Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-07-16

what does TINS mean - uenanucu
Ella, pointing to :he note. II loved
John Gilfoy, and-thank God | know
it even thus late-he loved me. Why
should | suffer in silence and never
stand cleared in his eyes? Why should
not know that l loved and through
whose agency this knowledge was kept
from him -
Because" exclaimed Jahe, passion
ately, falling at her feet, ''while !
know | have wrongsd him and you. and
that he has never loved rue, as perhaps,
he would have loved you, yet he cares
for me in a kindly way since he believed
you trhed with him and was not WORT y
f his love, and | am the mother Of his
child. Would you 90 TO him and
estrange us forever, and render that
baoy either fatheress or motherless ?"
Enough. John Gilfoy shall never
hear from me Of your treachery, nor
suspect that he is dearer to me than my
own life. But l cannot stay here. |
shall 90 away this afternoon"
And 80 these two women. who had
once been friends, parted, the sinned
against and the sinnlng.
Jane Gilfoy was dead and Ella
Mason's fate was indeed hard.
One, two, three years she waited for
the man who mOurned his wife, and
devoted himself 10 his motherless child,
to seek again the woman he had loved
in the olden days.
And when a long course of fever left
her weak, but free from the danger
which had threatened her for weeks.
Miss Mason was scarcely thankful for
the life which had been spared her-the
life which was so yalueless, so utterly
and always heart sick, unsatisfied aud
and lonely.
Still she grew better so much better
at last that she yielded 20 the entreaties
Of physicians and friends, and IIettie
herself to 20 down to her aunt's.
And one summer evening when the
meadows were at their greenest, she
was lifted out of the carriage at the
door-lifted out byJohn Gilfoy's caress'
ing arms.
ELLA, my own henceforth! Thank
God, you are spared me"
Powerless 10 speak, Elias great
eyes filed now with passionate, love
light looked into his.
Never mind questions, darling. l
know everythlng-know that l hold in
my arms my own best love-
but, John, she is woman" an
nounced her Aunt Hettie. ''Sse'll
never be satisfied unless she s tolI
something about this matter"
Then, taking her niece from John to
her own kindly embrace, she whisper
ed.
"Walls sometimes haYe ears, Ella.
l heard certain things once, and put
this and that together, and made out a
story that did not feel at liberty to
tell-though nay blood boiled 10 do So
until | visited you when you were sick
and raving, and knew that love which
you had promised never to betray, was
perhaps, killing you. When 1 came
home [ wrote letter that fetched John
home from a trip to foreign parts. Now
deer you are satisfied, ann do you think
YOU can stay here, and forget old times,
and get well and happy again?'
"Ah, aunt. | am more than satisfied.
To know that John understands me,
and loves at last, is bliss for which |
had forever ceased to hope. Indeed,
| shall get well. and happy. Am !
not happy now?' putting her hands
with an eloquent gesture, into those of
her lover. AS for the past we will
meyer revert TO it again-eXcept that
thank you, aunt, God alone knows how
fervently-for what you have done for
me-"
Law, Ella, l know all about it N.Y.
self Do you think you young folks are
the only ones who have ever loved :"
responded her aunt, as she beamlngly |
led the way to Miss Mason's room,
followed by John with the invalid sup
norted tenderly in his loving arms.