Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-01-20
A Heart Of Stone.

The old clock In the wall rang out nve
melodious chimes, as Cora Smith softly
closed the kitchen door, and ran to her
little bedroom for her blue scarf.
Five O'clock" she ssid, as the last
stroke died away; "he is wondering
why don't come, and I must haste.
Madge, little Madge, are you coming
with me to- night? I am all ready.n
Little Madge, the twelve-year old sis
ter, came flying through the hall.
"Auntie says you have forgotten to
get the potatoes for breakfast, and we
must prepare them before you 60.
little for you; you've waited for him
many time. Come quickly and I will
help you"
So sweet tempered Cora Smith united
the blue scarf, and tripped away to the
forgotten task as merrily as her little
sister, albeit her heart beat like an i'm
prisoned birds at the delay.
The West was all af1ame with the au-
tumn sunset ere the sisters closed the
cottage door behind them. and ran down
the garden path toward the stile, where
he was waiting-in other words, where
hazel>eyed, sweet-faced Cora Smiths
city lover was waiting for his lady-love.
as she had many q night waited for
him.
Almost every evening they met there
at the stile-their "trysting place." he
said, just halfway between her home
and his clearinghouse. He had pro-
posed it, and she was nothing 10th to
accede-it was so pretty and romantic.
Then, Auntie Smith was not at all
pleased with this dark eyed young
stranger, and though she had not for
hidden him the house, both lovers knew
she preferred "his room to his com
pany." And go, always with dear little
Madge at her side, she daily tripped
down the path through the leafy woods
to the halfway trysting place where she
met her handsome, dark. eyed lover.
Neil Rowan. How her heart 1uttered
tonight as she thought of him and the
warm love-light deepened and darkened
the soft brown eyes!
"Neil, Neil" she said, almost uncon-
sciously aloud and little Madge clasped
her sisters hand closer, and looked up
in her face.
"Do you love him SO very much sister
Cora?'
A swift, hot color came into the girls
cheeks, and then she paused suddenly,
holding the hands of little Madge in a
fervent grasp. t-tts5 4s-e
Love him love him Madge? better
than all the world-better than my
youth, my life-aye, sometimes better
than my hope of heaven And I want
to be his wife, little Madge, this good
mans wife, when the beautiful Spring
comes. l shall leave you, and auntie
and uncle to be his. But this is our
secret. little sister, and only you can
share it."
And then her hands relaxed their
hold, and drawing the light scarf over
her shoulders, the pair tripped silently
on. They were almost there-nearing
the edge of the wood, and the stile was
but step away Another step forward,
and then Madge held her sister back.
"Wait! !" she whispered; II can see
two men on the seat, Cora. We do not
want to see strangers there"
NO." she said, drawing back in the
wood cit is Neil's friend, Willis Dean.
We will wait until he goes, for do not
like to meet him. ~
Even as she spoke the figure arose,
and the sound of the voice came on the
twilight air, distinct and clear.
And what of this love affair, friend
Neil? When is it to end, and how
Are you really in earnest, and do you
mean to marry the girl?
Cora Smiths hand closed upon the
arm of Madge till she shrank In pain
while they waited for the answer. Neil
Rowan laughed softly.
Marry her!" he repeated "She is
just the subject for grand filtration,
and 1 assure you I have done the thing
well. But for anything further-bah !!
I am going back to town tomorrow.
and this Is our last meeting; so be off,
old fellow, for expect her every mo-
ment." "
just for one moment Madge Smiths
heart stood still in awful fear, for the
thought that Cora was dying. That
white, CHASTITY face there in the twilight,
that motionless figure. those tightly
locked hands, it surely was not the fair
sweet maiden of a moment before. But
the spasm passed off, and without a
word, she arose, and glided noiseiessly
away, and Madge followed her in
silence.
Neil Rowan waited until the light
had all died cut in the West, and the
dew lay like summer rain on the grass
at his feet His cigar was smoked down
to ashes, and his lazy reverie was broken
by the cry of the whip. poor-will.
0d0 1eu cOu1iuS W ulSut, AS eaiu
mentally 'that is certain. The schem.
ing auntie up yonder managed to pre-
vent it this time. Oh, well, it saves
scene. will drop a loving farewell
note. and so it ends summers amuse
ment. Ha! hum!" and Neil Rowan
strolled homeward, singing half I'M
consciously, II won't have her, know
I won't have her, know-I don't care
a straw who has her, / know"
The farewell note came to Cora Smith
the following night, but the fever bright
eyes never rested on the creamy page,
for, ere the insane light gave place to
reason again, death sealed the white
lids. To such natures as this girls
love is life; and the rude blow that
woke her from the one bright dream