Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-05-08


J will come soon, dear. never fear.
ats good thing" she added to her
self, "that she don't know anything
about dear old Judge Flostwy. There's
difference in age, if you please, and
the old pet is so infatuated about me.
An old mans darling, or young mans
slave-whichl"
While Halcyon thought, on her side:
"The silly goose! He has done 1t
row. He has been making love to Aunt
Hal, under the impression that ne was
counting me. l thought, of course, he
knew that her name was the same as
mine. Didn't she stand gcdmother to
me at St. Chrysoline's, and give me
coral-and bells and an embroidered
christening robe? And now he has
actually proposed to her! Well, if he is
the man take him to be, he'll stand by
his colors, cost him what it may. A
man who could walk up to the cannons
mouth at Bey-Idonna surely won't shrink
even from Aunt Hal. And I'd ra-rather
know that he was a true hero th-than
have poltroon for my husbandl"
And Halcyon turned her face toward
the pillow, and cried great, sparkling
tears like dewdrops.
$50 you're back again, LieutenantF
Beg pardon-Fd orter'd said Colonel, l
do suppose" said the old hack-driver at
the station, whom Charley Blossom had
remembered ever since ne was child.
"Well, declare, shouldn't hardly hev
kuowed yel And come back to be mar
ried, ehl"
Blesson bit his lips; but he laughed
carelessly. Jonas Hopper was a privi-
legged individual, like the court testers of
old.
CHOW did you know, old man~ said
he.
"Oh, l dunnol Miss Hartford, she's
been gettin' ready to be married, this
ong time" said Jonas, hosting the
Colonel's luggage on the back of the
wagon. And dressmakers and millin-
ers they will talk, you know, though I'm
told Miss Hal took great pains to hide
it,
"Did sbel" aside "The dariing!')
"And fine woman she is Colonel"
officiously added Jonas, as he pushed in
the last iron -clamped trunk. GA very
fine woman, considerin' her age. only
wonder she amt married before"
Colonel Blesson opened his sleepy
black eyes.
"Why, who on earth are you talking
about, MANI" said he
"Why, Miss Hal Hartford, tO-be-
sure"
'Miss Halcyon or Mis-, Ualli0nal"
"There amt no Ness Halliana,' said
Jonas. They're bo.h the same name
but we calls the aunt Mss Hal and the
niece Miss Halcyon. Ny daughter she's
lady's-maid there; and Id orter know,
if any one does"
"And which Of them is it that is 60
ing to be married." breathlesslY queried
Blesson.
"Why, the old 'un, of course-Beg
pardon" hurriedly added Jones, II
mean Miss Hal. Polly she tells me there's
four-and twenty different gounds or
dered, let alone the jackets and parasols
aud ten-button kid gloves fit to MAKE
your bair stand on end"
"And Miss Halcyon-the young lady,"
cried Besson-''shc is engaged tool"
"Not as any one krows on" said |
Jonas. That all, Colonel? Got your
telescope bagl Then we'd better be |
movin'."
Colonel Blossom pondered seriously all |
the way up to Hartford Cedars, oblivious
Of Jonass incessant stream OF talk |
Could it be possible3 No, that was utter.
nonsense And yet
He strained his eyes as they ap
preached the house. Surely golden
haired Halcyon would be there, smiling
to welcome him!
But no. In her place stood middle
aged charmer, well rouged and powdered,
with hair cleaning meretriciously,
and teeth just size too large for the
thin Tipped mouth.
In one hand she held his love. breath.
ing letter; in the other bis photograph.
And during that second his heart sank
like lead.
But he did not know-ah, how much
more difficult would it have been to bear
had he done so!-that Halcyon Hart
ford's eyes were surreptitiously watching
him from the honeysuckle- garlanded
easement beyond.
"Dear Charley" the elderly damsel
twittered, "you are here at last"
He set his teeth, drew one long breath,
and allowed her to slip carressing hand
through his arm and lead him into the
house, muttering some hoarse acknowl-
edgrhent of her coquettish smiles.
give brought it on myself" he
thought. "And must simply endure
it. The woman isn't to blame-no, she
is not to blame"
"He is a hero" Halcyon thought
"yes, hero"