Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-03-19

the shrinking victims of the ''slingS and
arrows Of outrageous fortune" She had
laughed to scorn 1.-THE pangs of unrequited
love-" Now she would give years of he,
life TO call back the past, and be kinder
girl to her faithful friend. Since theii
parting she heard but seldom from Joe, and
after her uncle's death, the unfreqnent IT,
dings altogether ceased. Now she wrote
to Belle, who lived abroad. to send her
some word Of .'her old friend.''
Belle wrote saying she was ashamed to
confess how ignorant she was. but the last
she heard of Joe, he was making a Juror
with his wonderful paintings; he had set
tied himself in Rome, and she believed had
married the daughter Of an American con-
sui at one of the Mediterranean ports.
Misfortune followed Caroline. By Sc
ries of culpable mismanagements by peo-
pie in trust Caroline s inheritance was lost
Before she had enjoyed for three years the
possession of her beloved Deerfeld, that
noble place was offered at public SALE
Since the day of her great sorrow Caroline
had metno trial like this. Indeed, her
heart had flown to all that was dear in her
country home as refuge from its bitter
loneliness. Now this refuge was gone.
The day of the sale, after having order
ed the preparation Of the house and
grounds with care of every deta il, Caro-
line mounted her favorite riding horse and
rod off ipfn bo Cho
ed after sunset, in the twilight dusk.
She knew as she entered the house that
all was over; she felt that the home was no
longer hers. She felt brave and spirited
as she was, that the world to her, save thai
it held her mother, was place of dreariest
exile.
She was met in the hall by one of her
faithful servants, who seemed to have been
weeping. "Miss Caroline" he faltered,
''the gentle who has bought the house is
in the parlor, and wishes to see you.''
Caroline had been marble-pale when this
message reached her, but now the blood
flashed to her cheeks. She checked VIC
lent exclamation. Her heart arose indig-
naDt against this last demand upon her
endurance. She conquered herself, and
said, II will see him.''
But the gentleman whom she found in
the parlor was not the dreaded stranger
who held her treasure, not the new master
of the house whose inimical form her fan
cy had already conjured. No; it was an
old friend, an artist returned from abroad,
bringing his laurels with him-an artist
who had come to tell Caroline that all his
fame had been won by his devotion to her
image-a friend, who came to tell Caroline
that time had not changed andnever would
change the constancy Of his heart.
1t was only Joe.
On the very next day to the day of her
despair, hope dawned upon Caroline. The
World became something more than place
Of dreary exile.
Sand you really bought Deersfeld?'
Eyes; but on-only with your-your
money-the payment for your image. Car
oline with the birds; Caroline with the
blood-hounds Caroline standing in the
field, with the wild colts eareering toward
her, only, as one In the picture shows, to
lay the trustful head against her shoulder.
These pictures brought great prices. Car
oline-Carrie, Deersfeld is yours.''
"And you-you dear, dear joey" 1t was
Carrie who stanmered now.
~ am yours. too. My love, my queen,
my darling.