Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-01-24

to the young, eager face, and something ten
der and compassionate came into their gaze.
''Dear Estelle," she said, II love you too
well to refuse any request that might tend to
your happiness. l would do more for you
than any one l know here in Rome, but l
cannot be present at your bridal tomorrow.
Do not ask it, for hate to refuse you any
thing"
sBut do ask it, dear Nine. Moncrieffe,"
pleaded the spoiled beauty, the belle and
heress of the winter city. ''You know al
WAYS get what want, and I want you-to-
morrow"
my DEAR" said the artist sadly, "if could
break my rule for any one would do it for
you; but I cannot. Nothing could induce
me to attend marriage ceremony-even
yours"
''You always say that, I know But why's
Is there anything you fears Or is it that
such ceremony recallS-
eyes, the woman interrupted; sit recalls
it awakens-it is full of pain and horror to
me- Estelle, l should be only shadow to
the sunshine of your bridal. Do not press
the matter further"
The girl was silent She knelt there in the
freight picture of bright and beautiful
youth, to whom the future only showed itself
in the golden light of hope. Softly the mu-
sic rose and fell 1t had changed now to a
plaintive, minor melody. The woman shiv-
cred as the mournful notes echoed through
the vast chamber.
SIT was just such scene as this" she said,
suddenly, "the eve of another wedding day,
and the music-oh, heavens Why does he
play that? Why does he play that?"
''Shall / stop himg' cried the girl, terrified
by the agony of the face bent suddenly low
in the light of the leaping flames.
She half rose to her feet, but gesture
from that slender, trembling hand stayed her
impulse, and she resumed her former atti-
tude.
did 1 brighten you, Estelle? I am weaker
than l thought. No, don't move, child; stay
there, and while the music lasts / will try to
speak, to tell you the reason of refusal that
seems SO ungracious thing Its no caprice,
Estelle, for love you as if you were my own
child, and 1 have prayed for your happiness
ever since l knew that Prince Giovoli had
won your heart
''You wish to know why I cannot be
guest at your wedding? Shall l tell you my
story, Estelle or will it brighten you? We
live in an age of realisn-of incredulity.
No one believes now in dreams or signs, or
presentinents, and yet l know the truth of
each and all of these so well that l am an old
woman before my time, and l shall carry a
broken heart with me to my grave for the
sake of one"
The girl trembled and drew closer 81 al
ways knew" she said, shat you had suffered:
that some great trouble'-
''You shall hear it if you WILL" said the
woman, in a strange, dull voice. She bent
her head The girls blue eyes noted won
deringly the mingled gray AND gold of the
soft, thick hair, the haggard Nles about the
beautiful pale lips.
at is years ago." she said, quietly, land
such girl as you are now welcomed even as
you welcome the eve of her bridal day. Not
a cloud, not a shadow, not a foreboding!
With the memory of her lovers kiss she fell
asleep that night; but in that sleep there
shaped itself dreanl-a dream-strange-
terrible-onlinous. She saw herself standing
in an old churchyard-a dreary, half ruined
place, melancholy with cypress and yews;
and old and forgotten graves, moss grown
and neglected. AS she stood, something i'm
PEELED her to look more closely at the head
stone of one by which she stood.
''On it name was given and date. The
name was her lovers name; the date, not
Cold and trembling she awoke and tried to
Danish the memory of that dreadful place.
1t haunted her throughout that happy mar
riage day. 1t turned her cold and faint, even
amid her hridegroom's passionate murmurs.
He, keen sighted with husbands new born
rights, demanded to know the cause of her
pallor and her terrified looks. In despair she
told him, only naming herself as the subject
x,f bo+ fuI EJo 1oT1rbod lot
her fears, and ere week had passed she had
almost forgotten them amid the joys and the
tenderness showered upon her life They
wandered from place to place in sunny Italy.
in the loveliest hooks and in the loveliest sea-
son of the year. They took no count of
time Strong in health, rich in love and
beauty and worldly goods, life was like
q happy dream that lulled them to deep
est rest One day they had halted at a
little out of the way village among the noun
tains It was close on sunset, and they wan
dered off, as their habit often was, to explore
the neighborhood or sketch some of its pict-
uresque hooks. Suddenly the girls heart
seemed to stand still-a cold and deadly hor
ror chained her senses Without heed-with
out even remarking where their footsteps
tended, they stood in an DID, half ruined
dering and pale, she strove to draw her hus-
band away. Her pallor and alarm aroused
his suspicious. He glanced around and he,
too remembered the dream. There was no
mistaking the spot. Her description has been
accurate in every detail. However. he made
light Of her fears; he strove to rSassure her
They left the spot and returned to the inn.
Only then did he remember the date of the
day 1t was exactly three weeks since their
marriage"
The voice of the speaker faltered The
girl pale and awestruck, looked up at the
sad eyes and trembling lips. Soft and weird
the music rose and fsll across the ripple of
light words, the chime of distant laughter.
"Oh," cried the girl, suddenly, sit is of
yourself you speak This-this is your rea-
son."
YES" said the woman slowly. 'fThis is
my reason. That night my husband was az
tackled by cholera. Two hours afterward, he
died"
There were tears in the young, bright eyes
eyes to which sorrow was as yet unknown.
"My poor FRIEND" she cried, softly. "Oh,
my poor friend 1t is terrible"
"Wait," said the woman, harshly. 'You
have not heard ALL Learn how more than