Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-01-30
THE BUD AND BLOSSOM.

HE BUD AND bLUSSUM.
This was what they called them a.
l.uzerne, a little hamlet among the noun
talns, qui. It and dull enough all the rest O
the year, ut in the summer season al
alive with visitors from the city, drawn
thither by Che beauty of It's scenery an6
the clear, 9rnpid waters Of the lake whence
it derives IDS name.
The tw O. given by the common consent
this charmingay suggestive title, were q
young wi dow aad child. the latter little
girl about five, the lovely image, in mini
allure, of her beautiful mother.
Kate Carol was married, at the early
age of sixteen. to Judge Linden, WHO wa.
more than three times her years. The mar
riage was a happy one. Kate had not met
any one that she liked or respected more
and Judge Linden loving his beautiful
child-wife, lavished upon. her fondness
and devotion that were paternal in theil
tenderness snd indulgence. If there were
deeper capa cities for loving in the young
wife's heart, she was unconscious of them
and when little Edith was laid ia hel
arms, she felt that her cup of love and joy
was filed to overlooking.
Judge Linden was devotedly attached tC
this child of his old age, whose exceeding
loneliness of form and disposition won all
hearts, scarcely bearing to have her out OF
his sight moment.
Whap 1ittlo edith uyo q t1uo voo 70 o1d bar
mother knelt, weeping, beside the dying
bed of her kind friend and protector. The
old man laid his hand tenderly on that
bowed head.
1.-THE Lord bless you, dear child, for all
the love and tenderness that have made
my last days so happy! You are young,
and will marry again; nor am l so selfish
as to wish it otherwise. If did, it would
be for the sake of Edith, our precious
baby girl. Be very careful, for her sake
as well as your own. Marry some one
that will be kind to her.''
Mrs. Linden mourned sincerely for her
husband, and was equally sincere, in her
resolution to remain faithful to his mem
DRY. For two years she remained in the
secluslon of her beautiful home, receiving
and paving no visits excepting to relatives
aud a few of her late husbands old and
dear friends. But the elasticity of youth
and perfect health was hers, and so richly
lowered in all that make, life so full of
JOY and beauty. her heart began to rebound
against the pressure of the SORROWS of wi
dowhood which came to her 80 early, and
to cherish secret yearping for scenes and
society more congenial to her and her tenn
permanent. This feeling grew so strong upon
her the summer of the third year, that
she resolved to take Edith and to 20 to
some quiet watering-place. She was con-
frmed IN this resolution by the advice of
DR.. Livingstone, her family physician, who
had come IN to see Edith, VINO had some
childish ailment.
you bad better take her out into the
country, Mrs. Linden; you both need
change of air and scene. Go to some quiet
place, where you can dress and see as little
or as much society as you choose.''
This was how it happened that Mrs.
Linden was at Luzerne the summer in
which our story opens. And it followed,
as natural sequence, that here was here
Or. Livingstone chose to spend few
weeks respite from bis busy. laborious
life. The hotel where his magnet was To-
Gated was filed to Overlooking; but as he
had taken the precaution to secure it at
the commencement of the season, he found
his room waiting for him.
Edith was the first to spy him as he
stepped out upon the broad piazza, where
the boarders were in the habit of congre-
eating in the cool of the day
"Oh, mamma, there's Doctor Living
stone!" she cried, running to meet him,
her sweet face all aglow with delight.
With the child clingng to his neck, DIR.
Livingstone stood before Mrs. Linden.
laughingly extending his disengaged
hand, which happened to be his left.
Mrs. Linden received the doctor with
evident pleasure, blushing and smiling
very prettily as she greeted him. Behind
her chair stood young man whose slen-
der: elegant figure contrasted as strongly
with the newcomers broad shoulders and
sturdy frame, as did the formers carefully
got up attire with the latters plain suit of
gray which, though neat and well-ftting,
was evidently intended for the wear and
tear Of the surroundings rocks and noun
tains.
They looked at each other very much as
two athletes might who were contending
for some prize, each measuring in that
brief, comprehensive glance, the others
strength and chances. By curious in
stinct they knew that they were rivals;
contestants for what was dearer thing to
them than life, the love of the lovely wo.
man whose sweetly tranquil face showed
little, if any, consciousness of how terribly
in earnest they were who were silently
arming them selves for the struggle. All
of which was done while the two were
smilingly acknowledging the introduction
given them by Mrs. Linden. there being
not the slightest indication by the coun-
tenances OF either of what was passing
within.
IAN honest. intelligent looking man.
but nothing for me to fear,'' thought Har
~ Everton, as he stroked his soft, silky