Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-07-31
HONEST WORTH;
FOR HERSELF ALONE.


FOR HERSELF ALONE.
81 wish / knew if he loves me for myse
alone" said Anabel Fielding, looking at he
pretty face in the glass She was the he'll
ess to half million, and surrounded wit
admirers, but there was always doubt il
her mind whether they were sincere, o
cared only for her on account of her mon
ey. Anabel was more interested in on
young man in particular. She had onl,
met Frank Eaton few times, but he hat
made deeper impression on her than an,
one she had known, and she was anxious t.
discover if he was sincere in the devotion
he displayed toward her.
Just now he was away on his vacation 81
nothing could be done to help matters. An
abel therefore ran down into the country Il
consult her cousin Kate on the subject o
testing the truth of her admirer. Kate IL
school teacher and a poor relation, bn
she was Miss Fielding's favorite cousin.
We will not stop to relate the private
| confab between the cousins. Suffice it tC
say that on the following morning Kate
| took her departure for AnabePs city home,
the latter's last words to her being:
"Now, remember, Kate, that for the
| next six weeks you are the heiress, and
er, suddenly reduced from affiuence to com.
parative poverty. Write me how you fine
matters, and all about what most wish tc
know, and will keep you posted"
It was near the close of hot, sultry day
in June, the bloom and fragrance lying all
around it, making her confinement to this
schoolhouse very irksome to Anabel Field
ing. Her scholars had been unusually try.
ing and stupid, and she began to heartily
repent her self-imposed task, especially as
she had learned through Kate that Frank
Eaton had suddenly returned to town.
AS she was mentally computing the days
that must elapse, each one just as stupid
and tireseme, before she could be released,
a shadow fell across the threshold of the
half-open door; then a pleasant voice said
"Will Hiss Fielding admit new schol-
ar ?''
As Anabel looked up into the face so Of
ten present in her sleeping and waking
dreams, every vestige of weariness vanish
ed from her face and heart.
s'If you will promise to be very good, d
she-smiled, falling in very readily with his
idea and conducting her new pupil to seat
on the platform, in full view of the won
dering gaping children, of all ages and ST.
zes, who were ranged on the benches in
front of it.
With a rush and shout the eager, restless
throng poured out of the little schoolhouse,
leaving Anabel and Frank to follow at their
leisure.
81 did not hear of your loss and conse-
quent change in your prospects until last
week." said Frank, AS the two moved slow.
ly down the steps toward the sandy, wind.
ing road.
81 call it loss," he added, after a mo.
ment's pause, ''and yet these things are
often very far from being such--in their
result; calling forth capabilities in those
who suffer them that they did not know
they possessed either. To be quite frank,
much as I admired and even loved you, ]
did not think it in you to conform SC
bravely to your altered circumstances.
Anabel colored, as she met the look OF
honest admiration in the eyes that were
fixed upon her; partly with pleasure, and
partly from the consciousness of how little
she deserved his good opinion of her.
81 have sometimes thought" she fal.
tered, "that l would welcome almost any
loss that would show me which of all
those who professed to do so really loved
me-"
Frank turned swift, questioning look
upon the face of the speaker.
"You surely did not doubt the sincerity
of my love?"
81 think I doubted everybody" said
Anabel, penitently, giving her companion
a shy glance, which afforded him sudden
and very pleasant insight into the heart he
was SO anxious to win.
"This, then, is the secret to all that SO
perplexed and disheartened me2" respond
ed Frank, with much emotion. "Why,
darling, my first thought when L heard of
your changed surroundings was that you
would now need me; that l would now
stand some chance Of winning you. II
this be so, and l so highly favored, then,
indeed, is your loss of fortune likely to
prove great gain-to mep'
What Anabel said in response to this,
and all the interesting conversation that
followed, were Intended neither for your
ears or Eine, reader, though we may rets
assured that it was very pleasant as we'll as
highly satisfactory to the parties chiefly
concerned.
One evening, about week later, Kate
walked into Aunt Polly's cozey little sit.
ting-roon, where the two lovers were sit.
ting.
81 thought sop she said, looking quiz
zically from one to the other. SCOT mat.
ters very nicely settled, should say"
"You see,' she added, addressing An
abel, 81 have got tired of playing the
heiress it is something / wasn't brought
up to, and for which l seem to have nc
natural adaptation. To judge by present
indications, our little masquerade has ac-
complished all that was intended; so, il
you please, you may resume your true
character and position, and will take
mine.
"You needn't look so reproaehfully at
me-" laughed the speaker, turning to
Frank. 81 told you that all Cousin
AnabePs money was in the broken bank,
and it was the truth. I forgot to add,
however, that Uncle John removed it only
the week before. Now let me advise a
speedy wedding. The truth is, Pm ex-
pecting somebody on to see me in few
weeks; and two pairs of lovers around at
one time will be decidedly too much of a
good thing"
Frank quite agreed with Kate, finding
little difficulty in persnadiDg Anabel to
agree with him, as was proved by the hap
py bridal that followed.