Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-04-13
PART OF A LIFE.

$50 you want my little girl for your
wife, do your
The speaker, from a glance at his
snowy hair and mustache and sorrowful
dark eyes, one would suppose to have
been man well along in years, but On
looking more closely at the well knit,
supple form reclining at ease in the
study chair it was discovered to be all
"old head on young shoulders.
His deep, musical voice was half sad,
half tender as he continued to address
the young man, who, standing before
him, was nervously toying with book
that lay. Oh the table at his right.
''Perhaps I'm not quite as surprised
as you thought 1 would be. You have
played together as little children, as
boy and girl you were companions, and
now that you are a man and Maud is
woman your hearts naturally turn to
each other, and I will see my dearest
wish realized. The friendship that has
existed between your father and myself
for 16 years will be augmented by the
union of our only children. You are a
good, manly fellow, Hugh, but a trife
hot headed and impulsive. Learn to con-
troll yourself, boy; learn to control your
self.
e "You have much of my disposition,
and I would save you from the rocks
on which my happiness was wrecked
you and my little girl.
''Sit down, Hugh, here, near me, and
1 will tell you a story-an answer to
the question you have so often had on
the tip Of your tongue to ask me, What
was it that turned the hair Of such a
comparatively young man white?' Tush,
boy, don't look confused-you couldn't
help wondering
"Well, to begin with, 20 years ago I
married one Of the fairest, sweetest lit
tie women that ever won the love Of
man. was a reporter on an evening
paper, ambitious and struggling to rise
in my profession. We rented a little
house in the suburbs, and although we
had not much of this worlds goods our
home was very happy one for the first
six or eight months. Then little bicker
ings and fault finding began. Bitter
quarrels finally grew out Of the most
trivial things, and scarcely a day passed
spoken by one or the other.
eve loved each other dearly, and we
tried hard to avoid all this. We had re-
solved again and again in our moments
of repentance that we would treat each
other with more consideration, be more
forbearing, but it seemed useless-our
troubles increased.
$50 it went on for several months. l
had become morose and gloomy, and
Morals poor little face had grown so
pale and sad that the sight Of it made
my heart ache.
zone lovely morning in early sum-
mer, when the roses that clambered over
our cottage walls were in bloom and
nodding their pretty heads at us through
mated, We're singing their joy and the
air was heavy with the perfume Of flow
ers and breathed only love and peace,
the crisis came.
''While was hurriedly getting ready
to go to the Office something occurred to
detain me. 1 was annoyed and spoke
sharply to Nora She answered me in
al insolent, haunting manner that al
ways enraged me. Our words grew hot
ter and hotter and more extravaganza In
my anger applied shameful epithet
to her.
'Cowardp she almost shrieked as
she sprang toward me, her face distort-
ed with rage and defiance.
"What devil possessed me do not
know, but quick as a flash I raised my
hand and struck her in the face with all
the force could summon.
''She was such slender little woman
that she had not the strength to with
stand my powerful blow. With low,
heartrending cry she sank to the floor
Almost before she fell my senses re-
turned. realized what had done, and
falling OH my knees beside her took her
in my arms, kissed the poor bleeding
lips I had so brutally lacerated, and with
my tears dropping on her face imp4ored
her forgiveness. She seemed completely
broken. Her anger was all gone, and
there was a startled, grieved look in
her eyes that cut me to the heart
'She lay motionless III my arms while
I begged her to forgive me. Then she
said softly.
g 1t doesn't matter, dear 1t was my
fault as much as yours. We will never
let it happen again. Now go to work
you are late already
'sIShe said it so strangely, with such
a queer look in her eyes, that L would
not consent to leave her: But she in
sisted, and when she babe me goodby
she said, taking my face between her
hands and drawing it toward her: I
love you with all my heart, my darling
husband. sYill love you for eyer and
ever. Now goodby.
''What long, long day that was! 1t
seemed as if my work never would be
finished, My heart was so full of love
for Nora.
81 bought bunch of Jack roses on
my way home to remind her of our
eourtship, when they were the flowers
always brought her. did not enter the
house by the front door, as usual be-
cause wanted to slip up behind her
where SIlS WIS ttg NOlh S3SOoAAAo eAAAAAiSA
and surprise her with the flowers and q
kiss.
"Softly I opened the kitchen door.
There was no sign of any preparation
for dinner-everything was i'll order.
Perhaps Nora has cried herself sick, L
said to reassure myself. went to the
bedroom il, order there but
the room was empty. Nervously hur=
ried through every room, looked into
every closet, went down cellar, out to
the coal shed, up to the attic. didn't
expect to find her in any of these places,
I was sure she had gone away, but !
must look for her somewhere.
81 went back to the bedroom again
and there found the note she had left
for me pinned to my pillow.
ssPoor little tear stained letter! Here
1t is, worn in the folds and yellow With
age-this is what she wrote:
Don't think it is because am angry at
what you did this morning that 60. ! cannot