Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-03-30

gone. Every effort had oeeu vi y"
search, advertisements, rewards ohered'
but in vnhc and the finding "i thai
ht,le body with the golden hair in curls
about the face bad satisfied her, a
curl ha d been given the, mother ana
putting it side by side with one she hao
cut from Philips head only a mon'n
before, they could not be told apart e.
Mrs. Beaufort did not return 10
America as they had expected. She
took cottage near and lived in 1t. She
could not leave the neighborhood where
her ,Iarline's body lay, and where bis
innocent soul had tax wing. Shut UP
iu this secluded house, which TO het
was not a home, she abandoned hersei
to eliee. But after year was past she
was obliged to rouse herself Her
health was failing. and the good vIcar'
one of her faithful friends, could no
longer refrain from reprOof.
Mrs. Beaufort was not selfish, and
she was not irrelIgious. AT the ca, she
lifted her head. looked about the world
outside of her retreat, aud saw work
enough to do. At that sight her energy
awoke, and she laid aside her lamenla'
tions. But no one could ace her white
ga d face without beng convinced tina
life had no charm for her.
And so four years passed. The
beauforts of tie manor lad taken no
notice of her bat some Of the country
f,milies still visited her, and she had
many friends. Her means were small
hut all the poor blessed her; for her
kind word and helping hand were bet
ter than gold.
No one saw the lonely night when
she wept and kissed those locks O.
golden hair, and gazed at the minia
ture Of her boys face.
One day the widow had been out on
an errand Of mercy, and was strOlllng
slowly home eward in the soft. rich light
of a June sunset. The blossoming
hedges were fl!l of singing birds, thr
trees bent over, the air WAS silent and
iodap with sweet odors.
ASS G walked slo Wy along The road
strange ga1ness stirred in her heart ;
for something pleasant had happened
that morning. She had met the vicar
that afternoon IN her visiting-nOt tor
the first time, ty any means, for Mr..
Vernon was trend 10 the poor, and
was also kind friend to this bcreayed
lady. But something new had shown
It's If 10 his manner; or if not new, j:
vas. at least, shown IN decided man-
ner that seemed new.
The Rev. Mr.. Vernon had married
early in lite, and his wife had lived but
few years. His best fsiends thought
that The less said about the latter the
better. The gentleman had been drawn
into the marriage at an age when ne
should have been at his studies. and II
was happy thing for Lin that the
companion lip had been brief. He
had not cared to repeat the experiment
With a large circle Of friends, and
quiet, well-kept house, he said TO him.
self that he would be foolish to change.
Aud he had not wished to change I'LL
now. His sympalhy had been aroused
hy the sorrows of the lovely Mrs. Beau
tort. and his tenderness by the beauty
OF her character. But not until within a
few weeks had he known how deep that
tenderness and sympathy were, noI
how sweet it would be TO have that fIiI
face aud form to adorn his home, AID
be forever IN his sight.
To.day. for the first tine, the trul
had broken out. II WAS bn, a word.
Seeing her look paler than usual, the
youns clergynln had asked impllsivel)
Are you i'll, AliceF
I. was the first time he had calle'
her by that name, and the color h1shed
over his lips. But his bright eyes dive.
on her face as he saw the ansNcrln
blush, the sweet, sudden smile, tn
eniSk look up into his eyes, then tlt
Jroopng glance.
40. no, i'll, she Hammered, 1 an
very we'll
Others came near, and both iuteT
rupted and relieved them. Euo1gh hs
been said fDr that time. Bat wheI
they parted NJ. Vernon took her han'
in gentle clasp, aud asked permlsslo'
70 come TO see her soon, and thanked
her earnestly when per.nlssi on was AZ
corded.
That was all, but it was enough
change all the world for this tende
lonely heart.
How good he is to think Of me VIII
have nothing, when so many young'
and richer ladies would gladly have ha
: ms preference !
There is little boy waiting TO &c
YOU, MAIN the servant sail when ST
entered the cottage. He has lette
tor you
Who is be 2 Mrs. Beaufort asked.
He is stranger, madam, and pref
u lad. think he is sailor like b'
a gentleman son.
You can send him 10 me,' Mr
Beaufort said.
She entered the parlor, and in fe
moments the messenger stood bel I
her. Sie merely glanced at h'
scarcely moving, as he gave her Il
note, and stood, cap in hand, befo
her as she read.