Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-01-11

and she dldn Z live three Gays. Ia ADVISE
you to be careful, though, Alice. There's
always danger of a relapse. By the way,
where has your husband gone to-day ?''
.Is he not at his Office 20
"No. He went out on the Brigham
Railroad this morning. I saw him go bv
as if his life depended on the haste he
was making and thinks I to myself I'll
Just keep an eye on him and see where he
is going. So followed as fast as could
trot, and as just ia time to see him
spring on board the train. What he was
going out of town for didn't know but
thinks I to myself again, Alice can tell
me all about it,"
Probably be is looking for summer board
for the children said Mrs. Lynde coldly.
Bot she remembered with a pang that
her husband had said nothing to her
about it.
"Charles,' she said, when he came
home to dinner, s. where were you going
out of town to-day 20
"How did you know l was out of
town p he asked little abruptly.
!" Miss Priscilla Forbes saw you start. :"
81 wish Miss Priscilla Forbes would
be so kind as to mind her own business. :"
Alice was silent minute, then she
asked,- y
"Did you find a place for the children"
NO." was his brief reply.
Alice inquired no farther. She felt hurt
and resentful, and Charles paid no atten-
ton to her silence. If he could only have
witnessed the burst of passionate tears to
which she gave way when she was alone
by the couch of her little ones
The farm house to which she and her
children were banished for the summer
was not particularly inviting spot /;
we'll shaded, however, with stream Of
water running through the grounds, and
a plenty of fresh milk and vegetables.
But Alice Lynde felt the lack OF cheerful
and congenial society. the unvarying mo-
notony of the uneventful life. and p1ned
secretly, even while Frank and Garry and
little Lucy were growing sunburnt and
healthy.
81 wish Charles could spend a little
more of his time here" she thought.
1t was scarcely to be wondered at that
she required sometimes, with thrill OF
Yearning, to the old days when she was an
heiress, under the spreading linden trees
of beautiful Beech Grove. For Charles
Lynde's sake she had given up that beau
tiful home; had dared her uLcle's threat
afterward carried relentlessly into effect
of dsinheritance; had submitted to
all the trials and evils which must neces-
sarlly surround poor mans life; and
now Charles left her alone, to amuse her
self as best she might. So, while the chill
dren grew fat and rosy, Alice grew thiD
and pale.
"ae will come tonight" she thought
one Saturday evening, as she brushed he'
glossy golden hair into the shining braids
he best liked. and put on favorite mus
lin dress with long turquoise pin in tb'
blue ribbons that set off the transparent
whiteness of her throat. ooh, it seems
an age since saw him last!'
| But instead Of her husbands presence
the up train from New York brought on
ly note, hurried and brief:
Dear Alice-I cannot come up to-
night. Business is SO pressing; love to
the children. q. L."
The note fell from Alice's fingers; a
sickening sensation came over her heart
"And had watched for him so anx,
1ously. Oh, can it be possible that he has
ceased to love me? Me, who gave up
everything for his sake !"
On Monday letter from DR.. Carson
was brought to Mrs. Lynde; a letter en-
closing another for her husband. The
doctor wrote
| "Please give this to Mr.. Lynda. was
at his office twice on Saturday afte Don,
trying to find him; but he was not there
and the clerk told me had gone into the
the country. Tell him he's lazy fellow
to neglect his business so, when that bus
mess is making him rich so fast.''
| Alice Lynde read the words three times
over before she fairly took in their whole
meaning.
HE has deceived me,' she thought.
ut was not the convenient plea Of
business that kept him away from me
Oh. Charles, Charles! and has it come te
this?"
She sat down. still clasping the letter
in her hand and gaznd vacantly out upon
the sunny landscape that lay before her.
If it were not for the children would
go away and never look upon his face any
more! He loves nee no logger. The af
lection l so blindly deemed my own i.
transferred to some other object; and why
should care what becomes of me? Only
the chlldrenl"
And as the blue-eyed Garry ran up tt
her to ask some trifing question, Mrs
Lynde drew the child close to her heart
and burst into tears.
"Mamma - exclaimed the astonished
little girl, "whv do you cry? Are you SICK
mammal"
"Sick ! Yes" sobbed poor Alice. 81
am sick of living. I am sick at heart
child"
| And the plentiful shower OF tears helped
to relieve her overcharged heart.
II will endure it for the sake of these
little ones. 1 will suffer on ard try to be
silent,n thought poor Alice. pressing botl
hands over her aching heart.
The next week Mr.. Lynde was 70 cnms
and take his family home. Alice Loo ke6
forward to the day with sick anticipa
ton. She longed for the hour of theil
meeting, and yet she dreaded it.
In this nervous state of excitement sht
came to the door. leading little Lucy, as
the carriage wheels grated ovar the stony