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


said. Il will go at once" AS was her in
dependent way, she started forth on the
errand unattended, and bidding her mo-
Their s'eood night added, ''do not be
alarmed If l remain until daybreak.''
The moon was full, and the August
night was almost as ightas day. BUT day
never casts snch tender, enhancing glances
upon it's basy world az the shining night
gives to its spell bound kingdom.
Caroline's pathway lay along terrace
bordering a grove of locust trees Of great
height, and so foliaged that the arches of
their branches opened a perspective that
seemed, this enchanted night, more like a
temple than grove. Beyond this grove
lay the adjoining country seat where lived
Charlie Evans; and as Caroline went slow
ly along the path her gaze penetrated the
recesses of the great trees, as if to rest upon
something dear beyond. The dark eyes
grew soft with tender expression, her
heart was filed with the image of her low
er, and the voluptuous atmosphere of the
peerless night held senses and soul in ac-
cord.
Below the terrace lay the fair map of
widely spreading landscape; but Caroline
had no thought for this scene. and did not
even glance at 1t until she reached the
gate. Then she entered a village lane, and
the dreamy look vanished from her face as
she considered her errapd.
The house she entered was a cottage so
built that its porch had double entrances.
One of these opened into the dwelling of
the poor seamstress; the other had been
occupied since May by master workman
in factory beyond the village, himself a
| stranger to the region, who brought with
him as housekeeper his daughter, girl of
unusual beauty, a rustic queen, q blonde
of that vital temperament which gives to
youthful health its most expressive form.
This daughter, Mag Merritt, became the
village belle.
AS Caroline entered the porch the Mer-
ritt's portion of the cottage was quite still
and dark On the other side the lattice was
thrown open upon a garden crowded with
fragrant plants and faint light cleaned
out. The light was burning in the cham
Der, where, after word with the sinking
sufferer and the mother enfeebled with
grief, Caroline determined to remain all
night.
Before midnight the purpose for which
the mistress of Deersfeld had been sum-
moned was duly confded to her ear; and
then sleep fell on the sufferer, and Caro-
| line having dismissed the aged watcher
was alone. She turned the lamp low, and
drew her chair by the window, where the
perfume of the garden foated in, the min
gIed breath of carnation and rose. Fol
years aftersthat night the scent Of those
precious flowers sent a thrill to Carries
heart and pallor to her lips like the poi
son of deadly plants.
Near midnight, when all was still save
the midsummer insects humming in the
trees, and the distant ripping ofthe brook
approaching voices were heard.
Two people we're coming along the lane
toward the cottage. Words indistlnct al
first grew clear as they came near. They
were lovers voices and lovers words.
''Mag, my darling %
"Oh, Charlie, if it were not for thatp'
eff it we're not for that you would &C
with me: we would fly to the far West, te
California. You would be queen, Mag
in the unconventional new world. We
would go together to-morrow-yes, to-
morrow, my only love-"
Tomorrow, dear boy, if it were not fol
that
"And when you know so we'll that ! dc
not lows her; that never have loved her
that it is made match; a marriage fol
money Oh, Mag, how can you be so un
reasonable ?"
'.But she loves you," said the woman :
voice, now close at Caroline's ear. under
the roof Of the porch.
ssYes, she loves me; there's the rub
That rather hurts fellow; he doesn t
want to be hard on girl who loves him
and has loved him all her life. But then
you see, / cannot return her aHectlon-t
kind of affections she wants. And she's 3
spirited creature, Mag: ought to marry
her as l feel now? If it hadn't been fol
you, you witch, 1 might have come to carr
for her in time. But. Mag, I'm changed
man now; know what love is; drea6
my marriage like funeral"
A pausa-a little rustling pause. Their
a whisper unheard; louder whisper dis
tinet: ooh, Mag. my darling, say yes"
II cannot, Charlie, with that woman S
image before me, 1t would haunt US til
our dying"
Caroline heard no more. When next {
sound reached her, it was the Sound, O.
the work-a-day world. A. market wagon
had broken near the lane, and the harsf
voice of the driver was Wreaklng upon his
horses the anger reused by the disaster
The moon had set; it was nearly day.
There is nothing so deslolate as the
breaking of daylight upon new and over
whelming grief. Night has a wing of its
own to fold about the sorrowfuI; but the
fearful eyes, the crushed spirits, shrink
from the brazen gaze, the undaunted from,
Of day.
Caroline before noon sent a letter tx
Charlie Evans that made him a free man
Something tells me that I cannot posi-
bly, be your wife. l am sorry that eircum
STANCES have so shaped themselves. but
am compelled to withdraw my promise
Do not see me. shall refuse an inter
view. When year has passed, and VIZ
meet again-if we do meet again-leU US
meet as friends. CAROLINE.
Charlie Evans used his freedom. He
obtained, by not strictly honorable means
a sufficient sum of money to venture for