Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-06-27
sTAUNToN, VIRGINIA, FRIDAY. JUNE 81, 1879

| He found rest and pleasure with US.
knowing we could not visit them, and 1
think our intercourse was bright, happy
one to him, lifting him out of some habi-
tual melancholy, until he wakened to the
knowledge that he loved me, and was ter
ror-stricken.
Just in one flash of his soft eyes, enc in,
Election of his harmonious voice, read his
secret and answered it. In moment he
was ice! He apologized for having tor
gotten the respect due to me. and with
stiff, white lips, and choked, hard tone I
had never heard before, he babe me fare
well and was gone.
was stunned, then enragedl How
dared he, thought, win my love to scorn
lit! Then I wept for him. knew my,
pain was less than his, because his nature
was deeper, more intense in all things,
than mine.
would not pine for any man, I thought,
and dashed into every gayety available in
our circle. But my firtations were vast
ed, as he did not see them. and my heart
was sick for a look from his tender eyes.
blushed for myself when I stole out at
dark and crossed our garden to look in at
the window of his study to watch him.
He was paler, Graver than ever, bending
over his books for an hour at time with
out turning a leaf, or walking up and
down with folded arms and bowed head,
nusing painfully, as could see by his
| rigid lips and stern brow.
had been six months at Wolfston, and
the snow covered the ground when Mrs.
Latimer impaired to me the first piece of
gossip ever heard fall from her lips.
s'You remember that Mr.. Dalton who
came here so often when we were first
here?" she asked me, as we fingered over
late breakfast.
nodded assent.
ssMy dear, he has crazy wife shut up
in that gloomy house Of his"
.'Nonsensel" said sharply. while my
brain seemed afame.
s'But Mrs. Reynolds told me She says
that Mrs. Dalton has whole suit of up
per rooms, two women to wait upon her,
every care and indulgence, but that she is
violent maniac"
"But he would not pass himself off for
single mar" began.
stWho ever heard him say whether he
was married or single?" was the reply. 'He
never talked about himself"
Which was strictly true.
c. Sc ho 1ufs ~ no ovofor uI
This was the reason why, when we met in
the woods or lanes, he was restrained and
cold, until, little by little, woke the love-
light in his eyes, the tender tones Of his
voice, and was happy, until some warning
reused him to his own happiness, aud he
would leave abruptly, as if caught in some
net hard to break.
A mad wifel Truly I have played q
noble part to win the love that belonged to
the poor creature wasting her life prison.
or in her own housed was humbled to
the very dust, though conscious Of my own
innocence of any intention Of wronging
her. My heart ached for both, for his
generous devotion, his involuntary faith
lessness; and for her-oh. pitied her
his wife. and mad
But had my task now-to conquer the
miserable love in my own heart. to tear
away, one by one, the sweet dreams had
cherished of the time would break down
the barrier that separated us, and win
from Ralph the assurance of his love.
would not cross the grave to my own hap
piness, and what but death could free
| him?
would not love him, but oh, how my
heart ached for his misery! If only he
could be my brother. that might assure
him of my sympathy, comfort him, give
him some womanly care in his desolated
homel I would wake sobbing from dreams
Of his pain. I stole often to tie hedge in
the garden and watched how he grew
paler and sadder, and my prayers for him
were more earnest than they had ever
been for myself.
1t was after the New Years festivities,
and had shaken hands with Ralph at my
reception, and smiled into his haggard
face with what felt was very wintry
imitation of joyous greeting. | had crept
away to weep after all my guests were
gone, and Mrs. Latimer had told melt
was all quite perfect, my dear; but you
look pale and tired. You had better sleep
late tomorrow"
And had tossed sleeplessly till dawn.
A bright winter dawn, with the sun beat
ing on the hard, frozen ground, and not
breath of wind stirring. I was up early
and out. The room seemed to sti1e me.
II stole down stairs, before even the ser
wants were out of their rooms, and wrap
ping myself in heavy cloak, and with a
aeecy white scarf about my head went to
walk. Perhaps this feverish unrest would
be quieted in a crisp winter air.
I struck into grove Of trees that stood
on my own grounds, and was pacing slow
ly forward, when heard stealthy step
beside me, and turning quickly, saw wo-
man keeping near me, watching me.
My very heart seemed to cease its pulsa-
lions, for she WAS richly dressed in loose,
flowing garment of silk, quilted and warm
but bare headed, and with only thin slip
pers on her slender feet. Her eyes restless
and wild, told of mental wandering, and
her hair heavily streaked with gray, her
wrinkled cheeks and bent figure seemed to
tell an eloquent story Of premature age
andjsuffering. Every detail confirmed ne
in my recognition.of Mrs. Dalton.
''Hush !" she said, coming close to me.
''If you make noise they will find me and
shut me up. And cannot go to Ralph If
l am shut up. Day and night he calls me
to come to him, and the doors are barred
so that cannot CO."
put my hand upon her arm, saying