Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-05-15
A Woman's Atonement.

little stone ClllrcIl aC Day Sluc, auu
she sang in the choir. That was
the beginning Of it. Az to how It
would end, people held various
opinions. although OH one point
they all agreed. He was SURE to
fall in love with her. 1t had so
long been the fashion for every
body to adore the beautiful Miss
Sturtevant, that it was generally
accepted as a Fact that no mascu
line heart could resist her fasclna
tons. For ten years nearly all the
manageable young men of Bayslde
had in turn laid their hearts at her
feet, had gone through a brief sea-
son a mad despair as she refused
them, and then married elsewhere,
and learned as the years went ny
to look into her lovely eyes with
Indifference ali but one. There
was one dark spot i'll Violet Stur
tcvant's life of which she did not
love to think. Sidney Kent had
seemed to her only a boy, pleasant
TO have for a devoted slave, and al
though she knew he was madiy IN
love with her, she kept him at her
side for months, and when at last
she could no longer keep back his
declarations Of his feelings, she
,m,do lioht of his love. called it a
bovish passion. and when he vow,
ed to end his life, she only laughed
and gave HIM year to forget her.
Rut the boy was insane with grief,
and within an honr from the time
he left her side, died by his own
hand. This was moro OF shock to
her Shan she cared to own. She
had been cruel and unfeeling, but
all through thoughtlessneSs. Her
pride, however. was great, and she
gave no sign of sorrow and repen
lance. His widowed mother o:ss,
BaysldS a and 5d lead sad a SSSSXrr 1lS
became thing of the past.
The shadow of it lever left Vic
let's life. Other suItors came, and
it was strange that the heart that
drew i'll others toward it never felt
a thrill of love as the old, old story
was repeatedly whispered to her.
She enjoyed her power over them.
She could not live without trying
to win every heart thrown in her
way, but the sweet unsel6shness of
a true woman's love was to her an
enigma.
The year preceding the time of
which | write had been a quiet one
for Violet, compared with the ex-
element of her former life. She
had been left alone i'll the world
with the. exception Of maiden
aunt, who had shared her home.-
Possessed Of an abundance Of
means and beautiful home, there
are not many girls whose lives were
so unfettered AMI free. There had
been dearill of young men in the
village for some time, and just as
life was beginning to seem rather
tame and uninteresting, the young
minister came, and brought with
him a ripple of excitement into the
quiet village, which had not for
twenty years possessed young
unmarried clergyman.
The church bells had ceased ring
ing, and Miss Martha Sturtevant,
in her best black silk, was pacing
nervousIy up and down the long
veranda, waiting for her niece
The old coach that had.carried
three generations of Sturtevants to
and from divine service had been
waiting at the gate for ten minutes.
If there was Ole thing this amiable
spinster disliked it was being late
for church; but there was some
thing else OH her mind that in
creased her nervousness.
III wonder il she will wear her
new drcss7 And yet, what does it
She will be the same
Perhaps if could speak to her,
warn her a little-I wonder if l
dare"
just then she heard a light step,
and turning, saw Violet standing
in the doorway.
1t was not the new dress-but
cream nuns yelling, made very
simple with cascades oi'lace around
the white throat, and instead of
tic new bonnet with it's nodding
plumes, was simple white straw
with clouds of lace-no flowers, no
ribbons; and yet, as Miss Martha
looked sue wished she had worn
the new dress. Her niece seemed
to read her thoughts, and laughed
a little defantly, as they seated
themselves and we're driven rap.
idly into the village.
"You are displeascd aunt, and
there is something you wish to say
to me. Pray be qnick about it,
James is driving rapidlyan
"Not displeased, Violet" said
Aunt Martha gently; "but there is
something l wish to say. pray
sou have some re ;lect for this
young mans sacred calling. Do
not tlY to uain his 10y. only to