Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-07-16
The JId Letter.

| lap lay unnOllCeu.
For half an-hour he had sat motion
less, with that wistful, far-seeing. alb
sorbed gaze in his blue eyes, while Mrs.
Gilfoy had sat equally motionless watch
ing him.
Between them, sleeping softly, lay
their child, yellow-haired baby, like to
its father in its Saxon fairness.
Presently along the country road
near by sounded the rattle of wheels.
and as the carriage drew near with it,
one passenger there came suddenly
into his face a look as if those disturbed
visions had suddenly taken life.
SO indeed they had.
The woman now almost beside the
porch. was Ella Mason, his second
cousin. with whom down here at their
Hettie Benson's he had spent one
never to.be forgotten summer.
He had been thinking Of her as he
looked upon the bay, where, three years
before they hal passed so many hours
together.
And now at this sudden apparition
of her, ms eyes gathered an awed'
startled look, as at the sight of one
long dead.
For one instant, when the carriage
had rolled in front OF the door, Miss
Mason sat regarding the group before
her with wide-wild eyes.
Then as John Gilfoy controlled him
self and came forward 10 help her alight,
Ella recovered from her surprise and
greeted him with an easy courtesy.
"What surprise to meet you here,
Mr.. Gilfey, had no idea auntie was
entertaining such pleasant guests" said
Ella, as she stepped from the vehicle,
I'VE only came yesterday" said
John. Neither my wife nor child
have been well this summer, and |
brought them down here for change of
air."
Before Ella could reply footsteps
came rapidly through the hall and
Aunt Hettie bustled forward.
Law sakes! Ella, is it really you?"
II rather think it is, auntie," re-
turned Ella, with little laugh getting
up to give her aunt kiss.
"Well, I am glad to see you! 1
could scarcely believe my eyes when
John brought your letter this mornin'
sayn' you was a-goin' to stop here on
your way. Why, child. it's all age since
I've seen your dear face"
"Only a little age, auntie; some
thing over this baby's here" responded
Ell, still smiling.
Come to think" pursued her anut'
''you and Miss Ross and John were all
here together last. You see," she
continued, looking at Mrs. Gilfoy, Il
can't get quite used to callin' her by the
old name"
Ella gave an almost imperceptible
little shiver.
"What a draught there is here,
auntie."
YOU'RE warm with trayeln', child
Sit down here, away from the door, and
ret cool and rested, and Jemima shall
bring you a glass Of milk while | get
the room ready for you"
So Ella sat there and talked with her
old.time lover and her old. time friend.
But the conversation was a restrained
one. and all three felt relieved when
the aunt made her appearance to an
nounce that the room was ready.
Terminals taken up your vallse, and
I think you can find your way there
without much trouble, Ella. And l
thought I'd better give you this, for Pm
pettin' so forgetful in my old ago." she
continued, referring to an envelope she
held in her hand. You can't think
how beat I was when we found it yes
terday morning. You see when John
sent word that he was goin' to bring his
wife and baby down here. Jemima and
I went to work to give Miss Ross's old
room a little extra clean, and what
should l get from back of the mantel,
but this letter for you. l was a goin'
to write and tell you all about it, as
soon as got the chance"
Thanks, aunte, dare say it IS OF
little account" responded Ella, lightly,
holding out her hand for the old yellow
white envelope.
And then as she recognized John
Gilfoy's well-known chirography, her
face paled, her fingers trembIed, and
she turned hastily-but not before she
had seen that James face was as ashy
as her own, and her eyes afrighted'
and had met glance that was a rev.
elatOn.
In her own room, with the sound OF
his voice floating in at the open win
dows. she read what John Giltoy had
written three summers before:
ELLA, dear Ella, am called abruptly
away and though 1 shall hasten my
return as much as possible, l must say
now what 1 was deferred from finishing
last night-that 1 love you beyond
aupht else in the world. In two hours
Miss Ross will have given you this.
Write me. then, by to-morrow's post,
my precious love, that l have read your
eyes Alright, and that your heart is
mine, and you will give HE your lie
also. JOHN ulLFof'
Her eyes dilated, her beautiful, color
less face grew more and more strangely
,xb,to the sheet fiuttered from her