Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-09-11

cares, get Ashcroft, no DOUBT, mas some
free evenings. For my part, am con-
vinced none of us will ever see him
again"
"Oh, say, Wilson, aren't you bit
cynicalG Ashcroft isn't such a cad as
that"
"Nol hope not, for l used to like
him. But remember, prosperity tries
man; adversity is not our only crucible.
Bessie's cheeks flushed painfully. She
knew that Wilson was an honest, far
seeing man, and that he had been moro
intimate with Flavel Ashcroft than any
of the other clerks; consequently, he
ought to be able to Judge him correctly.
Yet she also knew that Wilson's alice
tions were all bestowed on herself, and
that his love for her might make him
iealously spiteful towards a handsomer,
richer rival. She had always liked and
esteemed Harvey Wilson, but who could
blame a girl of nineteen if she had been
captivated by Favcl, who, during his
thirty four years of life, had travelled
much and learned many things, among
them the art of making love to every
pretty facet
Harvey sighed as he notei the flush on
her face, and walked quietly away.
Days passed, weeks vanished, yet no
visit or message came to her from Flavel
Ashcroft. Bessie was young and IN
genious, but she was sensible girl.
Gradually his true character presented
itself to her mind as she read Of his gay
life among fashionable people, and she
saw that he was indeed a recreant knight.
And as this knowledge was forced upon
her, she slowly came to appreciate Har-
vey Wilson's unwavering, though hope
less devotion.
ooh, Mr.. Wilson," she exclaimed to
him one evening when he was calling on
her, al have heard so much news to-
LAY. One thing you, too, have perhaps
heard, that Mr. Ashcroft is engaged to
the lovely but hitherto unapprcachable
Miss Carroll"
Harvey looked quickly at her. Her
tone was not that of heart broken
woman.
"Poor Flavelw he answered. "She
has the reputation of being cold hearted
and mercenary. Can you pardon me If L
say that I thought him devoted to you
in the olden days."
$50 did l." she replied, lightly, "but
we we're mistaken. l really believed,
too, that was devoted to him, but l
am happy to see that 1 was mistaken
about that, also
"Oh, Bessie, your words open para
disc before me- 1 know l cant hold
candle to him; if he failed, how can /,
rough, plain fellow, ever hope to
VIM"
"To win whstl" she whispered.
1t took many words, many kisses, many
tender glances before he had answered
that question to his satisfaction; but at
last he was satisfied auG in elysium.
"Name the wedding day." said Bessie,
an hour or so later. "That cannot do
without consulting dear mamma. You
know, of course, that l am not Mrs.
Moore's own child; that she took me, a
nameless waif, from an orphan asylumT
"Yes, yes; but that is nothing. You
are your own dear self; ask no more.
But Mrs. Moore has been a mother to you,
so let us go down to the sitting room and
ask her blessing"
Mrs. Moore not only gave her blessing,
but said that there was no man in the
world to whom she would more willingly
see Bessie married.
"But when you get toe license, per.
haps you ought to give her own name,
for my husband aud l never legally
adopted her"
"Oh, mamma! And never knew it
NV fathers name was Theodore Tcrrill,
was it notl You don't know my moth.
er's"
"No, dear, but Harvey can find out.
The matron of the asylum whence VIC
took you told US that your father placed
you there temporarily while he went in
search of your poor mother, who had
wandered from home during temporary
delirium. He gave her copy Of his
marriage certificate, in case he might die
suddenly, but she never saw him again"
"Theodore Terrilll" exclaimed Har-
vey Wilson in surprise. "My father had
chum OF that name and called my
second brother for him. ! will write to
the asylum, and IL the father of my Bcs-
sic is the same mau, how singular it will
be!'
~ have lived long enough to learn
that life is full of condolences; it is the
unexpected which generally happens
Mrs. Moore sagely observed.
"Pcrh.,s my unknown father may