Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-03-30
TOr CNU SPECTATOR.
Horace Fairfax.
BY ST. ELVAH LEE.

"The hurrying gale,
Rolls round the mountain and down the vale,
Like an army with shout, and brand and spear,
And streaming plumes, and banners unfurled,
He is rushing down ON the covering world.''
Thus from thinking of "Hempstead's
Storm" he fell to soliloquizing. "How
fast time flies, here March is far on the
wane, and have just finished sowing
my oats, and how many other things
are waiting for these hands, too.
Farming is certainly busy life, but 1
would not exchange all this lovely
scenery, the plenty. the happiness, free
dom from care, long ey enings and
nights have for study, for all the hon
ors of l.. J. D., which once aspired to.
How glad am invested in this farm
four years ago, instead of continuing
my law studies; but oh what down
iall for my aristOcratic mother and sis
ters; although mother ia getting recon-
ciled, for sha sees she can be happy with
me here, Or at lesst she told me that
the din and hustle of city life annoyed
her now"
Horace Fairfax was approaching thir-
ty and unmarried. Five years previous,
after meeting vita serious losses, owing
to the great change the country was
passing through, he had been rejected
by one whom he loved, or thought he
loved, until the shallowness of her
character was known to him.
After settling up his business, pre-
paratory to leaving for his farm, he
went to call on Gertrude Saville; he
thought her greeting somewhat cool,
reference to his leaving the city.
tgVor ho hod loorI <r -
scheme, and thought he was taking
leave of his senses"
II just think / am collecting them
you would not have me remain here,
without chance of making a support
for myself and mother; besides, after
my fathers debts are all paid, we may
only have few thousands, nay, it may
be only few hundreds left, but by the
blessing of God, if it takes all, 1 will
endeavor to have a clear conscience" )"
replied Horace warmly.
Il do not see why you nse.i burden
yourself vita your fathers debts; the
creditors will not expect it of you," said
Gertrude.
Most of the property belonged to my
father, of which we are possessed, and
nothing but justice demands that they
should be paid, if it takes every cent
II do not see why you should do it
think people should take thought fol
themselves, and you need not expect tt
visit here in the future, if you carry out
this foolish idea," said Gertrude coldly
So. Miss Gertrude, this is to be oul
final conversation then cannot 60 or
in my office; the profession is crowded
nov to overnowing; the young lawyers
stand no chance; those, whose reputa
tion and talents are known, have theil
name established, but I may wait her,
for years, and at the end be nothinl
more than l am now, useless, idl1
man, while the world needs workers
society is TOO full of idleness now: ou
country is too full of vapid show figure
too many dummies" with heart ant
brains, who do not fill up niche in
| The worlds broad Geld of battle
as we'll as their namesakes do in tn,
fashionable stores"
II did not think you were so enthu
siastic-prObably you will turn lecturer
preacher, or some other great celebrity
when you retire to the back woods" an
swered Gertrude.
Horace found he had said enough
and for all the impression it made, b
may as we'll have left 1t unsaid; so b
left.
After the sale of all their property, a
it was valuable and in good demand, b
} found he had five thousapd dollars t
invest, so be purchased home in -
J county in Virginia; the buildings, wit
the help of paint and very little reno
, vating would be very attractive: th
farm was small, near an hundred acres
. but be knew the impOrtanca of q 2r.,c,
farm; so he purchased o couple of fin
horses. two good COWS, some improve
sheep; hired man and his family, wh
lived in small house on the farm an
went to housekeeping. At first he live
: oy himself; his mother was so disar
pointed at his mistake in life, as sh
termed 1t, that she would not leave th
city at first, much as she was attache
70 MIN, but remained with her daugh
Ter, VINO had married a merchant veal