Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-09-07

While 1 did not exactly like the
way she replied, l could not find
the heart to be angry with her, for
really believed she loved me so
folded her in my arms and warm
ly kissed her, and assured her OF
nv trust in her. | returned to the
village feeling every way but buoy
ant. and passed a restless, sleep
less night.
A few days after that | received
a note from old Mr., Merlin, also
one from Amy. The old man in a
few words, informed me that his
daughter was soon to marry Ralph
CLAYTON, and bade me discontinue
nv attentions to her. Amy wrote
a tearful little note, returning the
ring [ had given her, and saying
she loved only me but duty and
obedience to her father compelled
her to renounce me and marry MIR.
Clayton; that she thought it best
never to see me again, and closed
by beseeching me to forgive her.
Neither of them stated when the
marriage was to take place, and |
took no particular pains to find
out. That night l boarded train
bound for a distant town, where |
intended to locate and strive to for
get the heartless girl-as l then
thought her-whO had treated me
so cruelty.
| did well in my new home, and,
though the wound in my heart was
past healing, it was not so sore as
at first; time, in a measure, had
deadened the pain. A year and
more had gone by, and in all that
time had never had any tidings
of Amy. l scanned the papers
closely, but l never saw any ac'
count of the marriage. | thought
all this very strange, but could not
doubt that the marriage had been
consummated. After a time ! ceas.
ed to look at the papers altogether,
and devoted myself strictly to my
profession.
One night as l sat alone in my
Office, wrapt in thoughts of the
past, boy entered unannOunced
and handed me telegram. l lost
no time in reading it, and found it
to be from old Mr.. Merlin, and con-
tanned these words:
"Amy is very i'll and desires to
see you. Come Immediately"
did not stop to think over this
strange message. I only knew my
darling-mine in spite of the
past-was ill-probably dying
and wished to see me. never
once thought of her being another
mans wife. | would 60 to her, of
course. All the bitterness l had
felt toward the poor little girl left
me, and the love for her that had
partially smothered surged over
and through me with renewed Wig
or.
My preparations we're hastily
made, and the next train that left
the town carried me a passenger
aboard. My suspense was indeed
terrible. Time never dragged his
length along so slowly. 1t was
early morning when l started on
my journey, and the darkness OF
the night was setting over the
world when l reached my destina-
ton. No one was at the station to
meet me, and without losing time
to hire a vehicle, | started out to
walk to the Merlin mansion across
the fields as / used to do of yOre.
1t was no great distance, and the
walk would do me good. My way
would take me by the old trysting
tree where Amy had met me so oft
en- in the happy days of long ago.
My mind was busy as walked
over the old familiar pathway. |
thought of the girl, now probably
lying within the pale Of death, who
had wandered over these very
fields, clinging trustingly to my
arm and utterlng VOWS of eternal
love for me. thought, too, OF the
man who had come between us
with bis accursed gold and parted
us forever, well.nigh wrecking my
life, and breaking the heart OF poor
little Amy. All this and much
more surged through my brain as
| hurried rapidly onward.
was now near the old trysting
tree, aud in the fast gathering twi
light saw a sight that sent the
blood rushing through my veini
like a current Of fire. Leaning
against the trunk of the tree, CLAD
in a dress of spotless white, saw
, the outline of fragile female form
1t was Anywhere could be NJ
doubt of that / knew the grace
ful figure too well and the atti
tude was just the same as she used
, to assume when she waited for mi
in that spot long ago. Yes, it wa
, Amy; she was not so i'll, then, al
! they had thought her; she had re
= covered, and had come out to mee'
] and surprise me. These were my
thopohts "a I rushed on TO gree