Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-10-21


knew him WE'LL"
''Well, fortune is raining favors on him
in the most shamefully partial fashion,
He has got good appointment in India
has been larkipg about the Continent fol
month or two, and now, III Paris. he has
picked up life and Midlothian lady
Think of that! You may read his letter
if you like. Ii is fun to hear the superla
tives these engaged fellows indulge in
We are not come to that pass, Ell, Came
ron?"
But as the young man ratified Oh, his
companions heart stood still.
This was the letter.
DEAR BOBBE: Thanks for your congrat-
ulations ON my luck. But you must send
me another batch, for do not go to India
alone The dearest, sweetest, and p1etti-
est of wives will accompany me. AS she
halls from the neighborh6od of Middle
ham, you may know her name Miss Holt
My graceful, gracious 'E!lice" gives her
self to me in fortnight, and we sail by +
and 0. on the 18th IF next month.
On some swiftly devised pretext Colin
parted from his evil-peWs-bringer, and
strobe along, not knowing, not caring
whittier he went, with a bitter pain cling
ing about his heart, and silent, bitter out
cries against the cruelty of fate. And
Ellice-oh! Ellice.-did she not know, had
She not been show by him, that she was
lis queen among women? Had she not
seemed to care for him? Oh heaven! how
different, after ALL their feelings must
have been! lie, left mourning; and she,
willing stra1ghtway to listen to the love
vows of another man! 1t was with gray,
haggard face that the young man at last
returned in Che late evening to his lodg-
ings, to his overlooked, tasteless dinner,
and to disturbed, restless sleep.
Being brave soul, he tried to throw
himself more than ever into his work, and
so to overcome his troubles, but it was
very hard work. and as Christmas ap-
preached he got friend to look after his
patients, and then started for Scotland
The weather was very severe, and as he
neared his Perthshire home tremendous
snow storm came ON and blocked his way
and when at last he reached Elgowan, the
illness he had been struggling against for
weeks seized him and utterly Frustrated
him. Helpless as baby, racked with
pain. gasping for breath, he lay, while his
little sad-eyed steadfast, gray haired moth
er fitted about his room, and waited on
him, hand and foot, and prayed to heaven
to help her boy to live.
When the crisis had come and passed,
and he was beginning to mend, he asked
her what was the day of the month? The
10Th of January. she said it was, and Colin
turned his face to the wall with sigh
They would be in the Red Sea by this
time, alas! He was not so we'll after this
for day or two, and the newborn light
in his mothers face faded; but aga n
strength returned and convalescence, and
in the late days OF February he was back
in Middleham, aud at work again.
The town ives placarded in all directions
with announcements, in foot-long letters,
of the coming of a leading Cabinet Minis
ter to speak Oh the burning question of the
day; and, on the evening of this event, DR..
Cameron Was one in the great crowd of ex-
cited people who waited for the opening of
the doors Of the great town hall. His
head was well above most peoples and, as
he was looking round, he saw, few feet
from him. tall, elderly gentleman of his
acquaintance, who nodded, and said
Hello, Cameron! Glad to see you back.
Better, Ell? Can you get to mep" Ard
as the people between gave the young Doc
tor passage room, he continued-"I have
foolishly yielded to the entreaties of two
politically-minded young ladies who wan
ted to hear the great man. and, upon my
word, don't like my job! l wish you
would take care of one of them. You
know Miss Holt. I Think"
Collins heart gave great throb, for
there, indeed, was Ellice Holt standing by
a pillar. AS she saw him glad, shy light
came into her face. He made his way to
standing ground beside her, and bent down
and said to her in low voice
sit will delight me to take care of Miss
Holt if she will let me.''
Waiting in an -thickening crowd
for quarter OF an hour is not, under Or
binary circumstances, a pleasant expert
ence. but little did Colin Cameron mind
his foot being trodden on or his back being
dug into; these things even added to his
happiness, for was he not screening his
rosebud" from annoyance, and, indeed,
giving her, If truth must be told, quite
unfair share of air and standing-room?
At last The doors opened, and the rush in
ward took place, and after a time the
great orator was speaking, and the vast
audience responding with enthusiastic
plaudits. But little did Colin hear. The
revulsion from sense of hopeless loss to
hope unbounded, almost dazed him. The
hall was hot, and Ellice took off her gloves
and he saw her little dear left hand bare
of all rings-no fatal plain circlet there!
When the proceedings were over, and they
were waiting for chance to get away, he
said to her:
sit is curious question, put will you
please tell me your Cousins full name?--
that cousin knew at y our house2"
''She is Mrs. Braile now," Ellice said
with a wondering look.
Yes, l know" said poor Colin, with
great rush of thankfulness, but what is
ler Christian namep"
'Gratla Ellice," she answered "Ev-
sry. one calls her 'Ellice' except US. 1t
was my name, too, you see, and we had to
make difference, so we called her Grace
"Thank you," said Colin.
PART III.
No grass should grow under his feet now,
Re said, as he walked home under the stars. !
BY O'Clock the next day he was stand
ng in the parlor of Dorley Grange, wait
xr,s4 = c,.t E.. L.