Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-11-11
CONSTANT HEARTS.

Minturn of her cousin. HE hasn't writ.
ten to you since be went away to England.
don't think much of his constancy."
Thslia said nothing, but put her pho.
tograph away, with sigh. Time passes
and still no word comes from her lover.
"What do you think Remie Andrews told
me this morning?" Ida says . month
later. ~ ee
"I'm sure do not know" Thalia re-
plies, locking up from the book she il
reading.
swell, what would you say if my ooro.
neted destiny were even now on his way
America-ward Remie tells me that hel
cousin from England is to arrive in time
for her fete, and that with him is to cone a
veritable Cr@sus and heir to a prospective
title. Remie says that he is handsome,
too, for she has seen his picture. tell you
what, Thalia, feel it in my bones-as
nurse used to ssy-that this young stranger
will not return to his ancestral acres as
unircumbered ss he comes. Some Ameri-
can girl will certainly captivate him; and
why should it not be your hum bic servant?'
By the time her cousin is through,
Thalia's face is full of the amusement she
crossed with her pleasant fancies to notice
postman brings letter to Thala, ad-
dressed in bold, manly characters. She
has never seen Harry's writing, and yet
her fingers tremble and her soft cheek
fushes as she opens the envelope, for
something tells her whose hand penned her
name. Inside are only few lines
DARLING THALIA-1f l may still call
you so-this day in which write brings
you your 21st birthday, and the end of the
period of our probation. If you remember
and still adhere to the words you said as
We parted, send me cluster OF flowers like
to those I took from you ss reman-
brance, and which / have worn ever since
close to the heart that beats now as fer
veptly for you, and you only, as it did
then, three years ago.
HARRY.
An address follows, and the outgoing
mail bears with it Thalia's answer. What
it is the reader may surmise.
The weeks glide by, and at length, tc
Ida's great delight, the day of the looked
forward to garden feie dawns. As the
cousins enter her room for her criticisms
and appreciation, Mrs. Mintrrn may be
pardoned for the proud glance che bestows
upon her daughter, for seldom before has
Ida looked more reeaily handaome than
she does to-day in the rich costume skill
fully fashioned to display every perfection
of her superb figure. But there might be
some whose eyes would wonder and rest,
with even more pleasure, upon the dainty
loveliness of the graceful form by her side.
Thalia is all in white-as she frequently
chooses to be-with knots here and there of
her favorite golden hearted daises for her
only adcrnment. But the quaint SIM
plicity of her dress suits the girlish style
we'll. The afternoon is waning, and as yet
no distinguished stranger has made his sp-
pearanct.
of lawn tennis, in which she has been on
the defeated eide, Thalia leaves her COM
panions and strolls off by herself to where,
beneath the shadow of q great tree, a
rustic seat woos her to rest. Throwing
aside her ha', she leans her head upon her
hand. and tor q while loses herself in a
happy day dream. Suddenly step ap-
proaches, and q hand takes hers in its
clasp, while well-remembered voice
speaks her name.
With blue, startled eyes, Thalia springs
to her feet to find herself drawn to a warm
ly beating heart.
.'Do you know me, Thalia?'
eyes," she whispered; it is my lover
come back to me-"
He laughs-s joyous laugh.
my constant daring" he murmured.-
sand you are still ready and willing to
leave your luxurious home and become q
poor msn's wift?"
I'VE will not be poor, Harry, for ws
shall be rich in love, and that is Gods best
gift"
A look of almost adoriug affection fills
the young mans earnest eyes as they TEST
upon the sweet, downcast face.
II have something to tell you, little
oue," he says, shat will surprise you. l
went to England expecting to fnd a rela
tive, old, poor and needy; found an
uncle, titled, and the sole representative of
a rich and powerful family. HE letter had
been worded thus to try me. He was in
need, he ssid, of affection. found him
waiting and longing to extend to me the
fathers love l had never known, and I
stand here to-day bis heir, waiting to claim
the wife who loved me when poor and
obscure, and who. trust, will care for me
just as much in my changed circum-
stances"
"You are lucky little thing u Ida says
when the truth is made known to her,
sand think your case proves that. after
all, it does pay to be constant and true"
And much to har worldly mothers
chagrin, year later, instead of waiting for
the often -talked-of coronet Ida gives her
handsome self, Indifference and listlessness,
left behind, to poor, young bank-clerk
whose only claim to consideration is an
honest, loving heart.