Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-04-03


lar he could call his Own-he who
had no wish ungratihed money could
procure in all his thirty years of
life. 1t had fallen, too, through no
fault Of his own, though there was
feeble comfort in that. There was
comfort, however, in the knowledge
that he owed no man, that he might
start afresh in the world with no
burden on his broad shoulders or
conscience.
True, there was a deep wound in
his heart. He had loved Marion so
well that to give her up was to vol
unfairly renOunce Gods sunlight.
But all her life had been spent amid
luxury. 1t was to her a necessity.
Deprived of it, she would droop
and fade; and better any lot than
to see her struggle, and know that
he had brought it upon her.
Besides, she had made her choice.
To her a wedding meant flowers,
music, friends, the toilet of the
BRIDE. The future, the communion
of two hearts, the solemn RESPONSE
bilitieS incurred, were but seconda-
ry considerations.
Goodbye, my darling be said
as they parted, but when she added,
Until Tomorrow he added neith-
or yea nor nay.
Tomorrow the world knew that
Chester Thorley's ship had gone up
on the rocks. Many of his business
associates would have held out to
him helping hand, but firmly and
kindly he refused every offer.
He wrote Marion few lines re.
calling to her mind the conversa-
ton of the day before, and released
her from her VOWS to him.
IF any good fortune comes to
me- he concluded, you shall hear
Of it. If | am silent, it is because
my life is wrapped in silence and
shadow. Bless you, darling, for
the light you have cast upon it. 1t
will be like looking back to Heav'
en-. | dare not see you agaln-l
tested my strength to its full extent
Yesterday. God grant that some
better man may win you; to love
YOU better is not within his power.
Nor must you think | blame you
that YOU shrank from sharing the
new life upon which ente.. F.ow'
ers cannot live without sunlight.
Even as spoke knew your an
swer. only wanted to be sure
that made no mistake in inter
preting the best course for your
happiness
And then, with a few moro warm,
passionate, loving words of farewell,
the letter closed.
Two years passed, and the little
world winch had known Chester
Thorley so we'll knew him no more.
He had entirely disappeared. 1t
was as though the sea had opened
and swallowed him up.
Marion Willoughby was Marion
Willoughby still. If fshe suffered she
made no sign but those who had
seen the one sparkling stone, which
had been the pledge of her engage
mcnt to Chester ThOrley, noticed
that she wore its till, and others,
yet more narrow watchers, o bserv'
ed that always, when she entered a
crowded room, she would take a
hasty glance around as though ex-
pecting to find some one not there.
She was yet but twenty-five, a
belle and a beauty still. The third
winter of his absence she went
/ West to spend several weeks with
an aunt.
Il cannot spare you,' her father
had said when the invitation had
come.
But she, going close to him and
laying her head for a moment OF
his breast, said:
Il think, papa, it would be best.
They we're simple words, but he
interpreted them Alright. The Ol(
wound would not cease its bleeding
She wanted to 20 amid new scenes
so he only kissed her and bade he
remember that the old father await
ed her return.
You have not been through thu
steel works. some one said to he
one day. 'It is really most inter
esting sight. Will you join aparty
if we make up one to visit them
Miss Willoughby?'
with pleasure she answered
lightly.
And her aunt, charmed with tn
success of her beautiful niece
smiled at Clay ClaytOn's numerou
devices to ensnare MariOn's society
He was the great parti Of tn
place. She had heard something
of some early disappointment il
Marion's life. 1t would be a splcn
did triumph thus to obliterate il
and already she felt quite sure tha
the fat lay in the girls own hands
The morning appointed for tn