Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-07-13
After Long Years.

This is the mortgage Of an estate
called the Derby Place, Mr.. Faxton'
foreclosed more than year, believe.
well, it's what I'Ye been looking
for. will take charge ofthe papers
and attend 10 the matter soon. Down
East, isn't itT
Yes, SIR
Mr.. Paxton put the papers into the
breast pocket of his coat, came down
the office stairs, and stepped inte the
glitlering, purple-lined phaeton, beside
his wife.
The delicate Arabian, Mrs. Faxon's
horse, sped away out of the city con-
fines, and soon tossed his jetty man
along the open roads, lined with gar
deus, ornate cottages and villas.
Going away tomorrow, dear!' asked
Mrs. Faxon, suddenly lifting her iaiI
countenance. as she interrupted her
husband. You seem to be away all
the time lately. Take me with you
Not this time, Violet
And Violet FaxOn's husband fell
into 6t of abstraction, from which the
smartest chatter failed to arouse him.
They came at last to the Faxon man.
sion, grand and simple, and fulfilling
the promise of beautiful interior.
Amid the white lace and crimson silk
of her chamber, Violet was brushing
out her long fair hair, when her hus-
band paused in the doorway, and look
ed at her sharply. Then he came
slowly across the room, aud lifting the
oval face in bis hand, looked closely at
the roseate cheek, ,pearly car, and curved
eyelashes.
what is it?' asked Violet; "a free
kle:'
NO. lie answered, smiling family
and across the chamber, You looked
like my sister, then-that was all
Your sister, dear? You meyer told
me about her.
No he answered, and SAID no more.
Mr.. Faxon bore no resemblance to
his delicate patrician wife. A little les'
than thiriy-dark, strongly built, active
vigorous, he impressed one as strong
character. If, with remarkable rich
cOmeliness of countenance, there were
some sensual lines, there was also a
certain evidence Of strong, good sense,
and look Of deep experiences. Mr.
Faxon looked ike q man who carried
weight.
He was up and away at daybreak the
next day. An early train bore him
eastward, and nine O'Clock found him
landed at little station called Sea
brook.
The dismal little building was set in
field of clover, around which road
wound away among the mounds oI
verdure.
After a glance around, Mr.. Faxon
took this road, and walked slowly along
The robins hoped across it; the
bobbolinks sang in the trees over it,
The unassuming white clover among
the grass perfumed the cool morning
air.
He passed only few houses, but he
observed them attentively. They were
all old and humble farm houses. APP
parently this property, which had by
the foreclosure of mortgage fallen tc
Mr. Fsxon, was not situated in very
rich or snterprlsing neighborhood,
When he had walked nearly mile h'
came to a green dOor-yard, among wide
spread apple-trees, with a we'll SWEEP
among them, and residence, though
plain, more pretentous aud more com
Portable than the others.
There was narrow, and well-worT
path among the short grass and butter
cups TO the porch, where a bitter-swee
Itvined Its strong arms. In a corner
under the verdure, was an armchair
with a book on the seat, and eau
Lying across it-a gnarled, twisted sue
| of hickory, that Faxon looked twice at
The book he saw was Bible.
There was an old lady, with q SWEEP
faded face, and snowy cap'strings tie
under her double chin, knitting at a win
dow near by, but his quiet step had no
disturbed her.
He had put lis hand to the knocker
| he took it down again as he caush
sight of this placid face. he stoo
| there quite still for several minutes. =
gray cat came and rubbed against III
Ileg. Some apple-blossom', noatln
down touched his cheek.
| At length the gentle lips moved.
Father said the mild old lady, 'yo
had better lie down and take rest
| Such old people, aud l have come
| take their home away said Mr.. Faxor
There was strong pain in his dar
Iface now, as he stood looking Down q
the porch door.
After a moment he stepped Oh u
porcn on the further side, aad wake
away under the apple-trees.
When MT. Faxon came back from b
brief stroll, his presence, as he crosse
a.. .o~1 waa ohsarvad