth beneath that
lndolent exterior she had not sounded;
and because she had doubted hIn-she,
when he loved-he would not deign to
to inconvcnisce himself to gain her ap-
proval. A man with less inherent
haughtiness would have acted different
ly
He retired early and was soon in
deep,slumber. 1t did not prove refresh
ing. A feverish, restless dream wreath
ed in and out of his brain. lie saw
Louise suspended overa waste Of waters
to something that threatened
every moment to snap with her weight,
and she be engulied forever. Then TIE
scene shifted, and he saw as plainly as
if 1t were reality the building where he
had left her envelcped in flame, and
amid the cries Of frantic men and wo-
men, Louise in her white night robe at