Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-07-14

and Sarah bent over the vase and nestl-
ed her cheek against the tender, beauti-
ful blossoms.
Dear Charles y she whispered. He
knows love flowers. How thoughtful
he is, and how he loves me!
The flowers wrapped her IN sweet in
cense were telling Sarah..all the secrets
of her heart when Lola tapped at the
door.
Mr.. Lee is waiting, Sarah
Never had Sarah, in the bloom of her
beauty, looked so dignifed and woman
lG as she did when she entered the lit
tie parlor where Gilbert Lee awaited
her. Never had he so longed to take
her to his heart aud home as he did
when she answered his suit with gentle
frmness that was a new beauty in her
manner,
Throwing aside all coquetry, she gave
him his refusal with a truthful expires.
sion in her blue eyes. as her low voice
said, L should wrong you, Gilbert,
and be false to my own heart ifI may
marry you.'
you do not lore mev
Not as your wife should love you.'
Then, seeing bis look of pain and
modification, she added, bravely,
Had l known you sooner my answer
might have been different; but before
we met had gwen away all my love-
Thank you for telling me that he
answered, earnestly. L shall respect
your confidence.
He was gone before Sarah remember
ed the bracelet.
Unjust send it, she told Lola, when
her sister came 10 her again. Then
looking into the gentle, sweet face, she
whispered, Il think l was true 10 my
heart, Lola
Not long after a white-robed little
figure, in the old muslin, hrilled and
huted until it was marvel OF snowy
prettiness, came futtering into tho par
lor for the finishing touches OF Lola's
deft fingers. Upon the bosom OF the
white dress was q cluster of Charley's
flowers, and there were more twisted in
the nut-brown curls.
Charley glanced al them as he came
in A; but he looked grave land pre-occu-
pied. Never in three years of counting
had he approached Sarah with such q
solemn air. Lola, guessing what was
coming, was stealing away, but Charley
put bis hand on her arm.
'Stayu he said III q grave voice,
I have no secrets from you. You
knew long ago what l meant to ask
Sarah, for yeu begged me to wait until
she was older. She IS seventeen to-
night, and she must know her own
heart. Sarah his voice thrilled
with an infinite tenderness as he spoke
the name-'I love you. VIII you be
my wife,?
Sarah, somewhat awed BY his grave
manner, put her hand in his, without
any other answer than vivid blush
and down.cast eyes.
In a moment the old Charley
radiant, sunny Charley-was there
again.
'You do love me-? Oh! Sarah, l
haye been so wretched! Gilbert Lee
was here to-day, and you are wearing
his flowers. saw him sending them
10 you.'
His flowers ? 1 thought they were
yours
NO. IL didn't send flowers.
have a confession 10 make, Sarah, il
you will hear it,
The three sat down costly, as if there
were no parties In prospect and Char
ley, holding Sara h., hand fast in his
own, said:
You never heard me speak about
nv father, hut tonight l must tell yor
something OF him. When 1 was mere
boy. not more than five years old, the
gold fever in California took fast hold
of his Imagination, and he was one o
the first gold seekers who sailed from
Liverpool to dig wealth from th'
ground. and wash it from the waters o
California. For a little time my
mother heard from him, but the inter
walls between the letters grew longer
and longer, till, after five years watch
Ing and waiting, she ceased to hear al
all. l was but twelve years old when
nv mother died. My Uncle, Harold
Green, took me into his own family
and educated me with his boys. H'
was not a ich man, and knew 1 mus
depend upon my OWE exertions for sup
mort. as soon as 1 was old enough Il
work. Still he insisted on my attend
/ ing school until 1 was eighteen, ant
then gave me years tuition at Univer
sity College in Lendon, before start
ed into the world for myself. l wa
clerk in an office near my house unit
three years ago, when, through
friend of my uncle, I took a position II
the bank of this town. Then me
you, Sarah, a little girl, but the sweet
est and most winsome little girl IN th
world. Your sisters kind hospitallt
to the stranger, the poor clerk, enable
me to see you often to love you fond'
ly followed very soon. But was poor
and you had often told me how bite
and gallylng poverty was to you. ha
no wealth 10 lay at your feet, and yo'
| -. . ..ooro nlild en- I smoke III