Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-12-14
AFTER YEARS.

dreamy and quiet. l was Dusty AZ
ranging my little shop; ribbons, laces,
and such trihes must be made 10 look
as tempting as possible. This morning
felt particularly happy In thus dis
playing my goods, and when all was
done l stepped back proudly into my
pleasant sit;lng-roOm, when | had
pretty lace curtains looped back from
the windows, and over them tasteful
lambrequins-madc from a rich silk of
my departed glorY-and comfortable
lounge covered with fabric from the
same boarded store, still, as 1 watched
my goldfish sailing industrlously about
in the globe, all around which flowers
were blooming, 1 solloquized,-
well, am just as much Of lady as
Mrs. Ashbury. who lives in the nan.
sion with towers and drives up to my
humble door in her splendid equipage,
and haughlily handles my boxes oI
ribbons. @but seldom finds anything
which suits her fastldous taste. Yes,
quite as much OF ladi y
So sat down conteutedly iu my low
rocker, ana hummed an old, familiar
cong chetrily, as looked out en- fairy
iolm fliitng goyly about beneath the
naples, now turing scarlet aud gold.
l was happy-happier than had
teen TOR long time. nodded gayly
10 Daisy. and wondered what could be
going TO happen that was so unusually
bright. Oh, nolhiag. OF course-at
Least. nothing pleasant. Everything
had happened and done happening me
| nc since. Then wandered of into
the past, and remembered the old
heartachc and hearl-break Of long ago.
What if Fred and 1 had married? l
suppose should Lave been a LADY
after his fashion, Shut up all day long
IN some gloomy house, with no COM
Yany but my servants; fashionable
solitude in a city house. perhaps-my
husband away from home most OF the
tine Yes, felt quite inclined 10 for
give my quoudam lover that be never
mar led me. bus took himself of. 81 |
had ceased to love him, and loved my
L lie shop.
am fond of color-adore all things
that are beautiful. Fred used 10 say
hat was something of an artist; but
f. en- he was a great hAtterer in those
days. ! am delighted when the village
clrls come in and view my pretty
goods, and glance with arch and be-
wl,chius smiles into the mirror, as they
try Tic eject 0. cardinal, gold and blue
7 seldom dream Of q bright life now,
f II the truth is that Daisy leaves me
liulo time for building castles iu Spain,
l she were my very OVID, l conld not
love the child more. Aud this reminds
me, kind reader, that must tell sou
the secret:
About eight years ago, 1 went to
open my windows one morning, when'
in a basket on my doorstep, l found
little Daisy. Where did she come
from l never knew. All the explana'
tion she made was 10 reach out her
dimpled arms and coo something quite
unintelligible to my untutored ear.
Everybody commented. Friendly adj
vice was not wanting with regard 10
fcundling and orphan saylums. But
did not take any advice. l simply
cared for and loved the baby, until L
think. had any one come to claim the
child-bu. that vas altogether unlikely,
I comforted myself by thinking.
should iust as,soon think OF Fred's COM
ing back again some day, and that IS
one Of the mpossibihtles.
Yes. Fred had gone for good, as the
children say. Oh, how happy we were
in the long ago! and 1 drew tiny
locket from my bosom-whlch always
Law there close to my heart-and saw
the bright eyes looking lovingly into
mine, and the curly hair clustering
about the white forehead. Yes; too
banpy to last, as Fred had said on the
yer, last night we were together.
To last p said 1, why do you speak
so. Fred?'
NV heart gave great bound, for
suddenly remembered the talk that had
reached my ear, about him. A fine
lady had come 10 board at the village
ho,cl.-a beauty, had heard, with
fortune at her command. Fred had
undoubtedly paid her some attenuon'
.,,o was entirely too attentive Tor a
man already betrotbed,' was soon
whispered here and there by gO'aiplng
,orones. But had unbouuded conf
dense IN him, and never upbraided him
unon the subject I think he would
have said much more to me on ihls'
our last evening together, but seeing
how his words hurt me oe remalbp a,lben.
no" us era while~i '"e''
moody : Sn" 'eaderly In als arms. be
taxi rom Aa-nights'cans. murmurinp
so~s s1sos' Ba5s0tN n yos 8. us .,'s,wsrS :. sss'S
Next morning NV