Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-12-13

an epistle as this ? Evidently nothing? 81
I cheerfully made my preparation for de
parture. and before we sailed-I am. glat
to remember this before we sailed
wrote again to Sir John, but this time i
was letter full of gratitude and affecticI
and earnest regrets that could not do al
he desired.
month after my arrival in India read tn,
announcement of the baronet's death, and
the same paper contained his marriage
notice! A letter from his solicitors ex
planned the mystery.
''My grandfather had been severely in
jured whilst overlooking some renovations
which were being made at The Towers,
and feeling that death was fast approach
ing, he had, almost at the last moment,
married Gertrude Vale, only child and
heiress Of Hubert Monckton, Esquire.
Moreover, wrote the lawyer, 'bY your
grandfather's will you inherit something
above s5o,OOO, provided you consent to
marry the lady with whom he went
through the ceremony Of marriage on his
death bed. Otherwise, you receive not a
penny of the fortune
''Gracious Heaven! Had the man gone
mad? Marry my grandmother For,
word it as they might, the ugly fact was
still there-the woman was my grand
motherl
''Just then Somers came to my room;
Tom Somers, of Ours, big, burls, fair
haired giant-a good fellow, too. Well,
I always liked Somers; then, what did 1
do but show him the letter!
"And. Tom,' said I, you are going
home on leave. Do try to see her, and let
me know something of her-won't yon9'
"'Why? Want to marry her?'
"sI'd let her hang first, the scheming
jade!'
"My friend was silent moment, then
said, slowly:
"'I can tell you all about her.
"You!'
"'I. My sisters are great friends Of
hers. She is fat, good-natured, mother
ly sort of soul Not young, rather
pretty, and has four children by her first
husband. Let me see! Was it her first?
Yes, of course! Her second died few
weeks after marriage
SPY Jovel Why, how many did she
haye?'
"'Oh, not many. You will be the
fourth, dear boyl'
"Will 1? 1 think not! Ye godsl
Fourl'
$50, bristllng with indignation, wrote
to Sir Johns lawyer. Not very civilly, 1
fear, but very theoretically. am sure.
In the first place, said would not &C.
cept one penny of Sir john Halbrooke's
fortune as a free gift. In the next, 1
would not accept the whole of it, if bur-
dened with single restricting clause.
And, in conclusion, not only refused to
marry the widow, but absolutely de-
cllned holding any communication what
ever with her.
"'And say to my grandmother 1 adj
ded, that the world is wide enough, and
there are men enough in it for her to seek
whom she may devour elsewhere, and not
among those whom the law Of the land
now declares to be her own kith and kin.
Let her cast her eyes among the strangers
| at her gates, and not upon her grandson!
For my part, it is my firm conviction that
Sir John Halbrooke married maniac, and
left an army of maniacs behind him. Pray,
then, my dear sir, bear in mind that re-
fuse to MARRY nay grandmother
THAT ended the matter. was troub led
with no more letters about it; not even
from Tom Somers, who, by the way, soon
after resigned his commission, went over
to the Civil Service, and became consul to
some little Italian town, believe.
1.-TWO years afterwards l returned to
England on leave, and then Fate, IN the
person of General Ashland, led me down
to Surrey for a fortnight's shooting.
"Ah, my dear fellow, it is the old story
over again. went down to Surrey, and
met there-who do you suppose? Well,
the girl whose face seen once, and for a
moment only-had haunted me for years.
'sShe was Helen Ashland. distant re-
lative of my host. Yes, and I loved her
desperately. Not for her beauty alone,
but for the pure goodness, klndliness, I'M
selfshness of her heart, which was con-
stantly and unthinkingly revealing itself
in thousand artless little ways.
$50, as you may guess. my two weeks at
Ashland Park wore on to four, and still 1
fingered, even until the dying leaves were
rustling feebly in the mellow air of be-
lated Autumn. ~
'sAnd one clear, starlit evening, when
Helen and were sauntering among the
trim flower beds that were cut in the soft,
green turf of the terrace, l told her the
secret Of my heart-its hope, it's fear, its
sweet unrest.
''When ceased, my companion looked
up at me, wonderingly, and, upon my hon
or, tears were glistening in her pretty
eyes.
"'W hat i she said, 'are you sure? Do
you love me-qnes Oh, Colonel Halbrooke,
how could you? Indeed, it cannot. can
not be!'
"'Because your heart is given elsewhere,
I suppose. But, Helen, cannot let you
90 from mel I love you! Oh, my darling,
how shall live all the long weary years of
my life without vou2'
"'Hushi' she cried sharply. Sir, do you
know-do you know who I amp
"'Indeed, yes! The sweetest little girl
in the wide world!'
"sNo, sir, / am not. Gracious Heavenl
Colonel Halbfooke, am your grandma
ther, sir!'
"My grandmother! Talk of sudden