Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-12-13
STANTON, VIRGINIA, FRIDAY. DECEMBER 10, 1878.

"She had b card of me. She knew al
about her guardians intentions and m
persistent refusal to see her. And whel
Slr John lay dying, and appealed to he
to marry him, in order to secure certain
property which would otherwise pas
to the next Of kin, she consented.
i "'Not for myself, Major Halbrooke, sh'
continued. for inherited fortune, bu
for you. The property has been sold, &C
cordlng to instructions, and the money
coming from the sale is yours. Sir John
wished you to take it. He often said thai
your allowance was paltry compared with
what should have been yonrs, and would
have been, too, had your father not left SC
many debts behind him.
"'You are privileged to speak as you
please about my father" I murmured
were he living be would call you moth
er!"
"'Don't be ridiculous, sir!' cried her
| ladyship. sharply. And if you are trying
to mortify me, you may as well under
stand that you cannot succeed. But what
| could you, or any other man like you, he
expected to know of gratitude and-and-
justice? However, let it go. Your inu-
endoes do not touch me, STRIP
"'My dear madame, II
"'Pray allow me to proceed Of course
you are wondering how Glanced to meet
you here. 1t was not by chance; it was
by design! 1 knew that you despised me
and almost despise myself. Still, I meant
to do right, and I regret nothing that 1
have done. I did not know anything of
your grandfather's foolish wishes about us
until bis will was read, and beg you be
lieve that I have repeatedly written to you,
explaining my position, and entreating
you to take your own and to bear no NAL
ice; but you never had the civility to an
swer even one of my letters
"'Because never received Them I pro-
tested.
Pardon me; you received them all
They were sent to you through Captain
Somers, whose sisters are friends of mine.'
"Ah, Tom. my boy Tom. my boy The
veriest daredevil of a Seapoy could not
|
rib than did you my Christian gentleman!
"'Well, continued her ladyship, as I
was about to explain, told all to Mrs.
Ashland, who is my cousin, and the gen.
eral was sent to fetch you. So have kept
my promise to Sir John, and 1 am very
glad to be able to explain my seeming har-
dihood."
"There was moment of silence. Then
I saiG, boldly:
"'Do I understand that the money is
really mine. Helen ? But, pray, is that
your right name p
"'No. My right name is Gertrude. but
to you am Lady Halbrooke!"
"'No! To me you shall always be Hell
en-! Is that money really mine, really
mine, Helen p "a.
"'Yes; all yours
"'Well, 1 want it! ~
"'You shall have it, sir: never fear =
"'Ie must have It'll I'll blow out my
brains if 1 don't get it %
scare you so frightfully in debt ~ ask
ed my companion, in a low, awed whisper,
her big eyes full of gentlest sorrow.
"sIn debt ? Thank heaven, no! But
I have an itching palm. Yet, can re-
ceive nothing from you unless
"'Well?'
"'Unless you give yourself to me also!'
''Would you marry your grandmoth-
err" she asked, between a sob and
laugh.
CT would! And my great grandmoth-
er. too, if she came to me like this y
"Then smile like the fall June of sun
shine wreathed my darling's perfect lips,
d-and-well, to me that prim old ter
race became then simply an Eden-a gar
den Of all delights.
slater, remembered the three hus-
bands, and asked Helen about them.
"Poor Tom Somers - To think that he
would have romanced as he did about the
fat widow, merely to keep me from the
woman whom he had long loved. Twas
her rejection of his suit that sent him
away from England. But I could forgive
him. could afford to be generous. And,
Lyndon, old friend, come down to The
Towers as soon as possible and see my
grandmother! She is my wife now. Hon
estly, l liked my family far too well to
think of marrying out of it,"