Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-06-23
SEPERSTOWN JEFFERSON COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA. SATURDAY, HUME

rustic bench, ostenslDly reaaiHS, cut III
reality gazing out over the fair green
meadow that stretched before her while
she pondered absensly upon the inscrut-
able ways THAI had brought Roger VIM
d0m's uncle under the same roof with her.
The winter was gone and summer had
come again since she and Roger had
parted.
In despairing letter of farewell she
had learned that he had parted from his
uncle in anger-had gone out Into the
wide world TO work out his own fortune,
| but not without the hope, he added, that
| some day he should como back to seek and
| claim her.
Janets reveIie was interrupted by
voices close upon her, and, rising hastily
In her confusion, Miss Lynde was intro
| duced to Mr.. Window.
| The sunlight and faint bushes met upon
her cheek and made her positively beautl-
| ful, for thc time, rs she stood talking TO
| the stately and cereinonious old gentle
man who had once held her happiness IN
his hand, aud had refused 40 give it to
! her.
Long ago Janet had confessed to herself
that Roger Windom's love would have
crowned her life with happiness indeed.
For life had been very cologloss affair
TO Janet until the advent OF this handsome
! and ardent lover, and now that he was
gene Miss Lyude had discovered thaI,
after all, she had not been lmpcryicUs 10
! the influence OF al absorbing love. There
was q singular mixture of reverence and
repugnaMcc in the girls mind toward this
proud and self-opinionated old man, and
Miss Lynde's eyes and lips were very
grave as she answered Mr.. Window s
eourtier-liko speeches, and walked beside
him down the trim garden path.
Evidently he WAS not aware that this
was tic woman who had taken his nephew
away from him. Roger had withheld the
name and tho other had not had the curl
ositv to inquire after 1t. The fact was
sufficient to the infexible old man. His
nephew wished to form connection be-
meath his position Ia life. Tho woman
! had sufficient shrswdnoss to see that his
consent was necessary to make her marrt-
age to his adopted heir desirable one.
Mr.. Window congratulated himself on his
own astuteneSs when he absolutely de-
! clined this compliance with his hot-headcd
nephew'S impassioncd and very inpatient
! demands. So the two equally fiery and
| obstinate natures had met in wordy COM
bat, and both had been worsted, though
each had refused 10 yield. .,.-u
They had parted in anger, and Mr.. Sam
uel Window was trying the effect Of change
and variety on his now lonely life; for,
all unacknowledged TO himself, he felt his
nephcw's detection keenly, and but for
his pride would have begged him TO come
back again. ..t Is
In tho meantime Mr.. Window found
himself becoming greatly interested In
this sorious-cyed Miss Lynde. Quite un-
aware, Janet had touched the Vulnerable
spot in Samuel Windom's nature.
He fancied her fair resemblance to his
dead wife, and she had not dispellod tho
| illusion by the fashionable airs and aflec-
tation that young ladies generally display.
| SO Mr.. Windom's visit at Mrs. Burdett's
elegant country mansion was prolonged
| from week to week, until that lady conf
den.ly asserted to her husband hcr belief
that Mr.. Window intended marrying their
| geyorness; and certainly the lady's theory
was not without sufficient basis, for the
| gentleman's old fashioned and courtly at
tentions were impressive enough TO oven
unobservant eyes.
One morning, as Miss Lynde was leav-
Ing her room she was rather startled by
Dir. Windom's servant handing her q let
ter, with that gentleman 9 compliments. I
"Could 1t be possible that he was really
about to propose TO her, as Mrs. Burdett
had vaguely intimated2 ?" thought Janet,
as she broke the seal in some perturbation
and this was what she read i'
N.Y. DEAR YouNd LADY-I have consld-
cred whether should speak 70 you upon
this subject that lies very near my heart,
or trust It to the more digpassiouate me
dunn of a letter. For desire that you
should weigh carefully the proposition
have TO make you. am az old man, with
out ito that is not mercenary. The only
relative I had living has forsaksn me In
rnyold aye for some scheming adventures,
who doubtless expected TO secure my
money 100. Will you come to me in his
stead to brighten and cheer the remainder
Of my Gaysf l have not asked you with
out duo reflection and thorough study
of your character; and 10 remove you
from any sense Of dependency or from
future contingencies, would convey in
YOUR name certain bonds and household
property, Of which we Will speak more
explicitly II you consent TO regard favor
a5iy nav proposition. In this. event I
should Also desire to adopt you legally As
NV ydauEhter-thaty you shoald assume my
name, with all its privileges, and the as
surance again repeated that ! am acting
upon matured reflection and . sincere
motive of mutual benefit. % g. h.a"i 'f .
~ ~" "Truiy yours, =, -. l. 81 g |,
,, rr--. "SAMUEL WINDOW"
Miss Lynde felt extremely Perplexed
IA she refolded her letter. What should
she do. Would she be hurting Roger Win
dom's interest in accepting his uncle's
proposals, or, rather, would she not be
rendering him service in securing him
against others who might be more self
interested than she? -a-s
Altogether it was irresistible. The
thought Of reigning in the house where
Roger had Iived-perhaps to have him
como back some day 20 hnd her there
awaiting him, ... ..y I