Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-02-15
Mr.. Raldan'S Marriage.

Just on the confines OF one Of
our large manufacturing towns,
there stands an imposing residence
of brown stone, elevated by ter
races above the rod, surrounded
by stately trees, and with a vide
extent of garden stretching on all
sides.
I had been employed in panel
painting one OF the large bedrooms
for some weeks, and my curiosity
aud interest had been excited by
the fact that the master
OF the house, Mr.. Joseph
Randall, was a tall, handsome man
of less than fifty gears, while bis
wife was certainly twenty years
older, and a very feeble old woman.
Yet never we're any young
couple more seemingly devoted
than this oddly-contrssted pair I;
and l, living m the house with
constant occupation there, certain
" had good opportunity for wit
Messing any matrimonial differ
ences, had any existed.
When my work was done, I re-
turned to my swn home, and sew
eral months laier, by quite an ac-
cident, not necessary to record
here, 1 Learned the story of MIR.
Randslps marriage.
From early boyhood he was a
"ne,er do welr' Money ran through
his fingers like sand, and after bis
father, his grandfather, and his
uncle had each started him in busi'
ness, only to end in failure, the
family decided that ne would never
be good for anything.
He was a very handsome man,
with college education, the in
stincts and manners OF gentle
man, and kindly in feeling; but
he was good-nstured, truthful, and
too easily Influenced by whoever
took the trouble to dictate to him.
At thirty he found himself bank
rupt, out of business, aud without
any definite prospects ; and while
he was seriously considering sui
eide as a way out of his difficulties,
be received an invitation to visit
an old friend in Grantley, a pretty
village near the seashOre.
He found Grantley at the height
of its summer season, and his own
attraction very readily acknowledged
by the ladies, who danced with
him, strolled on the beach By moon
light with, and accepted his grace
ful attentions with smiling
pleasure.
1t was here that he was intro
duced to Miss Susan Harte and
her niece and supposed heiress,
Miss Msude Maxwell.
They were ladies of position, re.
fined and graceful the younger
one lovely in the freshness Of her
youth, a pretty blonde face, and
slender figure; the older one state
~ aud digni6ed, showing in every
word a cultivated intellect and
strong common sense.
Bob White, Mr.. RanGalps friend,
after the introduction, spoke his
mind with frank il vulgar freedom
$50 10 for the helress, Joe.--
They say The old lady is worth q
quarter Of a million, and Miss
Maude is her only relative. Any.
one can see that they are devoted
TO each other"
And anyone could also see every
evidence of wealth in their sur.
roundings. Their own carriage,
with two magnificent horses, was
with them for their daily use,
their costumes we're of the most
costly materials, their jewslry was
superb. A lady's maid attended
them, and they occupied an entire
suite Of rooms at the only hotel.
Friendship led to intimacy, and
Mr.. Randall did try to fascinate
the heiress, whose simpering pret-
tiness covered q cold heart and a
very commonplace mind.
To dress well, to be centre Ol
attraction for bowing besux, were
the objects of her ambition, and
her conversation never rose above
the level of the smallest Of small
talk.
Though he had always to lacl
business ability, MIR. Randall wal
no fool, and be found himssl
evening after evening turning from
Miss MaxwelI's vspid talk TO th'
fresh strong mind that shon'
through her aunt's conversation.