Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-06-12
A POINT OF HONOR.
GY ANNA SHIELDS.

1t is q fact too we'll proven to need
comment here that mental excitement
will produce upon the hunau countc-
nance a change M re rapid and lasting
than even physical pain. But it would
have scarcely seemed possible that one
hour could have made a beautiful,
blooming face so pallid and deathlike as
that of Isaura Gardiner became in that
brief time one June morning, when all
nature was in jubilant mood.
She was young-not more than twen-
ty-and had been Julius GARDENERS wife
a little more than one year. They had
been married at time when the firm
employing Julius had wished him to uu-
dcrtake prolonged Southern and West
ern trip to collect outstanding debts,
and the young couple had made this
business errand their wedding tour.
Early in March they had returned to
their home, and few weeks later wee
blossom had come to bind the parents
hearts in yet closer bonds of mutual
love, a little daughter they named for
Isaura's long dead mother, Bertha.
After the baby came to gladden. her,
Isaura found her time so filled with ma
ternal cares that she had never availed
herself of her husbands permission to ex-
plore the old homestead, until the June
morning already mentioned.
1t was a very large, rambling old
country house, the legacy of three gen
crations of GARDENERS, TO the last survivor
Julius, and Isaura was sure that it was
filed with treasures Of past occupants,
though its owner laughingly assured her
that he was quite sure she would find
but little to reward the thorough ran
sackiDg she threatened to make.
When she was first engaged to Julius
Gardiner, Isaura had thought she would
bring him a fortune equal to his own
patrimony. She had been from infancy
the supposed heiress of maiden aunt,
who had moderate income under her
cwn entire control and no heir but her
niece. But, from some unexplained
freak. the venerable maiden, upon her
death-bed, left her home and money to
found an asylum, bestowing upon her
niece her clothing and jewelry, the one
much the worse for use, the other of but
triAing value.
Isaura had been sorely disappointed,
but julius had laughed at the long face'
assuring her he had ample means for
both: his private fortune and large salary
combining to make handsome income.
So Isaura had forgotten the temporary
trouble very quickly.
On the June day, already referred to,
she had at last explored some of the long
closed rooms, and entered one early in
the forenoon, her face bright as the
June sunshine pouring in at the open
windows, her cheeks rivaling the blush
roses clambering over the wide porch
roof TO nod at her, her eyes as clear and
blue as the summer skies srchiDg over the
old homestead.
In one brief hour she came out again.
But the pretty pink flush was gone from
her cheeks, leaving them as white as new
fallen snow, her eyes we've heavy aud dull
Is lead, gazing vacantly forward with an
expression of utter misery; her step was
slow and feeble, and she trembled as il
unable to support her own weight. She
seemed to have aged years in that one
hour of anguish passed in the room en-
tered with such light step and happy
heart.
Slowly she went to her own room.
Baby Bertha lay in her dainty cradle
sleeping profoundly in morning nap,
aud the young mother, sinking upon her
knees beside her, found some relief from
her agony in a passion of tears and sobs.
Again and again her husbands name
mingled with the means wrung from her
white, quivering lips, till the violence of
her grief wakencd the sleeping child,
who broke into wailing cries. Fol- a