Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-16

should go mad if were never to hear any
thing more of him.
Poor Norahl But suppose that il WI
not be necessary for you 10 do anything q
alt-suppose, my dear sisters do some
times kiss each other wit lout feeling th'
| force of Hoods remark about sandwiches c.
veal-'suppose good news were to come fo@
| your
] There cannot be any good news for m q
] Why, Calista, you know that Mr.. Murrides
/ will hear of nothing until Dick has had s
opportunity of meeting his accusers. ], f.
one, have never accused hin-and I neve1
| will And now he has run away, is it likely
that he will accuse himselff'
''Never mind what is likely, Think of the
very best that could possibly happen"
| The very bests"
! "The very best
Remember, Callsta, it is not enough that
Hugh should be satisfied OF course, he is
satisfied. How can he ever love me unsess
he respects me? l must have much more
than that
You shall have much more
'Calista!' Norah caught her hand "Whs.
have you heards What have you dones
Have you seen hims Have you seen Dick
Patience dear, for half an hour more,
dAu YOU SHdll KNOW I'LL. lei lue, Nordn,
just this about Dick. Are you yery-very
bitter about HING
u don't know. He has robbed me Of
Hugh"
He will give Hugh back to you. Can
you forgive HING
Norah hesitate ted.
II know everything, dear; more than you
know, even. Dick has gone. He has fed
the country, l believe. There is nothing lSsfs
us but to forgive him. He will never Know
whether you have forgiven him OF not But
tell me that you do"
''Oh, what will it help him for ne to saw
that forgive hima I would ne8 wish to
punish him nor to take revenge and yet
Yes, Calista forgive him. Iosr Dick, wv,
loved him once did we notzn
| Even if he does not know, it is something
that you forgive him. Mems crimes follow
them with scourges in their hands-scourges
with knots in them, and every knot for
poor Dick, your vengeance and your un-
forgiveness Now he will be punished less
| fearfully. My dear, your trouble is over.
| No one, not even the most spiteful, will
| ever be able to hint that there was the
| slightest truth in this monstrous accusation.
No one except ourselves will ever know Of
it. Come, Norah to Hugh's room. Some
one awaits you there-a most important
| person, almost as important as Hugh.
Comet A most delightful person; and oh,
Norah, be prepared for the best news in the
world, and for the greatest surprise you
ever imagined"
Calsta led her sister to the resident medi-
cal officers ROOM where they found, be-
sides Hugh, a lady whom Norah recognized
at once as Hugh's mother-Mme Aquila,
the singer. She was in lack silk, that kind
of lifelong mourning which some widows
adopt. Her face was kindly and soft, still
beautiful though her youth had long since
vanished.
my DEAR" she said, taking Norah by
both hands, so that she could draw her close
and kiss her comfortably my dear child,
l have heard all. You have greatly suf
fered. But all is over now. Your sister
has made the rough way smooth and re-
moved the last obstacle. See what il is to
be- sister in the hospitals; how helpful it
makes one! And now you will take my
Hugh again, will you not? He is worth
taking, my DEAR
Oh" said Norah her eyes running over,
"Hugh knows that first
eyes, my DEAR" Nine. Aqui' a nterrupted;
Hugh knows exactly what you intend.
Not yet, then We will wait a little"
They had not long to wait. for steps We're
heard in the corridor. and the doctor en-
tered, accompanied by Mr.. Murridge. =
well, Calista," said the former, II am
here in reply to your letter. What have
you got to tell meg
First, here is Mime. Aquila, Hugh's
mother. Next you will have to keep per-
fectly quiet, snd not interrupt for five min
utes. And then 1 have got a surprise for
you. Such surprised
''Not another coronet, l hopeg'
'And am here, Calista," said Mr.. Iur-
ridge. Il have brought with me certain
document in obedience to your request.
What nexts My son has left the country,
understand. What nextF'
First Mr.. Murridge, will you withdraw
| that document, and own to Norah that you
have proved it to be false and treacherous
| from beginning to end, and then tear Il III,
in our presence?'
F; These were brave words hi. Mursidge
heard them with some surprise
II have only to repeat what said before.
I withdraw nothing, and I acknowledge
nothing, until my son has had a chance of
explanation I admit have never tried
to deny-that the case against him is very
black But | will not condo mn my own son
unheard. The paper shall lie in the safe;
the subject shall never be mentioned Norah
can come back as soon as she pleases. But
if my son ever returns agaln-he has gone
without a word-he shall have an oppor-
tunity of giving any explanation he pleases''
''Norah can never go back to you until
that document is destroyed, and it's contents
acknowledged to be false More than that,
she can never renew her broken engagement
until YOU yourself acknowledge that its
falsehood has been proved"
II cannot help her. then" said Mr.. Muir
ridge, coldly.
81 wonder if I Nigh. ask what is the
meaning of all thisa' asked the doctor 81
was promised a surprise, and it begins with
mystery"
Presently said Calista; presently, per.
haps. In the meantime, sit down and say
nothing. | have got something to show
Mr.. Murridge and then on shall have you
surprise.
perhaps you have another So called
proof" Mr.. Murridge went on. 81 warn yea
that nothing-notbing but my sons voica.-
can convince me-"
Yet you are morally certana' said Hugh
1T is not question of my opinion, but of
my sons honor. Go on Calista. Produce
your additional facts if you have any, and
let me CO.
''You shall have his own words then.
Calista produced her letter. Listen to this.
She read aloud the letter which she had
got from Dick.
Norah breathed deep sigh.
"Why-" began The doctor about to ask
how any one in the world could be such an
idiot as to suppose tnat his daughter Moral
could wrongly connected with checks. but
he was peremptorily ordered by Cal:sta to
preserve silence.
Here is the letter, Mr. Murridge LeoS
at it. You know your sons handwriting.
He gave me that letter yesterday afternoon
at the place where he was lodging"
TAT what timer
cat six in the afternoon "
II must have missed him, " said Mr.. Muir
ridge, ''hy an hour"
care you satisfied now" asked Calista.
+ 'Do you hear his voice in this letter.
Mr. Murridge read the letter again, as it
considering every word, whether it was gen.
uine or not, and whether the signature was
really his sons.
''The writing is my sons" he said, return
ing the letter What do you wish me to
sayF'
Nay, Mr.. Murridge; you know what you
have to say"
He still hesitated. Then he drew paper