Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-11-23

our solemn sorrows ana displaying Cne N
with the purple amaranths pinned on our
velvet lappels!
But Algernon Heath accepted his wealth
and his freedom in an easy way that SEEM
ed selfish if not enjoyable.
It was another October day, when the
lucious, rosy apples were dropping ripe
from the branches, and the scarlet leaves
were drifting, breeze borne through the
yellow haze. that he met Susie Wright.
He was out on lonely hunt for the sly
foxes aud wild rabbits, which had despoiled
his hennery and garden.
A timid thing, with coat Of snowy fur
and scared pink eyes. scampered across his
path.
He leveled his gun with a random aim.
and fred.
He fancied he heard small. human cry
of pain. as he sprang over the green arbor
vitae hedge for his quarry.
What he saw was like picture from
the fresh canvas of our best living artists
it was background of a low hill, yelled
in amethystine mist +; at its base a fringe
of sweet briar and wild rose shrub, from
which the bloom of snow and pink had
fallen and faded months ago, leaving only
the scarlet seed shells that hung rank and
thick, in the shadow of dim. dark frs.
Against the background, radiant and
distinct, stood a tall and supple form,
robed in a gown as brown as the brown
Autumn leaves that chung, wreath-like.
in her curls of dead-gold hair. Her fea-
lures never could have served for the
model of the modern sculptor-there was
something too humanity ,vlvidly expressive
in the irregular unclassic contour, the
broad. high, dowdy white brow was too
intellectual for Venus-the dimples
about the chin, and qulver1ng red lips, if
Psyche could have seen, would have stir
red her with envy in her grave-the tears
shimmering unfallen in her velvet eyes be-
hind the thick curling lashes of intense
black would have shamed Niobe. And on
her bosom she held painting, snow white,
pink eyed rabbit.
"How could you fire at such harmless
thing ?" she asked, angrily.
"Pardon me" returned Algernon Heath
with anxiety. II certainly would not
have done so, had thought might have
made you target"
"Oh," said the girl, conscious for the
first time of a sting of pain, and glancing
at her arm. through which the random
shot had plowed ragged, bloody furrow !;
and then she turned and sped away. quite
as shy as the scared rabbit she still held
Algernon Heath was by no means con-
and circumstances of the lovely creature
who had spoiled his cruel sport. These
things we're ascertained speedily; Susy
Wright was only the poor dependent of a
small farmer in the neighborhood.
But these facts did not prevent him
from making an apologize call the next
morning. followed by many others. And
these calls were repeated until Susy Wright
knew that she Logged the rich man who
loved her.
And yet Algernon Heath said nothing
to bind in betrothal the secret of their
hearts. Susy only knew his affection from
the deep, unwaveriug tenderness of his
large, brown eyes, the clinging touch of
his warm, caressing fingers, and the pas
sionate, insidious tones that uttered those
vague, poetic sayings, such as never can
be repeated in sentiment, for trusting
woman's defense.
He loved her, and his heart knew it. but
to marry her and give up the ease and lux
ury that had become part of his life, was
quite an.ther question.
Of course Susy knew nothing of that
fatal will, nor the equally fatal conditions
that held him to his pleasant life of indo-
lence and liberty.
His manner toward me is always full
of unspoken passion. He will soon ask
me to be his wife. And what will say !?
He is so rich and manly. and I am so
poor" she thought one evening, as she
came down to her room, through the SOM
bre hall, attired in a cheap dress of the
flax-straw yellow color of her flowing hair
and family strewn with buds like the fax
flower blue of her eyes.
She drew her fleecy, white wool shawl
about her graceful shoulders, as strong,
perfumed wind swept up from the open
door at the further end of the hall.
Noiselessly, on her velvet shod feet, she
advanced to close it, when she heard the
voice of Algernon Heath answering some
thing said by her cousin.
"You are quite right. Susie should have
known this long ago. 1 loved her as I
thought could never love a human be-
ing. But if marry her. I shall forfeit
my fortune. have no trade nor profess
sion. have lived life of ease. and could
not support her. 1t is the fault of false
training, suppose. Since knew her, I
have turned my thoughts toward the bust
| ness by which my uncle made his money,
and of which I know something, but as
yet have failed in my most promising eff
| forts-I fear that am too old and my
expensive habits too firmly fixed, to sue
coed in anything idleness," and
be laughed hard, weary, cynical laugh.
"For myself, might face poverty, but
could not see the woman loved, want for
the commonest necessaries Of life. l
must not ask Susy to share misery with
me-"
you have greatly wronged her Mr..
Heath" replied her cousin, ''for you have
certainly won her affections"
Susy Wright, hearing this, drew her
white shawl about her shoulders, and stole
away shivering.
He did not see her that night, nor for
weeks after. She avoided him with sick
heart.
One day as she was coming up the high