Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-11-05
ONLY A NAME.
BY JENNY WREN.

thought maybe you'd be too proud'll Ike
beng the wife of an cid army officer,
and all that; but have not a corner
in which to put him, so just strppet
over to tell you about it, hoping there is
no ofcnse. ma'am.'
T hus Mrs. Burchard poured out the
story Of the expected lodger, for whom
She could find no place standing in the
door ofMrs. Leonard's cottage. to whom
a sudden Inspiration had directed her as
suggesting way out of her dilemma. al
though her words and manner indicated
her fear of having thereby given posi-
bic oflense.
True. faint flush stole into Mrs.
Leonard's pale cheek as she llstened.-
She was a slisht. delicate looking wo
man. whose white hands and general
air Of refinement betokened birth and
breeding.
Since her husbands death, some SIX
years before, she had been enabled.
with the small insurance left On his life,
and her scanty pension, to live only In
this quiet, unpreteniious way, with her
one cLild.
The thought Of stranger intruding
upon their privacy was hardly to be
borne. A courteous refusal OF her
ucirhbor's kindness was on her lips.
when a Young girl who bad been stand
ins half.concealed by the curtain in the
window. sprang eagerly 10 her side.
Oh. mammal she exclaimed; LET
u, take this gentleman, and with this
money we can consult that famous ply
si,ian about your eyes. He will be
away all day fishing or shooting. We
shall hardly know he is here. l prom
lse TO take all the care and ali the re.
spon,ibil.t,; but | shall be 50 glad 1T
Tie motlier, TO put you under DR.. Bur
rough's care.'
50 Mabel Leonard bad her way, aud
Mrs. Burchard bustIed off, with the as
surance that the room should be in
readiness for the expected lodger in time
for the incoming OF the evening train.
But the whistle announcing its arrival
struck with nervous terror on Mrs. Leon
ards heart, which, however, beat
more calml,. when carriage having
stopped Ill the gate of the garden and
is occupants descended, the momentar>
glimpse she had Of him. assured hel
that the new member OF their house
hold vas at least a genteman-a oellei
strengthened aud confirmed when, in a
few courteous words he introduced him
self aud thanked her for having opened
her house to a stranger. But Gale
ThOrntan did not long rema Il stran-
ger. Mabel's prophesy, that all the
day would be spent in bunting and fish,
ing. proved untrue.
There seemed to linger some subtle
charm in the pretty little cottage parlor,
which brought him at first half-doubt
ingly at It's threshold; then, as he
learned to feel assured of his welcome
more frequently, until the home group
did not seem quite complete without
him. He had insisted. too, that May
bel must learn to ride, and that he
should be her teacher ; or they would
sing duets together, and his rich tenor
wosld blend and harmonize with her
clear soprano notes into delicious har-
mony. Was there no danger in all
this ? Did Mrs. Leonard suspect none
1t had not come about in day or an
hour. Gale Thornton had been with
them now two months. The money
necessary for the consultation with the
great physician lay carefully put away
but still the hoard kept on increasing
and no word was SAID as to time o.
parting. Surely, Mrs. Leonard was
very blind, and it was a blindness hei
daughter shared. To Mabel. the days
flew by with new swiftness. She was
worry, very happy, without seeking ol
caring to know the reason why. Some
times, with a dull sense OF unacknowl-
edged pain. she would realize that the
summer was passing, and that she must
soon 20 back to the old quiet life.-
Further than this she did not pause K
reason.
Sauntering along, one afternoon 'alon'
past Mrs. Burchard's cottage, she hear'
her name called in shrill tones, which
she instantly recognized as unmistaka
bly, those OF her good neighbor.
Come in, Miss Mabel, said she.
want to speak with you.'
L can't come IN, the girl answered
approaching the house, and leaning "
against the low window-sill, whose
frame made picture of the sweet younl
face and slight, graceful form. s'
Mrs. Burchard was alone in the room
her fat arms buried deep in dough, an'
sundry white patches on the round good