Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-01-23

his room, and, ringing for a servant,
bade him tell his uncle he had come.
The old gentleman soon appeared,
smiling and rubbing his hands,
II am glad, nephew, that you have
come to your senses at last. Make
yourself presentable, and allow me to
present you to your future bride. She
is doubtless impatient to see YOU" Z
u"Uncle," replied Walter, ssolemnly,
'you have ruined my prospects OF, hap
piness for life; forcing me to wed one
whom / utterly detest; separating me,
by your cruel caprice, from the only
woman have ever loved. Can have
aught save feeling of disgust for one
who would thus thrust herself upon
me, knowing full well my feelings to-
ward ner? d tll suoa 30 l..l. = at
go to Miss Vane, and tell her for
me, that | will never look upon her
hated face. To morrow the ceremony
is to be performed. Let her be yelled,
and deeply, that / may not be able to
see the face OF one who is the DESTROYER
of my life's happiness. AS soon as it is
over | shall sail for some distant coun-
try, where will try to forget my hope.
less dream of love, and those who have
been the cause of my sorrow.pa s..7 +
Nonsense, boy; when you see her,
I'll warrant you will change your
mind, f" replied his uncle, not in the
least impressed by this tragic speech,
saying which he left the room. 20 10 +;
The next morning dawned bright and
glorious, as if mocking his doom, so
thought Walter Howell as he arrayed
himself for the ordeal. gJ etfnerf bro
A servant tapped lightly at the door
and handed him note from Miss
Vane, saying that she was ready and
awaiting him in thelibrary, where she
wished few moments private CONVEX
sation before the ceremony.
Hastily obeying her summons he en-.
tered the room. She stood, her bridal
dress OF white satin falling in lustrous
folds around her graceful form. A veil
OF misty lace covered her face and de-
scehded to the floor. As she advanced
she said, in a low, sweet voice that
thrilled him strangely, "Mr. Howell, l
understand that you consider our mar
rage mockery; that you are merely
complying with your suncle's request |;
that, while wedding me, your heart be
longs wholly to another. It is rather
late to say what l am going to, but if
you will consent to look at nv face ere
y ~ WIN ACou A1AO W LAo dIGaI, LQGQ, III
you still desire it, 1 will release YOU
from your engagement, and you will be
free to wed whom you choose.n
His hauds trembled with excitement
as he drew aside the veil. "Alma! nv
beloved Alma!'' he cried, straining her
to his throbbing heart. "What does
this mean ?" "It means that l am Alma
Darrell Vane, and that went down to
Aunt Darrell's to avoid meeting you. 1
accidentally overheard your converse.
tion with George that night In the IL
brary and determined to punish you for
saying such naughty things about me.
George was in the plot, and we soon
informed your uncle how matters
stood"
"But the letter ?" he asked. "Oh! I
wrote it and George had the postmark
blurred, so you would be thoroughly
deceived, and now, not wanting bride.
groom with such rueful face, and
thinking you had been sufficiently pun.
ished, thought 1 would explain."'
The reward is greater than the pun
ishment," he said, as with a smiling
face he led her out.
George Darrell was there, of course,
and after the ceremony inquired about
his blasted hopes, to which Walter
laughingly responed, "Uncle was right,
after all