Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-07-30

she came TO the door leading little Lucy
as the carriage grated over the stony
country road and stopped in front of the
old-fashioned country portico.
But Challes was not there, only the
driver, who touched his hat with an
awkward attempt at politeness as he
descended from the box.
IF you please, ma'am, Mr.. Lynde
could not come, but he'll be there to
meet you.'
More neglect. Alice answered not a
word, but the hands with which she tied
the blue ribbons Of l.ucy's hat trembled
sorely, and her lip would quiver in spite
Of the resolute little white teeth that
held it down.
The little ones laughed and chatted
and played in the carriage as 1t rolled
along, exclaiming loudly at the various
objects on the road; but Alice leaned
back ia the coruer, pale and silent, see
ing nothing but the fantastic visions Of
her own fevered mind. Once or twice
the idea crossed her brain that the jour-
ney was rather longer than she had eY.
pected, but she did not reason at all on
the subject, relapsing at once into her
painful reflections.
Mamms-oh, mamma, what pretty
place y chOrused the three children at
once. There's a tall white statue
back of those fir trees, and a fountain
all sparkling with diamonds; and oh,
mamma, such beautiful beds offowers =
Alice, reused from her thoughts for
the instant, leaned forward and gazed
out OF the window.
Surely there was something familiar
in those green terraces with their flight
OF marble steps, in the Doric columns OF
the majestic stone piazza bet ore which
the carriage suddenly came 10 halt.
Am l dreamingf' she thought, look
lug vaguely around her, or ia this really
Beech Grove:'
She went up the steps feeling as il
she were moving through the uncertain
fantastic of dream. But in the vesti'
bule stood reality in the shape of her
husband. with face Of bright enraptur-
ed happiness,
MY dearest WIFE he murmurcd,
folding her tcnderly in his arms, the
time has come for me to restore to you
what you gave up so cheerfully for my
sake, year. ago. Welcome once again
to your home, Alice
Home she repeated, gazing up in
his eyes, as if she scarcely credited the
evidence Of her own senses.
Yes, home, indeed. have pur-
chased Beech Grove, Alice, aud furn-
i,hed it 10 suit your own taste. Ny
cherished little wife, 1 am rewarded now
for the years Of economy, the extra
work, the self denial which have been
obliged TO practice.
Charles she whispered, growing
scarlet and pale alternately, was it
this that kept you away from me, that
occasioned your absence last week:'
Il was determined to bring you here,
Alice, when | took you away from that
crampcd little farm house. There have
been countless delays but have con-
quered them all. Welcome to your
home, my precious wife,
And as he took her once more to his
heart, Alice Lynds's happiness was
mingled with the keenest pang Of re-
morse she had ever known.
Sitting in The handsome, familiar
rooms, that evening, with the moon
light streaming through the stained
glass windows, her children asleep up
stairs in the nursery that had once been
hers. and Charles beside her, Alice
vowed to herself the best resolution a
welded wife can make-neyer again to
let the least shadow come between her,
self and her confidence in her husbands
love.