Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-12-23

privileged TO 90.
$50, Harry, L ought to know the
touch of your fairy-like ripper. Have
you porous plaster to apply to the
wound ?"
Come home with me and see. Do
you recollect certain cards sent TO YOU
a month ago? There is Mrs. Harry
Osborn, and the sight of her is balm
for all the ills that flesh is heir to.
I've bought jolly little cottage at
Linden, next stopping-place. Now is
your chance of having glimpse for
once in your life of Eden"
"Two souls with but one"
I" Y es, this is privilege vouchsafed
to few. Come and stay with us to-
night, and then you will go and gnash
your teeth in despair"
with ten thousand a year 1 could
manage love in cottage, too"
"Well, here we are Don't 90 on
this hot night. 1 will go with you in
the morning"
Mel was in that mood when any,
thing that would distract his thoughts
would be hailed with delight. He felt
that ii he went on smoking and moping
in solitude he would go mad. He
must rally from the blow. Why should
he lind every pleasure tasteless be-
cause one woman frowned?
on don't know the delights of
Arcadia" said Harry, as they walked
up a green lane. "Roses. and peaches
and cream, and an angel"
IAN angel with peaches and cream
Is no doubt excellent" said Mel.
." ate a piece of an ice-cream Cupid
the other night at party. 1t was very
pink and perfect as regards the flesh
tints, and felt like cannibal."
Out from the bowery little cottage
came petite figure in diaphanous
robes of white with rose-colored rib
bons of coral about the baby neck and
arms-a prattlng, inane little crea-
ture-to whom Harry Osborn listened
as though she had been an oraclel
Mel thought with pang of Elinor
and her warm enthusiasms, her frank
opinions, her independent thought.
The changefui face, not so beautiful
save with the glow of intellect that
illuminedit like light shining through
an alabaster vase. Those eyes so full
OF honest purpose, eloquent mouth
like "a rosebud set in willful little
thorns'-but so sweet and tender-all
haunted him constantly. They sat
under the woodbines for the post-pran-
dial smoke, and he sighed involun-
tarily.
"Oh, ho,' cried Harry-"envious,
eh?-go and do likewise"
81 wish l couldr'
"Of course you couldn't find another
Cora; but, see here, l believe you're in
love-"
81 am-but, I've had a sort of mis-
understanding"
son, come, old fellow-make it up.
That's nothing Cora and have had
dozen tiffs. The reconciliation is the
best part. Put pride in your pocket,
my boy 1t will all come right"
Mel did not feel very hopeful, how
ever, as he stood that night by the
window, and kept a vigil like Elinor's,
gazing out at that same paae liver
sickle OF the harvest moon.
He began to accuse himself. Why
had he not insisted that she should
have heard all? He should have had
no secrets from her. She only showed
a proper spirit in resenting his con-
duct !! With these thoughts torment
ing him, it may be supposed that the
gray dawn found him haggard and
unrefreshed.
n he L..
Harry Osborn looked up from the
damp morning paper he held in his
hand.
You ought to keep thanksgiving
to-day, old fellow You might have
been what Montaline called moist,
unpleasant body but for me. A |
direct intervention of Providence,
call it,
"How?" asked Mel, nonchalantly.
Why, the train--your train-ran
Off the track last night, Good heavens,
man, what's the matter?"
Mel had grown white and staggered
to chair.
"For Gods sakew he cried, in
hoarse voice, "let me see the paper.
She was in the train"
"No names published yet. Don't
give up. It's likely she escaped. You
see, only few were injured"
Mel took the paper with shaking
hand, but he could not read. The
words executed strange dance down
he columns.
Oh, why had he left her? If he had
taid he might have cared for her,
aved her from fright and danger, or
lied with her-oh, blessed boon-now
hat life seemed so impossible without
Ter!
81 must go!" he cried, dashing down ;
he paper. 81 can't eat must find {
lerp !
Mel did not speak a word upon that I
was communing with his {
'wn heart. "God was so near above
the grave below"
His friends respected his silence till
hey neared the fatal spot. Some of
he debris of the accident lay on the
ides of the road! {
A strong shudder went through l
Mel, and he grasped Harry's hand {
onvulsively, and it seemed to him as {
he were suddenly frozen, for he !
,aorJ fba flo