Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-04-24

has discovered precious jewel.
Isabel Islay stopped at the little house
where the tin sigu, millinery and
Dressmaking, swung creeking in the
wind that evening, on her way home
from the mill.
The window blinds were fastened
back, the parlor was opened and busted
Miss Genevieve was moving through
and fro. in her best India silk gown,
with flower pinned fantastically in her
lustreless hair.
A round, red spot glowed on each
cheek; her bony fingers trembled with
excitement as she laid down her sPecta-
cles.
"Can you press over my Leghorn fiat,
Miss Seamanl" asked the beauty.
"Oh, my dear, I'm afraid not" said
the little woman, with hysterical laugh.
"Haven't you heardl I'm to be mar
ried very soon Captain Edward Glea-
son-you may perhaps have heard of him
he used to be resident of Milltown
he has made his fortune, it seems, in
New York, and he's coming back almost
directly to-tO claim au old promise |
made him twenty years ago. My dear,
he has loved me-twenty years"
Her eyes shone, her voice faltered
with the ecstasy of her soul.
"And tomorrow he is coming back to
me. Oh, Miss Islay, it seems almost like
a dream"
She laughed again, but her eyes we're
full of tears.
Isabel moved uneasily; she was almost
frightened at what she had done. The
joke did not seem half so jocose as it had
at first, since poor Miss Genevieve ac-
cepted it in such dead earnest.
She took advantage of the entrance Of
a customer 10 slip out of the little shop.
"Gir,s, said she to her co-conspira-
tors, 1--WE must tell her that-that it is
only an April FOOL"
Tell her." echoed Lucy FELTON,.
what for' She'll find it out soon
enough. She needn't have been such
silly, anyhow"
"It will kill herr" pleaded Isabel.
"No, it won't. People don't die so
easily" laughed Lucy.
Heard the news about Miss Genny
Seamanl" said Mrs. Webb, at the board
ing house breakfast table the next morn
ing, as she poured the coffee and helped
the eggs and bacon around.
Isabel looked guiltiIy up.
"No," said she. "What il it2"
"Found dead in her cneer," said Mrs.
Webb. "A-smilin' as happy as a child.
Some heart trouble, the doctor says"
Isabel drew a long breath. SO she
had died, and never known how cruelty
she had been deceived.
She drew Mary Crane and Miss FELTON,
aside.
"Girls, said she, "you must never
breathe syllable of this to anybody. Let
the secret die with this poor little wo-
man."
"But she died happy at last" said
Mary, with the tears running down her
cheeks. believing that her old sweet
heart was coming back to her."
"Yes, but that don't justify our heart
lessness," whispered Isabel.
Aud then aud there the three girls en-.
tered into a compact secrecy.
Miss Genevieve was buried in a shady
corner of the village cemetery, and on the
very day of the funeral Isabel Islay met
a tall, bearded stranger walking along
the street, scanning the houses with keen,
troubled eyes.
"Can you tell me-" said he, "where
Miss Seaman hyes-Miss Genevieve Sea-
mani"
Isabel started.
''Miss Seaman was buried this morn
ing" sald she. "Oh, am so sorry!
Was she friend of yoursl"
They had stopped opposite the little
gate where the wheel tracks Of the hesrse
were get visible. The sign "Milliner
and Dressmaker" yet creaked in the
wind, the red sun was sinking behind
tho low caves, and Miss Genny's cat rub
bed itself against tho doorsiIl as II beg
ging to be let in.
ga iriendl" repeated the stranger, IS
he drew an old-fashioned miniature from
his pocket. "see, here is her picture
I've waited all these years to make a
home for, and now-she is deadi"
Isabel looked at the picture.
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