Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-06-19

He spoke the words in a deep whis-
per, as though fearing to utter them.
she is with the angels.
A silence fell upon the group, broken
only by the suppressed sObs of the girl
and the heavy breathing OF the man.
When he again addressed her his
voice bad taken softness which none
in Milford had eyer heard in its measjr.
ed cadence.
And this boy is your brother p
Yes, my brother Richard
Richard! For whom was he named
thus?'
Mr.. Steele asked the question breath
lessly with an expression very strange
and foreign to his stony nature.
For a schoolmate Of my Mothers
And this schoelmate's surname
do you remember it?'
1T was Richard Steele, sir.
How the cold face lighted up, and the
stern mouth grew almost tender as this
proof Of the power Of the old love was
given him.
Did Violet-did yeur mother ever
mention this Richard Steele to you!'
The boy came forward and replied:
"His name was the last on her lips
when she died; and, two days before
she left US, she gave nae letter which
was to put into his own hand and We
are searching for him, my sister and l,
and when we have found him, We arc
going to live with a cousin Of my
fathers, in Portsmouth,
You need look no further for Richard
Steele, my boy he Is before you. Come
into the house and give me the letter.
The children followed him into the
great parlor, and calling the astonished
housekeeper, he bade her prepare them
some refreshments then receiving the
packet from the boy, he went up stairs
to bis chamber, closed and locked the
door, and sat down in the arm chair by
the window. He held the letter some
time in his hand, gazing inteHtly on the
superscription. which he could scarcely
discern for the mist that dimmed his
eyes. At length he kissed the writing
and gently broke the seal, which the
fingers of the dead had fixed. The
content. of the sheet were a; follows:
RICHARD STEELE Now that am
dying, it will wrong no one to confess
what has hitherto been kept secret in
my own bosom. You believed me
false and tickle you despised all women
because Of me, and | have suffered you
to 90 on in ignorance, while all the tine
my heart has been slowly breaking for
want Of your love. When you left me
to 20 out into the world in search Of
fortune, my love for you vrouged
heaven! l was an idolater, and YOU,
Richard, was my idol. But if my love
was strong my pride was stronger, and
when your letters. after becoming less
frequent, ceased slto9sther, sought no
explanation Of your silence.
Georgia Dale, my step mother, was
my counsellor, and be;anse | listened
to her my life has been shipwrecked.
She it was who first whispered in my
ear the story Of your devetcdncSs to d
fair heiress she it was who brought me
the letter containing the tidings Of your
marriage. Oh, Richard, Richard |! who
shall picture TO you the days Of agony
which succeeded? But for my pride, l
should have lost my reason.
We'll, after that Charles Gray sought
my favor; my step mother approved Of
him, and / pcrjured myself at Gods
altar. Too late | learned the truth!
1t was all vile plot Of Georgia Dale's !;
| stood between her and you; but for
me, she hoped to win your love. You
know the result her plot was a failure.
You lied from the country, hating nae
in yoar heart, and never guessing that
the smiling bride OF Charles Gray cast
out thought after you.
Seven gears ago my husband died
and during these intervening years
have earned my own and my childrsn's
bread by the labor Of my hands. Only
snce in that time have locked on your
face, and then you thought me hundreds
Of miles away but my love was potent.
and journcyea, on foot and alone, a
hundred leagues to see you once mere.
You were walking in the garden, and
the woman whom you turned away
when she asked for a draught Of water
was Violet Dale. l would not reveal
myself TO you; it is better as il is. And
now, heayen Bless you, Richard Steele |!
l have loved yeu long, and you only I;
and in the heaven whore 1 am going