Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-04-29
arranged trousseau, wedding and bridal
tour before they separated.

bOuT UoiOIo buoy cOP"A"'
It had been a very satisfactory after
noon to Miss Dorothy, and she came
home to tea in placid frame of mind.
Her brother, after lunch, had found
himself unequal to his usual afternoons
reading, and strolled down shady lane
in the direction of the church. Was it
his sisters suggestion that so brought
back to his memory the sweet baby face
of the young betrothed that he sought
her grave ?-for of late years he had
not been very often to the secluded cor
ner where Susan Desmond slept, in the
shade of great oak tree.
He walked slowly, musingly, his eyes
fixed on the ground, till he was close to
the grave. Then he looked up, and
reeled back as if he would fall. Close
to the grave. one little hand resting on
the marble headstone, was girl of sew
enteen or eighteen, dressed in white,
with wide straw hat that, shaded
Susie's great blue eyes and Susie's long,
fair curls.
Robert Ackerman felt as if he had
lost his reason. His voice sounded
hoarae and strained as he asked tremb-
lingly,-
"Who ere you, childa"
Il am Susan Desmond" said low,
sweet voice. "It is the name on the
stone here. That Susan Desmond was
my aunt, who died when was baby.
Papa thinks I look like her."
The explanation was given with child
like frankness and simplicity, and grad
ually the suffocating throbs of Roberts
heart became quiet, and his voice was
natural and had it's usual gentleness as
he said to her,
81 knew your father we'll before he
left Meadowville, and 1 knew your aunt.
You may have heard of Robert Acker-
man?"
"Who was to have married Aunt
Susan?"
"Yes, dear child. You are like her
very much like her. Are you staying
at Meadowville
Eyes. I have been ill. Not very,
very i'll; but" and she gave little
gleeful laugh" the doctor says must
go to the country for while, and not
study so hard. So I am living witt
papa's cousin, Miss Martha Gaines"
"Ah. yes. Well, you must let me
come to see you sometimes"
II shall be very glad 20 see you," II
piled Susan, frankly, thinking this wal
the dearest old gentleman ever seen.
He chatted with her little longer
and then walked with her to the gate O.
cousins cottage, but would not go in.
II will come to see you," he promised
as he left her.
But he said nothing to Dorothy o
this encounter, feeling that sacred
chord Of memory had been touched, ani
shrinking from commonplace remark
upon it. The next day Miss Dorothy
went up to the city to make her wedding
purchases, and to visit relative. Sh'
left most minute directions with her ser
wants of Roberts comfort, and his hear
was moved with guilty disloyalty.
He was man of sensitive refinement
a gentleman in the truest sense of tn,
word; while his sister, although not vul
gar, was what the Meadowvillians callet
''stirring woman," full of life ant
hustle, of overfowing energy, ant
withal most incessant talker.
Miss Dorothy had been in the cit,
but few days, when letter ffon
Merdowville filled her heart with ella
tion. 1t was signed "Martha Gaines,
and that maiden wrote,-
"Your brother comes over nearl
every day. I suppose he's little lone
some while you are away, and he usual
stays to tea. I've got boarder thi
summer, daughter of cousin of min
in the city. She's only little girl, bu
she plays and sings, and your brothe
likes to hear her. He's very attentive
sends flowers and fruit, and brings book
although, between you and me, Dol
othy, am no hand for books, nor neve
! was. Still, Philips little girl seems
like to read, and it keeps her out
mischief; and girls are always in mis-
chief"
Every week there came long, exul
ing letter from Miss Gaines to her dei
q friend, Dorothy, until the time WI
/. drawing near for the elderly spinster
! wedding. All her wedding carmen
= were made, marked and neatly packe
r when she received letter from h
4 brother:-
n "Wait until Wednesday, and will
Is your escort to Meadowville."
The curt epistle had been WRIT,