Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-09-02
THE OLD LOVE.

Hester told Ef1s she was making a mis-
take, so did her mother, Mrs. MacgreQor,
in casting off such an honest fellow as Geo.
Duff Just because be did not shine in socie-
ty and was bad dancer.
But Effie was facinated by Capt. Verso
hoyle, and when his regiment was ordered
away she wept bitterly. The only one in
the family who approved of her choice was
her aunt, Lady Macgregor, who highly ap-
proved of the captain because he was the
son of an carl. But time passed and never
q line came from the gay captain, aGd one
day Effla heard from her sisteI 3 lips that
he was married. The news also came that
her lover, Geo. Duff, was about to marry
his cousin. 1t was double blow to the
poor girl, aud for some time her life was
dispaired of.
Effie did not die. She struggled back
thanks to her youth-into health again; but
the brightness of her life was dimmed. She
was never the gay, happy, light-hearted
Efie Macgregor that she had been of yore,
and dark days came for the sisters. Mrs.
Macgregor died suddenly and they were
left almost penniless-pensioners On the
bounty Of Lady Macgregory, unless they
chose to exert themselves personally to pro.
cure living.
Hester would gladly have toiled to save
Efie all anxiety or care, but adversity re.
vealed in the latter strength of character
and purpose that no one had ever supposed
the pretty butterfly of old days possessed.
She would do her share, she declared, and
when Hester looked out tor q governess,
post Effie did the same.
What change it was to them, what a
pang to say good bye to Inverardoch and
to face the world alone-for together they
could not be.
Lady Macgregor professed to be offended
at her husbands nieces for disg racing their
connections by going out as governesses;
but she was honest enough to admit to her
intimates that she would have considered it
great hardship to have had to support
them; and she was kind enough to procure
for Effie a post with distant cousin of her
own who was blessed with goodly supply
Of olive branches.
Mrs. Elton was very kind to Effia. She
took to her pale, delicate young governess
at once, and treated her from the first with
more than ordinary kindness.
One day, about year after Efis had
come to Mrs. Elton, the latter casually in
formed her that she expected a bride and
bridegroom to dinner. There was to be
party Of friends to meet them, and Efie
was instructed to appear with her pupils in
the evening.
No suspicion as to the bride and BRIDE
groom crossed her mind, until she came
face to face with her discarded love, George
Duff, who, looking both handsome and
happy, was leaning over low chair, oc-
cupied by pretty girl in bridal spleudor.
A cold chill ran through Effie Mao.
gregor's veins. The girl wife looked so
bright, so happy, so contented, while she,
Effie, was miserable and alone, a governess
a dependent, with no one save far off Hes
ter to care for her.
The blue eyes grew misty as abe thought
of her folly. Like scone suddenly reveal.
ed, she rea,ized exactly the part that Capt.
Versohoyle had had 70 ruinIng her life. She
saw clearly that she had thrown away an
honest heart, that she had indeed sacrificed
the substance for the shadow. But what
ayailed it to revert mournfully TO the past
she vino must braYely try to face the
lonely future?
Mr.. Duff came forward frankly to Efie.
Her pale, sad face smote him to the heart
he guessed her story, and his whole desir 9
was to utter one sentence in her car; Will Q
the bright eyed Mrs. Duff gazsd with some
curiosity upon Mr.. Duff's newly found
friend.
He asked after Hester, and thea referred
lightly to herself. Was she well-and hap
|py?
Hester was in England, aud she herself
vas we'll and-happy.
sand, Efis, have you not relanted9" be
asked.
Relented! Was he mad? She looked at
him Indignantly.
81 have never changed" said George
Duff. 81 loved you from the first day
saw you, Effis. love you still. 1 made
up my mind, despite your desertion, that,
If did rot marry you, would never mar
ry any other woman"
"And your resolution broke DOWN." said
Efie.
"How9" h: inquired. "What do you
mean?"
"That you married some one else, after
ALL"
Then Effia fourd out her mistake. The
pretty bride was Georges cousin; the lucky
bridegroom was not Mr.. Daft
Six months later he and Efie we're mar
ried, and Hester crowned her sisters hap
riness by taking up her abode with them
until she changed it for one of her own
Efie looks back now and biess9s the day
that she did not marry Capt. Verschoyle,
though he is an carl at present, and his
neglected countess does the honors over a
far grander domain than the lovely, home
like Ardlook.