Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-09-11

size itiudi htN. YOU fAf l"iN
philosophy sometimes. | don't
like it, but ! can't help it,
THE STORY OF REBECCA.
IL is well remembered how, ~
the beginning Of last year, hand.
some, dashing young woman made
personal application to the clerk of
the County Court at Winchester
for marriage license. She wanted
to marry "A Miss Hilton. The clerk
took it as a Joke at first, but after
ward, discovering that the appli-
cant vas serious, informed her
that the laws Of Virginia would
not permit her to marry with a
lady. The fair applicant knew
better aud insisted upon having
the license. The license was re-.
fused, but only temporarily. The
applicant was Miss Rebecca r.
Payne, Of The Rest, Frederick
county, nine miles from Win
chester, and very near the border
line of West Virginia. She was
well known in the county,. had
made reputation for business
ability by her success as a store
keeper, farmer and a breeder Of
fancy live stock. She raised some
Of the finest cattle in the county
and there was no better Judge Of a
horse ito be met in the market.
Miss Hilton had been her clerk
and assistant in the store and about
the farm. The store is prosperous
country place, regular pOlytech.
mic, where all sorts Of supplies are
handled-from a stick Of candy,
plough, or the materials Of a silk
dress and it is called The Rest.
probably because it is a stopping
place between Winchester and
Martinsburg, being about half way
between the two cities.
In few days Miss Rebecca II.
Payne returned to the County
Court to renew her application for
a marriage license. This time she
was Mr.. Lawrence Il. Payne. Her
long hair had been cut short and
she vas neatly blessed in coat, vest
and trousers and a Derby hat.
Besides, she brought with her a
letter from DR.. Mcclure, of Win
chester, certifying that she was
fully entitled to the new name and
the new dress which she h adj adopt
ed. The marriage license was no
longer withheld. she, or rather
he, was duly married to Miss Hi
ton, and the pair now live happily
together at The Rest. But bust |
ness is hardly as good at the sore |
as 1t used to be. Lawrence, the |
husband, is not as much in favor |
with /" the boys" of the county as
Rebecca, the village maiden, used |
to be. For years it had been be. |
lieyed and conceded by many OF |
the neighbOrs that Rebecca was |
entitled, by natural endowments |
and business tact, as they say, to /
"wear the breeches." Rebecca |
herself thought so and blamed the
family for having kept her in
petticoats so long. Nevertheless,
the transformation created great
sensation. 1t stirred the county to
the utmost turmoil of establishment
and excitement. The girls with
whom Rebecca had associated and
their immediate friends were most
astOnished. Uneasiness and alarm
resigned in all the families, which
had held any social intercourse
with Rebecca. Consequential after
the metamOrpbosis and marriage
her former friends held themselves
aloof, to the detriment of her bust
ness. \ few enterpriSing people
at the time thought that she, or he.
being so much in the peoples
thoughts and on their tongues,
would be great success as
lecturer Accordingly, it was ar
ranged that Mr.. Lawrence r. Payne
would lecture at MartinSburg Oh
StOckralsng or something like
that, in which he was known to be
an adept when he wore petticOats.
But the project was a failure. No
body went TO hear the lecture,
which was expected to attract
everybody.
y Post reporter called at The
Rest to pay his respects to Mr..
Payne, aud the call was answered
by a perfect young AdoniS. Law
renee is about medium height for a
man, or, perhaps, a little below it.
His business suit was not close.
fitting, but standing behind a high
desk he presented Il face that was
beautiful in every feature, COM
plexloi fresh and clear and bright
as blush rose. He looks to be a
boy Of not more than twenty-five
Or twenty.three, but in reality he is
about forty. His voice is a sweet
He talks with
'eady intelligence, and easy grace,
md the quiet confidence of a man !
Who is conscious that he has ample
evidence in reserve to prove his
,ase.
The Paynes are one of the oldest [
md foremost families in the county,
prosperous and highly I
expected. Old Jane Payne, Law <
ence's grandmother, lives Oh a
arm in BerSeley county, W. Va, 4
bout a mile from The Rest. She \
now eighty-fve years old. a Post {
eporter found her sitting in the
Id fashioned porch in the cool Of q
he evening watching the sun 20 5,
own. Beside her was the care.
lny.paded crutch which she has A
sed ever since a fall she received
even or eight years ago. Other
Use she is as quick in her move
lents as a butterfly. She is pleas. II
mt in conversation and quite witty. 4!
be has just finished reading the
ible from beginning to end with.
Mt glasses. She is much addicted
, family prayers and has tender
gard for the little chapel of the
agnes, which stands on hill near ia.
er dwelling. The family are all a. a.
IethodistS-SOuthern MethOdists.--
# they are careful to point out
10 distinction between Southern
and Methodist Eplsc0.
al, which is the Northern name
ne of her favOrite boasts is that
le raised eleven children to man. Ju
BOD aud womanhood (she was