Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-09-29

his strength. "Can it be you might have
cared for me? Why, then, are all men
your lawful game?'
'You have been cold and cruel,' she
replied.
"How else could hide my wounds?"
'Answer-you love me? Maude my
love! my queenl answer me-"
He no longer sought the truth from
himself or her-he loved for the first and
only time in his life. N false idea swayed
him. With his heart another's it would
be dishonorable indeed, to marry any wo-
man, least of all one who trusted him as
full as the girl who even at this moment
dreamed her sweet dreams for the future.
To destroy them was dishonor-yes; but
to go on deceiying her. now that he knew
the truth, greater dishonor still.
"You love me? Answer .me!'' he said.
with sudden chill. The bright spot on
her cheek had faded; even her lips had
paled.
Slowly, slowly the yelled lids Enclosed,
and the violet eyes were revealed to him.
In them he read her answer.
For one moment he clasped her in his
embrace-it seemed to him his very soul
opened to receive her-a moment only
then she drew herself away.
"You have forgotten-Helen!" she said;
and for the first time her voice had lost
| its sweetness in its strained and harsh in
| tensity.
II have forgotten nothing" he replied.
''Helen shall know all ere she sleeps to-
! night. She is too generous not to for
give. D.
sNo, no; she must not know tonight"
she pleaded. "Wait until the morrow
wait until have seen her once again., Y GU
promise me?'
what could you ask would not prom
fse2''
Take me to the carriage. Tell Helen
1 was suddenly taken i'll, and would not
call her, knowing that she would insist on
accompanying me. Tell her am tired"
The shadows had deepened about the
beautiful eyes, tie sweet mouth quivered.
He stopped and kissed it with tenderness.
Ten minutes later she was being driven
rapidly homeward, both windows of the
carriage thrown open and the cool night
air blowing freely in upon her bare neck
and arms, her head thrown back among
the cushions, and the hot tears raining
unheeded down her lovely cheeks. The
next morning, ere Horace Winters had
risen, servant had brought him in let
| ter, which was marked s'Immediately."
| He opened it hastily, and turned to the
signature. 1t was, as be had surmised,
from Mauds Rivington, and ran thus:
II write to say goodbye, L am not
strong enough to put it into spoken words.
haye done you but one wrong-the wrong
of loving you. heard your condemna-
! ton Of me to Helen. I might be with
! others, 1t was not so at least with you. l
Il meant to tell you, when asked you to
take me from the ballroom, that l Was
! engaged to be married to q man much old
er than myself. but who was very good
and kind. Alas! you know how different
| ly the interview ended for US bosh. There
is but one way left us, dear-to part. and
never look each upon the others face
| again. Never let Helen suspect the truth.
| It would break her heart. think at this
moment can guess something of what
the pain of a breaking heart might be Yet
1 too, go to redeem my plighted word. I
have made to Helen some excuse for the
man am to marry, asking that the cere-
mony be immediate. I must shield myself
| behind another strength. l begun this
letter two hours since; I have tossed it
down determined, to give up all rather
than my new and exquisite joy, when He
len came to my room. Why was it that
she talked of you? She showed me her
heart, and you filed it. Remember this
always when you attempt to think of me.
My love! my love! Goodbye! God bless
you"
Was this, too. acting ? Not even the
I question obtruded itself into the man g an
! guished heart as he realized the dim sense
of his misery.
A fortnight later the papers announced
Miss Rivington' g marriage to the man who
had held her troth. Six months after Hor-
ace Winters received his bride.
The world calls him model husband
! his wife feels no void in her happy, une-
ventful life; but within two hearts there
is an altar and sacrifcial fire which burn
eth night and day.
How PRESIDENT GARFIELD LOOKS
Governor Sherman, of Iowa. who is visit
ing at Elmira, N. Y. said to reporter
there the other day: Il saw President Gar
field day or two ago in Cleveland. You
need not look astonished; really saw him
not his spirit, but his own form and
features. I had visited his tomb to do
homage to the spot where the martyr
President was sleeping. The Waterman
| in.charge, on learning whence I came and
who I was, asked meif I would like to see
the President. was as greatly surprised
as you can be. He simply showed me he
was in earnest, invited me into the tomb,
unscrewed and removed the lid from that
sacred casket, and there lay General Gar
field before me, just as he looked the day
! of his funeral-as If in weary, unre-
freshing sleep. was surprised, for, des-
! Mite the emaciatlon of those noble features