Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-06-12

utter amazement, Julius, after reading
the paper, burst into a fit of laughter,
clear, singing snd hearty.
"Oh, Isaura," he cried, when he
could catch his breath, "the sins of my
youth are being visited upon my head
with vengeance. Oh, it is too good"
And another paroxysm of mirth fol
lowed.
81 don't see anything funny about it, :"
said Isaura, crimsoning with anger.
julius read aloud, with mock EN-.
phasis:
DEAR DIcK:-You utterly mistake both
my heart and principle if you imagine for
one moment that | will avail myself Of the
pitiful excuse Of Isaura's loss of fortune 10
break our engagement. Dearly as love
Magdalene, bitterly as l regret the tie that
binds me, will never, never so disgrace
my manhood as to desert the fond heart that
loves me.
''Isaura knows nothing OF nv mad infat-
uation for your sister Magdalene, my hope
less love for one may never seek to win.
She trusts the professions of love l made be-
fore knew the secret of my heart. She
loves me- And |, who sought her when
she was supposed heireSs, consider it q
point of honor to keep my faith with her
Guard my secret from your too fascin-
ating sister, from my promised wife,
and
Here the paper was torn and the con
fdences OF the lover brought to an ab.
rupt conclusion.
"Oh, Isaura," said julius, WAC hal
been interrupted by frequent spasms OF
laughter, "have you really been frettiny
yourself sick over this balderdashl"
Then, looking into the pale, wan face,
Julius became grave again.
"lf you had only looked further,
dear" he said, "you would have dis
covered page after page of just such
stuff. For you must know that one OF
the dclusiops of my youth was settled
conviction that was a great literary
genius, a Wilkie Collins and Charles
Dickens Of America, born to astonlsh
the world. And this is part OF my first,
last aad only novel"
"Ob, Julius" Isama gaspcl. 81
thought was sure
"There, don't cry, love; don't! Never
doubt me again, dear. cannot imagine
ncw how you could have taken this for a
genuine letter. never knew Dick or
Magdalene."
Chow did know thatl And Isaura is
such a very singular name"
$50 it is. But you see, dear, just
about that time this singular name stool
in my heart for all that was charming,
good and lovable in womankind. l was
desperately in love with an Isaura, and
as my heroine was to embody all female
perfection, l gave her the name OF the
woman who had full possession of my
heart"
"And then the loss of fOrtune-my
aunt, you know"
"B.ess me, yes! forgot all about
that. 1t does look oddly like truth, now
don't itl But If you will explore the
drawer still further you will find a
couple of hundred pages explanatory of
this precious document you so unfortun-
ately selected"
The doctor, coming later in the day to
visit his patient, was astonished at the
wonderful effect of the simple remedy he
had prescribed, and still more at the
rapid recovery that followed. In less
than n week Isaura was singing about
the old house, busy little matron,
happy in her husbands love, her baby S
beauty.
But she has still one regret All her
entreaties have failed to persuaic Julius
to complete that beautiful novel, "a
Point of Honor" which lies unfnishc |
in Isauras care, and which sac is firmly
convinced would, if Published, pace her
husband at the very pinnacle OF literary
fame.
But Julius will not agree with her, de-
claring that that precious composition
has already made sufficient mischief in
the world, since it caused his wife weeks
of misery and fit Of illness, and there
fore it is with him a point of honor to
it consign to oblivion as speedily as pos
sible.-The LedQer.