Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-09-18

offer of marriage, and not being
able to get il, she took refuge III a
stratagem. This consisted in sud
denly making the discovery that
Mrs. Johns0n's health was in
absolute want of some German wa
ters in fact, she decided that it
was quite dangerous for her to
spend the spring in England, with
all the chances of heat and cold.
The old lady was therefore soon
persuaded TO yield to such tender So
licitude, and away the couple went
leaving Mr.. James Fox in rather
awkward dilemma. What was
he TO do? If he wrote cool letters
to Miss Nelly, she would be lost in
the event of her inheriting Mrs.
JohnsOn'S property on the other
hand, if he played the part of a
lover, he committed himself, and
gave her the materials for breach
of.promise case should the good
lady die when his name only
figured in her will, and should he
then turn his attention to Miss
LaQuertOn. What, then, could he
do3
The worthy Fox was bailled for
the moment, but after deep deliber-
alton he hit upon a great idea
which his chemical studies sug-
gested to him. Chuckling to HIM
self, he went to chemists shop,
purchased several drugs, and mix
ed and remixed them till magniii-
cent black ink was produced, which
had the grand advantage that III
about ten days after being COM
mitted to paper it would fade
away, without leaving the slightest
trace. Emboldened by the happy
result Of his experiments, he be-
came at once the most tender and
Jealous correspondent any woman
could wish for. His letters in fact
overhowed with promises of ever
lasting devotion. Miss Nelly beam
ed with Joy; for she was now con-
vinced how true and unselfsh was
the attachment of her admirer.
Under such circumstances it was
not surprising that German waters
speedily did Mrs. johnson so much
good that her careful nurse con
sidered that the cure could be
shortened, and accordingly the
couple returned to England much
earlier than had been expected.
Whether, however, the waters
had really disagreed with the old
lady, or something else had upset
her, was never quite clear, but
soon after their return to England
her health and strength began serl-
ously to fail. She complained
bitterly that Miss Nelly had III
duced her to undertake an un-
necessary and useless journey, and
that ever since she had neglected
her altogether. The end of 1t was
that one day, In the height Of her
anger, she burnt the then existing
will, and made Mr.. Fox her sole
heir to everything she possessed.
This decision seemed to have eX-
hausted her remaining energy, for
sue died not many days after.
Mr.. Fox, who had been appriscd
of the state of affairs by his part
ner and friend, almost lost his senses
with Joy; still his excitement did
not prevent his investing some
money in hatbands and Grape, and
looking as mOurnful rs if the sor-
rows of the whole world rested up
on his shoulders. Miss Nelly, too,
almost melted away in tears, and
c uld only be comfOrted by cher
jamie" as she now called Mr.. Fox.
But the latter seemed to have
turned quite dull with grief. lie
did not appear to understand her
at all, and day by day as she be-
came more demonstrative he grow
less afiectiOnate. The afternoon
before the funeral Miss Nelly was
extremely broken-hearted, and
amid her sObs remarked how COM
Portable and happy she had been
with her late dear friend. To her
astOnishment Mr.. Fox attempted to
comfort her by saying with cool
civility, 81 hope you may soon
meet again with such happy
home as you have had here till
now"
On hearing this Miss Nelly's
tears suddenly dried up, and with
eyes dilated with astOnishment and
anger, she cried;
sit is you whom | expect to
make me this happy home"
Mr.. Fox, however, simply shrug-
eed his shoulders 81 do not deny
that | may have once had such
ideas, but of late | have grown
wiser. Everything in this world
alters why then should not our
opinions do the same That Is
what we call progress
Upon this he bowed and left
Miss Nellie crying and fainting in
an arm chair.
lie did not hear anything Of her
until a few days later, when q
gentleman called on him saying
that he had been entrusted with
Miss Nellie Browns affairs, and
suggesting that perhaps Mr.. Fox,