Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-06-01
THE SUNLIGHT OF LOVE.

"such wedding! No. brides maids. ne
m usic, no breakfast or reception de
clare should not feel as if had beer
married !" exclaimed Marion Will,vghhy
throwing herself down upon a low fauteuil
in her own elegantly appointed drawing
room. and drawing off the dalic,tely tin
ted gloves which served as finish to the
exquisite Partisan toilet.
There was OILY one other occupant of
the room, a man, tall and handsome,
standin" with one hand resting on the
back of her chair. She did not glance up
as she spoke, or note that Chester Thor
ley = face had lost its coltr.
"You are speaking of Miss Marvine g
weddine?" he said. There is one essen
tial to most marriages you have not emu.
merate ed in your list Of things lacking. Was
love wanting. torp"
"Oh, 10. l believe she loves him. She
certainly must do so to an almost absurd
in small fl 1t IN an questionable local..
| ty uptown, where he must be away from
early morning until quite six o clock. He
! occupies some salaried positi9n-clerk in
bank, l believe-and she girl who
might have married ANYBODY
s'ITonest labor deerades no man, Mari.
on" came the firm. quick answer. Even
cl rkship is not always to be found. and
| would rather break stones in the street
| than live on money acquired dishonesty
or dolad ont of charity, though in such a
case would ask no WON An to share nv
lbt.''
"This looks like breaking stones, does
it nOf?' she 1aughinRly answered, letting
her own jeweled fingers close over the
mans hand where it rested-a hand whose
shape betokened is aristncracy and which
was white and soft as wnman's.
At her light touch his strong frame
qnivered. He bent and let his lips rest
an instant caressingly on her hair. for the
girl reside him was his aft .nced wife.
ut could break stones though. dear;
and don't know but what it would make
me better man. Suppose 1 lost my
money, Marion? Suppose it all were
swept away from me in an hour, and !
had position offered me-a position which
would enable me to live very humbly, very
much as your friend is gong to live tell
ne what you would do"
You are only talking to try me, Ches
tor. and hate such questions. In the
first place. 1t is entirely ont of reason; fol
even were IL SO. papa, YOU know. is very
rich, and our home could always be will
him."
Il have said to you. Marion. that
would rather starve than eat the bread Of
charity. Therefore, putting this possibil
ity aside, tell me what you would do"
Her finger relaxed their grip upon his
hand. Was there significance in the &C.
ton? He smiled bit g ly 10 he saw it =
His was very pa now. Except that he
still stood behind the chair, she must hay
not iced it.
you are utterly absurd this afternoon
Chester" she said. petuIantly. "Have
not just told you that Edith Marvine'
wedding was more like funeral than
wedding. and though presume shall
one day have to attend my own funeral
it will not, assure yon. be as voluns ar!
agent. Have yon nothing more agreeable
you can 6ld to say to me?"
The man shook off certain 8 IN athin
which seemed to envelope him in an al
| vioh o1O nd ha. mil .,
the old. courteous grace which suited hin
so well, and had made his power with wo
men almost pr0verb.
Money I'll ways seemed to belong to hin
by an inherent right. 1t was go natura
that he should he rich. No one coulG
h w imagined Chester Thorley poor. He
knew so we'll how to expend his wealth. -
He gave it 80 generously, and vet without
nstentation, that no man envi-d him.
Yet he knew half hour later. when ht
left his farewell kiss on Marion Willough
bys beautiful lips, that it was farewell tt
all his hopes and happiness.
The blow bad already fallen. He was ,
rnined man. " it'll scarce dollar he cuult
call his own-he who had had no wish un
graii6-d money might procure IN all hi
thirty years of life. 1t had fallen, too
through M fault Of his own; there wal
feeble comfort in that. There was com
fort, however, in the knowledge that h
swed no man, and that he might star
afresh in the world with no burden Oh hi
broad shoulders or his conscience.
True, very true. there was deep woun'
in his heart. He had loved Marion 8
well that to give hei up was to volrDtarl
ly renounce Gods sunlight. But all he
life had been spent in amid luxury.
was to her necessity. Deprived of it
she would fade and droop; and better an