Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-01-08

He aVas in a Tar.of pe,o and almost the
only spectator.
ceremony. Doubtless, when Viola and
left the church, man and wife, Eustace
Grant walked into the vestry, and, as he
had expressed his intention of doing, saw
with his own eyes that had married Viola
in my true name.
We drove straight from the church to the
railway station. When alone in the car
riage almost the first words my wife said
we're: Julian, Eustace was in church.
Did you ses himg''
eyes, saw HIN. y
why did be not come and wish me good
byea It was not like him. I must have
offended him. I will write and ask him
how"
hated the idea of Eustace Grant being,
in such moment as this. uppermost in my
wifes thoughts. 'Never mind, dearest" I
said; what is Eustace Grant to us?'
"Oh, much, very much to me, Juliani He
was my mothers friend, be has been my
one friend ever since I can remember"
II do not like him. said
"But you will like him; you must like
him. He is so good, SO noble, so clever.
Promise me, Julian, you will like him for
my sake"
Although would not credit him with the
two first qualifications and no.
bility-I was willing to believe that Eustace
Grant was clever-perhaps too clever. The
disadvantage at which he had held me upon
that night when was for the time, in his
eyes, an imposter, ranked in my mind
But to-day could afford to be generous. L
drew Viola close to me-
Dearest" said, Il will try and get rid
of my prejudice will try and forget that
this man loved you, and would have made
you his wife. l will try to cease from
wondering why, when he is so good, noble
and clever, You should have chosen me-"
Viola laid her soft cheek against mine.
Julian, my husband she whispered.
'are you not all that Eustace Grant is-ani
more I love you"
With her words all my doubt, all Ks- fear
of Eustace Grant ded-never, I hoped. to
return. With Viola's arms round me, her
kisses on my lips, could afford to pity my
unsuccessful rival. When we were in
stalled in the compartment of ths train
which was, by venal arrangement of the
guards, reserved to ourselves, / fell to
considering how I should best make
known to Viola that the name by which
she had hitherto known me was assumed.
was beginning, or fancie1 I was begin
ming, to know something of my wife's true
nature; and told myself that the task be-
fore ma was not so easy as had oncs i'm
aeine1 it would be. Ny confession was
hurried on by question she herself
asked me:
Julian, what name was it you signei in
the book at churchf'
had hoped that in the agita ton natural
to bride who signs her maiden anna for
the last time she had not noticed my auto
graph. But she must have done so, al
though she hal said nothing about ii until
now. N
So mad the plungs and told -isersftsais
Told her my true name; told her Of tins.
beautiful house in the west which would be-
ours: told her of the life, free from care AMI
anxiety as to the future, which stretched
before us. Then besought her forgiveness
for keeping her in ignorance of thsse things
l had, be it said, given her to understand
that / Yves a man with an income Just
enough to live upon in comfort.
Grant was right. He knew Viola when
be told M, that, by revealing my deception.
he might destroy tie fabric of my happi-
ness. Shs said little, but her look told me
she was hurt AMI wounded. 1 verify be-
heve her first thoughts were that she would
rathag 1 had been what l represented
my self TO be, than to have the power of
staring such home and so much wealth
with her. How little mon understa nd
womenl Perhaps because no two women
are alike.
But Viola forgave me. A woman always
forgiyes the man she loves, but know that
she was sad at the thought that [ coull
have dreamed that riches might have III flu
enced her. Never theless, it was days Before
Icould get her to join me- uurestrain,lly
in the schemes which l wove of our future
life
We went down to quiet watering place
on the south coast. Here we stall for a
fortnight Oh, those sweet summer daysi
Shall l ever forget theme For the time
there seemed no cloud which could possibly
shade our joy. All the cynical, suspici,4ls.
misaEtbropical elements seemed swept on.
Of my nature. told myself that the con-
slant society OF the wife | loved was MAJ
ing better as well as HARPER man of me
To be Contilnd,1