Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-07-28
Yours, as heretofore,
BILL NYE.
AFTER MANY DAYS.

AFTER MANY DAYS.
1t was lovely rural home, and was call
ed ''The Lilacs,' but it might as we'll have
had any other name suggestive of bloom and
fragrance.
1t could as appropriately have been de-
signated "Hawthorn Bower" for in June
the house was almost buried under the
scented snow of the great thorn trees which
stood around it, their towering heads and
spreading arms laden with that summer
glory.
But the place had always been known as
''The Lilacs" since Aunt Barbara's father
had brought his young wife home to it on a
day when the lilac trees were gorgeous with
pyramids of flowers and all the perfumed all
redolent of their greeting.
In due time the first occupants of the
homestead slept in the churchyard, and
their son Roger Lincoln ruled in their stead.
His wife died early and he,,did not long sur
vive her.
Then his sister Barbara settled perma-
nently at "The Lilacs" with her little Kath-
arine, the orphan child of her dead brother.
A pleasant home the two 80 dissimilar,
made for each other, and farm and orchard
and kitchen garden and grape-wall prosper
ed under the administration of the judicious
woman, who might otherwise have been
lonely and unoccupied.
Ten years after the death of Roger Lin
coin his only child had grown to lovely
maidsnhood. Tall and graceful, with a
white-rose complexion and thoughtful eyes,
deeply blue as an English violet, she was az
unlike the ordinary type of girlhood as the
ell III Eo nj, I've
trous and pale, amongst the gauder flow
from common blooms.
There was another Katharine, daughter
of another Roger Lincoln, who was cousin
to the late owner of ''The Lilacs;' pretty
little brunette, brisk and vivacious as a
canary bird, pettsd and fondled by every
body, including kind Aunt Barbara and her
beautiful cousin. But she was only Katie,
while the young mistress of 1.-THE Lilacs"
was always Katharine.
Neither of these girls lacked lovers, but
Katharine Of "The Lilacs" took the homage
that came in her way with careless, unre-
sponsive grace and sweetness which, in
spite of their ardor, chilled the hopes of her
most eager admirers.
She had not always been so Indifferent
A Gel tain Walter Gooderich, who had loved
her well enough to be blind and unreason-
able, had, year previous, in fit of jeal-
GUS pique, hastily joined party of Young
men equipped for Australia, and had taken
with him, though he was ignorant of the
fact, the joy and interest of her life.
Not so the piquant little Katie. She liked
to have the commonplace of daily life sea-
soned with the pleasant condiment of ad-
miration, and was a termenting witch at all
times, with a love of mischief that render
ed her little dangerous.
Very dangerous she was to the peace and
composure of one of her neighbors, rather
gigantic young man, whose deliberate plans
and ideas harmonized with his unusual
stature and unhurried actions.
1t was not possible to see greater con-
trast between two beings of the same race
than was to be found in Charles Bertram and
Katie Lincoln, and people wondered that,
leisurely as he was, he was always at hand
and serviceable when any freak of hers was
in progress. She teased and transported
him alternately with her magical wiles, and
had no more compassion for his woes when
she made him miserable than might have
been expected from such sprite.
But the wise marveled in vain, for he
loved her caprice and naughtiness better
than the good behavior of nybody else, anc
it was the habit of seeking comfort and
sympathy from the other Katharine and hil
custom of taking refuge with her in those
periods of doubtsand despondency common
to lovers which had awakened the Jealousy
of Walter Gooderich, who misinterpretet
these condolences, and led to his sudden de
parture for the antipodes.
But shock which had more than OF,
mission was preparing for the sprightl,
little damsel, who as yet had never know
a sorrow.
| Her father, Roger Lincoln, owned an ex
tensive piece of woodland upon which wa
some fine timber. From this property b.
made an annual sale which was very i'm
portant to him.
| He rode out one morning to this fores
| lot, where his men were at work. Som
were trimming and shaping the huge fale
| logs for transportation, and the rhythmica
strokes of the distant choppers resoundet
amongst th6grand old trees selected for
like destination.
| Leaving the first group of men, he wen
over to the other, when, from some inad
vertence on his own part or that of tn
laborers, he was crushed beneath a fallin
pine and instantly killed.
| This was terrible blow to Katie, ,wh
had been her fathers spoilt darling, and i
her great grief she turned instinctively t.
the generous heart and protecting arm
ready to shield and comfort her.
And Charles Bertram's faithfulness ha
its reward, for when Roger Lincoln ha
been six months dead he pleaded so carr
estly for the right to shelter for all her day
the sobered little maiden who now in he
weakness nestled to him so confidingly tina
Aunt Barbara thought be was right, an
spoke seriously to the widow, upon who's
feelings hope and joy Jared keenly.
sConsent," said she. "Katie is willin
if you are. 1t is good settlement for th
child. She shall have her wedding at 'Th
Lilacs' if you will let me take that off you
hand, for they are full enough already."
! And it was so concluded. While thes
things were in progress, there came on
day to "The Lilacs" a letter for Aur
Barbara. Walter Gooderich had been al
sent and silent for more than year, br
here were tidings of him at last.
1t was not very pronounced letter, bu
it was written with evident feeling and
shade of humility which showed his willing
ness to renew former intercourse. H
begged Aunt Barbara to write to him, an
lin conclusion asked if Katharine was sti
unmarried.
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