Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-12-24

At one Of the windows tall, slender
woman stood holding back with slender
iewelled hand the foam-like draperies
a woman so radiantly, rarely beau tlful
that even the casual passer-by half
paused with look of involuntary ad.
miration on his face.
The low white brow. the great dark
eyes, the curving crimson lips and
waving masses of blue-black hair made
a picture almost perfect in It's rare
loveliness.
And yet it was not a satisfied face,
there was look Of past pain aud pro-
sent longing, strangely mingled, rest
ing upon it. Where the expression lay
you could hardly tell, only it was there.
And this graceful woman, who SEEM
ed for the wealth that surrounded her.
was Renee Courtiand, who had lain so
white and still in Gray's arms SIX long
years before.
The change in be life had come so
suddenly, so UNEXPECTEDLY. An uncle
of her fathers, who had never spoken
to himlof his marriage with the pretty
French girl, had seen Renee, and beng
childless. had left her all his wealth.
mot for love-" he said, 'she was too
like her Frlenchfeld mother tor that,
though there was something Of the
Courtland about her as well, but simply
because she was q Courllanl and hi.
nearest Of kin"
But loyaly Renee had never forgotten
her old friends, for when in her statel,
home Margaret Gray''was with her, aud
every summer the little cottage welcom.
ed her fair young face again.
For weeks and months after the da,
she tainted in Yictor's arns, Renee hat
been the shadow other former self.
Pale and listless, it seemed as If hope
would never reassert her sway iu tho
tender young heart, and Victor watch.
ed her suffering almost as much in hi;
own great love for her.
1t seemed at times to Renee Court
land as if her heart must break, with its
passionate pain, but hearts do not breal
asily at seventeen, and Renee conquer
ed her love, then buried ir out Of sigh
forever, and as time passed on, if i
rose ta confront her, she put it asld,
With a', the stength vi her nature.
Incn came the great change in bel
life, and smiles came back to the beau
tiful face, though sometimes the shadow
Of the old pain darkened it.
And four years later she met Lostci
Sinclair again, handsomor, if possible
than ever, with a new gravity abou
HIM that became him well.
He had laid his fair young wife to res
in her grave, and was free again.
Renee's face grew pale when she frs
heard it, and paler still when he ben
over her hand, and thon the past seem
ed forgotten.
8. Even when he married the wealthy
helress, Clair Duvane, Lester Sinclau
knew that the little, dark-eyed cir
held more ofhls heart than he woulC
willingly acknowledge. and nos, see
ing her day after day, so regal in he
loneliness, the old love deepened til
Renee CORTLAND held every hope 0
happiness for him.
AS time passed Oh, Victor Gray no
ticed an added restfulness IN Renee
eyes, that the weary look around he
mouth deepeqed and could scarcely un
derstand 1t.
He enters the room now graYer, per
haps sterner than Of old. and the cir
came forward to meet him.
You are welcome, Victor she SAID
clasping her hand, and Margaret vii
be so very glad
You do not look happy this even
ing, Renee he said, his eyes on he
face.
The girl turned away with quick
impatient gesture.
lam not happy she said: my lit
has been one mistake
(which Will be righted in time h
answered, quietly, though his face pal
ed slightly.
When Victor left her she went bac
to her place at the window again.
'Will happiness pass me by foreveri
she cried is he blind, or is it that h
will not see 2
Only that morning Lester Sinclair IN
stood before this girl, whom he ha
wronged in her early girlhood, an
pleaded ror her loye as n man migl
plead for life itself.
Coldly. almost haughtily, she ha
answered him:
No. Ny love for you died year
ago it could never come 20 life again
Renee, Renee = he cried in voit
OF passionate pain, and the girl knew
she wished revenge on Lester Slncla
most truly she had it now.
NY love died years ago. she r'
peated more gently, halt plying b
, rain. No. Lester. 1t can never be-
Victor Grey merely went up to chang
e his busines suit and speak few wor'
to his sister, and in less than an ho'
& he joined Renee again.
As he entered the room he s:w s.
d held portrait in h,r hand.
Scarcely conscious OF what he vi
doing, he weat forward.
n How you love that man, Renee
l. said bitterly.
...o.,1 l., 81 f,oa fins haI