Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-07-22
CLOSE AT HAND.


CLOSE AT HAND.
Derby stood leaning on the garden gate.
The sun had just sunk below the horizon
at the end of the long, narrow, gloomy
road, and dull red glow still intervened
between the gray of the twilight and the
blackness of approaching night.
After time a bulk in the dark showed
against the fading light in the sky, and as
it approached, resolved itself into the out
lines of man. He was large and strong,
but looked ungainly in his i'll fitting, soil
oil-stained overalls and coarse cowhide
boots
"'Lo, Debby!'' he said, in quiet voice,
swallowing the first of his words, as peo-
pie of his kind usually do.
''How dye do, SIP" replied Debby.
Then there was long pause, during
which the girl stared hard at the distant
sky, and ST stared equally hard at his
boots.
"'Ye goin tomorrow" he asked.
Debby's wandering eyes came back from
their study of the horizon and looked in
his frank, open, freckled face, and she nod
ded an affirmative that she could not trust
her voice to utter.
''Takin last look round, s'pose?" he
said, watching her set face, with yearn-
ing look in his big blue eyes.
The tears welled up in Debb's eyes at the
word 'slast," and she could only nod her
head again.
ST shifted from one foot to the other, and
then returned to the attack:
cts all fixed about Rosie, I s'pose?"
EYES," she said, in her clear cut voice. as
unlike her surroundings as she was her
self, for the girl was beautiful; Eyes,
Squire Walkers sold the house, and the
money is to be sent to the hospital, where
they will take care of her as long as she
lives. So, no matter what becomes of me;
she will never suffer, and if l ever do make
a home somewhere else she can come ana
live with me again"
ID the squire tell ye who bought the
place."
''No. didn't ask him."
''Don't you think perhaps little Rosie'll
be very lonesome without YEP"
Debby broke down quite at this point
and laid her head down on the old gatepost
and sobbed aloud.
big, strong arms around her and drew her
but he smoothed the pretty brown hair
with his big, rough hand with a touch as
tender and gentle as a woman's.
Don't cry, little woman, don't cry" he
pleaded II was big brute. There, don't
cry"
Finally Debby choked down her sobs and
swallowed her tears, and then tried to draw
away from the embrace of ST; but he held
her fast.
care you determined to go away, Deb
by?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, with sudden energy:
IT am going away. I cannot stand this life
any longer. Here I've been living will
my poor little lame sister in this house for
four years all alone since father died, No
one else to speak to, and life weary round
of distasteful duties. Oh, how I hate it
ALL"
"But, Debby," said ST slowly, don't you
think you might be worse off somewhere
else than you are here? don't think ye
seem very clear as to what you're goin to
do"
"Well. Pm going to leave all this behind
me. It's driving me mad. Pm not bad
woman, ST, indeed I'm not; and do want
to work-1'm willing to, at any late-hut
want to do my work under more favorable
conditions"
II don't know as I see exactly what
you're driving at" replied ST, who had let
the girl go and stood facing her in the twi-
light
''That's just it, ST. Somehow, though
you're the best friend I ever had, you don't
seem to understand. Oh, how wish you
could! thought should be glad to &c
away from this life and everything con-
nected with it, but somehow Pm not
Even this dreary old Mountaineering the
horizon with a graceful gesture-"does
seem very dear, and I want you to under
stand and bid me Godspeed instead OF
blaming me-"
God bless you, can say with all m,
beart," replied ST, barring his head with a
he went on, 81 am sore hearted to see you
Start out into the world empty handed and
trustful. Oh, Debby, let me say it again
just once-do stay here and marry me! J
amt good enough for you, know; but
can work for you and protect you, and I'll
try to satisfy all your longings-I will in
deed"
81 thank you, ST; but it isn't possible
indeed it isn't. You are the dearest and
best of men, but you have no ambition
you don't realize that with this restless
gnawing at my heart, there would never
be any happiness for either of us here.
could not be the good, contented wife that
you ought to have. have cast the die.
am going out into the great world. There
will be ripple of sorrowfnl memory in
your heart, and then the waters OF oblivion
will close over me-"
sit isn't too late to think better of it,
Debby, l bought the little housa; it is
yours always. Stay and live in it, even il
you cannot marry me. can't bear to have
you go away-not yet, at least. Debby,
your ideas Of ambition and mine are differ
ent, but, indeed, l am ambitious in my
way It is my first ambition to make you
love me-"
f'You bought the house?" exclaimed
Debby in surprise, ignoring the rest OF Sis
speech "Where on earth did you ever get
the money!"
swell, saved it up. I've been trying
to be little ambitious, you see"
Debby stared at him moment in blank
Had she misunderstood this
faithful, unloved lover of hers, after alls
Perhaps she had, she thought to herself
YEARLY, but it was too late to change her
mind.
won't you trust yourself with me,
Debby?" pleaded ST, thinking how desper-
ately close was the parting.
"It's better not, ST." she said. "I've
made up my mind"
fWell, if you ever want me, pebby, and
you may, some time, promise to send me
word. Will you?"
"Yes," the voice trembling.
"Goodby. God bless you"
"Goodby. Thank you thousand times. :"
81 Wrung the little hand that she placed
in his, looked with an all deYouring gaze
into the girls face and turned away, slow
ly walked down the road in the darkness,
rustling the dead leaves as he went.
The next morning the little old gray
house was empty, Rosie, the little lame
girl, and Debby Parsons had gone, and ST
took possession of his purchase. He
worked all day, bargained shrewdly, and
at night light shone in the little front
room and twinkled brightly in the dis
tance as he sat at a table covered with
books. Sis ambition was of the quiet, re-
served, but doggedly obstinate kind. The
purchase Of Debby's little home had alb