Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-03-26
Cnele ANDREWS Love story

depicting, as saw ny Tic SN'nPHc
which caught of it, bright glrlish
face Of SURPRISING beauty.
l had no thought Of ntruding on
Uncle Andrews private grlefs when |
entered his room without warning. In.
deed | never suspected that be had any
griefs, he was so cheerful and pleasant
and so free from the crustineSs COM
monty set down as the Distinguishing
traits of old bachelors.
was about to beat hasty retreat,
when Uucle Andrew stopped me.
Don't go, Charley he said i feel
as thosgA it would do me good 10 talk a
bit just now
is that the likeness of a relatiye?' l
asked, pointing TO the immature, which
seemed to be the subject of his thoughts.
No he answered, but | will tell you
the story, if you care to hear it. think
it would be a relief 10 tell it to some
enc this evening"
drew up a char in trout Of Uhcle
Andrew, who thus proceeded:
You may form some conception Of
how beautiful Alice Bond was, from
the picture you see there, though the
reality was far beyond the power of any
artist to produce.
She was a delicate and tender flower.
A hereditary tendency to heart disease
her mother had died suddenly from
that cause gave her friends much
anxiety in her earlier years, but the
doctors gave encouragement that she
would outgrow it in time, and Mr.. Bond
went on making money, as usual, with
an eye single to leaving his daugher
some day the richest he.ress in the land.
L was happy Youth that day when
[ told Alice that loved her. and had
done 50 ever since | knew the meaning
Of the word, and she leaned ler darling
head on my shoulder and whispered
back the precious answer, lhat satisfied
my heart's longing.
We both knew Alicc's father too
well to hope for hi. present slnction Of
eur union. This was our plan: l would
20 TO land OF cold, thrn newly dis
covered. wn fortune aud return and
psoudb claim the hand ofthe ricn mau :
daughter when he would have 10 right
to spurn my suit as that Of mcrccnarl
advenlurer.
For two long years toiled in that
wild far off country, rs a man ouly can
toll when he has some cherished end III
view. l was among The fortunate ones,
and at the end of the period nam ed.had
amassed a sum beyond my most SAN
guine hopes. The time had come
when l need wait no longer. The days
of servitude were over, and might
claim the prize.
with what impatience l made the
weary journey homeward! Not a line
had passed between Alice and myself.
1t was a condition of our compact that
we should hold no communication TIL
the time came when we might ask
Alice's father for bis approval. The
self-imposed restriction had been
faithfully observed. l did not even
write to tell Alice Of good success. l
wished to be the bearer Of the good
news in person.
AT last I set my foot in my native
town. Ny first greeting, resolved
should come from Alice. rather ran
than walked to her house.
Tell Miss Bond a gentleman wishes
to see her. l said excitedly. to the
servant who answered my hasty ring.
Il fear you cannot see her to-day
was the response.
why not = [ asked impatiently.
DO you not know she is to be married
his morning. returned the servant.
Married exclaimed, gasping for
married to whom?'
To Mr.. Ellis Wythe.'
Ellis Wythe! the villain! He had
pretended to be my old friend, aud was
the only confdant OF my love for
Alice.
Not well knowing what | did, | stag
geree past the servant and was soon in
the midst Of the gay company to whom
Mr. Bond, stiff an stately as usual, was
doing the honors with an air OF great
satisfaction.
The bridegroom and his attendants,
stood in little group by themselves.
The clergyman was in readiness to do
his ONCE. They seemed to be only
waiting tor the bride.
L advanced and confronted Ellis
Wythe. Heaven knows what l would
have said or done, for | was in nc
reasonable mood. But at that instant
piercing shrek from an upper chamber
rang through the house. Alarm oyer
spread the countenances Of the guests.
There was a general rush for the stair
way, and was borne along with the
others. Through the open doors oi an
apartment we saw the bridesmaid,
who had gone to summon the bride
kneeling beside PROSTATE from IN
white. 1t was that Of Alice in her
wedding robes. The strain upon tie
worn. troubled heart had been too
great. She was dead!
1T was aot until afterwards that
learned the full perfdy of Ellis Wythe.
lie had pretended to receive intelli-
gence through correspondent, OF my
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