Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-01-22

h7ssI S{tN'-s9 N"%~N
TOR my own saKel Vlner riddle. grew more
and more difficult of solu ton Grant could
doubtless solve it if be chose, but would he
do 500 ~ @'s} li''ifsA'' ~aA3t.
= Not he. 5. The next, day L once more att
tackled him. I lmplored) commanded, even
threatened; not one word would he speak.
Il was on the verge Of quarreling with him;
but as I fancied, it was only by his direct or
indirect aid 1 could find Viola, ! restrained
my very natural wrath, and on the subject
of Viola a sullen sill ence succeeded my USE
less guues tons fi,g gsa 8Ysn j1l'ii 10 sic
I fingered I, ON at the farm long after
Eustace Grant was well enough to dispense
with IA v services Where else could / go?
From waom- but Grant had chancesof
ascertaining my wfe's present 9abodes 4
musC wait. and watch. A chance word, a
letter, anything, might put me on the track.
Moreover, had presentiment that Viola
was potsf arsa way, People, when driven to
ther wits end, put vast amount of faith
IN rfeseh timents' % y
4 Nucd as: had learned to love him, severe
as " ere the twinges of remorse still felt for
my murderous act, 1t was all could do to
force myself to believe that Grant was SIM "
gle hearted in his determination Of keeping
Iae III hAhO .0n1A AOSECSoiAA5 ny "@NS. N-S
more so, as it was my conviction that,
could once meet her, my pleading
would be eloquent enough to bring, her
'e>,ei;k to me- TO begin once more the happy
life 50 strangely caS ny b neo ~ gs see
T her once more, take her BY th5a1sSs - 20
into her eyes, call up the memory Of thos0
few Snort days when we were all the world
to each other, surely l must then be told
the truth and conquer. -
Que morning Elstace seemed distracted
and Ill at ease. He answered my questions
ahsently. Presently he said: 'tDo you mind
making short journey for me~
Certainly not. Where to@ -!
4 'I'want several things not procurabls
here. Will you go to l. Orient for mef'' !.
''Of cnurse I will. But how am to get
thare' The diligence does not run to-day s.
. Jean lccud drive you in the light wagon,
but that you'll be tedious. will try and
borrow horse' ...d5Ga "
favored the horse. TRenty miles in old
Boulay's wagon was not attempting pros
pect. So the horse was procured, and Ide-
cidel TO stay at LOrient for the night and
ride back the next day. My purchases
could be sent by diligence -i-'
Grant gave me a list of the articles he
wished bought. Some Of them, it struck
Hit, SeGiIlSu SupefluOuS anu GflVldl, etuu all
might have been ordered by letter. Then
mounted. and. rode along the tableland,
down the hill, through the sleepy ,ittlevil-
lage, up the other hill and away on the
/. dusty road to EOrient =. s77'7 -
z 1t was q blazing hot day, SO hot that I
blamed myself for not having started on
my ride either earlier in the morning OF
later on, when the power of the sun began
to wane. l wondered that Grant had not
suggested the latter course. nan
That wonder came coupled with another
thought, thought which made my heart
beat I remembered how anxious he had
been that I should make the journey to-
day, and contras ted that anxiety with the
Importance of the errand. Gould it be that
he was for some purpose sending me out Of
the waya I rode slowly on, giving this
question full consideration; and the more
considered it the more 1 became convinced
that my errand to l. Orient was a rtlse.
Having determined this, my mind was at
once made up halted at the next farm
house. and stating that the horse was lame
lett him in charge of the good people until
l could send for him. Then rapidly 1 re-
traced my steps, I'm til l reached the top of
the cliff from which once before I had
: gazel at the house which held the man on
whom I had come to wreak vengeance. I
threw myself on the turf, and for hours
kept my eyes on the house or on the road
which led to it.
ii If I saw nothing to confirm my suspicious
could regain my horse and ride to l. Orient
after nightfall. There would be moon,
and could no doubt find my way
So, with eager eyes watched and
watched, until at last saw, struggling up
the hill opposite to me, a carriage, which
must have passed through St. Seurin.
saw it appear and disappear, according to
the bends of the road, then emerge on to the
table land, and finally stop in front Of the
farmhouse. My heart leaped with delight
I saw GRAFT come out and assist some
dark figures to alight. l saw them enter
the house. l saw the carriage aud horses
taken to the stables at the back of the farm
Then rose and went to meet what fate had
in store for me.
I descended the one hill, climbed the
other, and walked briskly toward the farm
felt sure that the carriage seen by me had
brought Viola to my temporary home
Grant knew that she was coming; hence the
errand on which had been sent chafed
at the thought of how nearly had fallen
into the trap.
About hundred yards from the house
saw on my left hand, seated on a larga
stone on the edge of the cliff, the form of
woman. My heart beat so violently.
that for a moment l was forced to stand
still
Changed as was her dress, unfamiliar her
attitude should have known her among a
thousand. At last after an interval of
two years, l saw Viola! She was clothed in