Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-03-03

tacles across the bridge Of her nose.
What a metamorphosis was there
She laughed aloud, scarcely believing
her own eyes.
"'Old Miss E.!ou =" she said. "Now
know exsctIy how she will look. But
! can get better sight Of myself in the
looking glass down stairs"
She took up the candle, and tripped
lightly down the wooden stairway to the
sitting room.
As she reached the threshold, there
came sudden tap to the old brass
knocker on the front door. She started
at first, then turned resolutely to the
door.
''Naomi has forgotten her fau," she
thought. "Or Leah has sent back for
something she wants. Their evening
has only just begun-dear little girls
But it was no messenger from the house
Of rejoicing that met Ehzabeth's eyes as
she opened the door.
A tall man, closely mufiled to the
eyes to keep out the piercing February
cold, stood there. She retreated pace
or two, still holding the candle in her
baud.
"Who are your she said, her heart
giving sudden jump. "What doyou
want at this time of nightl'
Don't be frightened, Grandma FL
ton," said low. pleasant voice; and
then Elizabeth remembered the quaint
disguise she had assumed. MAY
come in, just miDutel You arc the
very person l wanted to see."
Elizabeth began to trembIe. Had the
fickering flame Of the tallow-dip been a
little more powerful the visitor might
have observed the color come and 90
6tfully in her cheek.
"It-it is latel" she hesitated.
"Yes, l know urged the young man.
''But won't keep you long. suppose
-EIizabeth-has gone to tho party
al Colonel smith'sl'
1.-THE young people are gone-yes."
"And want Just one word with you,
Mrs. Elton. Please let me come in. !
ant to ask you a question or two about
Elizabeth"
What could she sayl Her heart was
beating so hercely she could scarcely
breathe.
Ten years ago, Archer Vail had quar-
relied with her, or she with Archer
Yail-she scarcely knew which-aud he
had sailed with his cousin, the famous
scientific professor, on the expedition
to Japan which was intended to clear up
half a score of unsettled points as to
climate, fora and fauna.
The professor had died at Toxic, and
from that time nothing had been heard
Of Archer. And here, oa st. Valentines
Eve, he had risen like spirit out of the
snow aud the starlight, on the very
threshold os her house.
She opened the sitting room door.
He sat down By the FIRE, with a sigh OF
relief.
"You haven't changed bit, grand.
ma" sa,d he, cheerily. "You stand
even straighter than you used to. And
Elizabeth-has she changed1 Tell me
truly-does she ever speak of mel"
Elizabeth was silent. She set the
candle on the old cherry wood chest OF
drawers in the corner, and stood ner-
vousIy picking the leaves Of the monster
fish. .geranIum in the window.
'"Because," said the young man, "I've
come to the conclusion that / cant live
without Elizabeth, I've thought Of her
every day and hour, OF late. have
done we'll in business on the other side
Of the world, aud can put my jewel in
a proper setting, # l can bat gain 1t.
Do you suppose, grandma, she would
forgive mel Do you think I could hope
TO win her hearth
Outside the snowy branches crackled
10 the wind aud the starlight. Inside
the hour aud minute-hand OF the old
clock had joined together at the hour Of
midnight, and Elizabeth still stood
silent IN the shallow as the clock struck
twelve.
"Look!' said Archer, 'It is st. Val
eutine's Dsyl Do you think there is any
luck in omens, graudmal For l love
her dearly, and believe l could mako
her happy il she would but give me the
chance. I've watched the windows for
a long time. shouldn't have ventured
to come in if / had not seen the light
cleaning through the cracksin the shut
ter. For the sake Of the dear old days,
Grandma Elton, give me shred Of hope
TO cling tol For the sake of old 81.
Valentine, tell me that Thsve chaucel"
Elizabeth took the candle aud set 1t
on the mantle, where it caught redec.
ton from the mirror ana shone cheerily
out With double lUstre. Then she took