Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-10-12

relent. She thought oil ner own EN-
bittered life and her lonely old age L.
She remembered her self as
bright, hopeful girl, full of merri-
ment, and she sighed as she realIz-
ed that she had been transformed
into a sour and severe old woman.
81 too, have known misfortune"
she said, "and l am sorry if | have
offended you. [ have plenty,
while you are evidently very poor.
Cannot l assist you, in some way,
to better your condition."
"No, am too old to chanse l
am only waiting for death. thank
you for your kindness, but there
is nothing you can do for me.
Crazy jim turned away and
wrlked to the road, followed by the
plying eyes of Mrs. Harrington
He was rational enough during
the conversation, bat the talk had
reac'td the haunting memory of
his early misfortune, and soon be
was muttering wildly TO himself.
After supper that day Mrs. Har-
ringtOn told her nephew about the
call of the oil hermit, and then
Cautioned the boy not to continue
to associate with so singular a
character, on the ground that al
though he might be the victim of
a great miSfOrInur, he was not now
a suitable companion for a respec'a
be boy.
lean tell yoI a secret" replied
Thomas, (which may cause you to
regard Crazy Jim differently than
you now do. l have thought that
perhaps ! onghU to keep the secret,
us it might even cause you pain, but
now that jim has cIlled here, and
the circumstances art what thry
are, L think hId better speak.
You yourself have tDId me that
when you were a young woman
your father compelled you to break
your engagement with a young
man to whom YOU were deyOtcdly
aud to marry man
whom you did not love, and with
whom YOU afterwards lived un-
happily. hope 1t will not startle
you, but that rejected lover Is now
no other than Crazy jan"
WmpOssiblew " criel the old lady.
thoroughly excited.
"NOt at all. Ia his hut a few
weeks ago l found Bible in whi' b
were written these words: james
A. Syrington. From his friend
Mabel E. COnr ~ He had evi
dently preserved this Bible with
much care"
Mrs. Harrington Turned pale and
leaned her head on one hand and
with 1t sh ,drd her eyes. sHe
emotions were profoundly stirred
and she could not speak except ID
trembling accents.
YES; it must be true,' sue at
last SAID. 81 remember well the
day on which I gave bin that
Bible. HOw happy We were then.
Neither of US had any suspicion OF
the dark days that the future con
tanned for us. Poor fellow, l heard
after my marriage that he had
partially lost his mind on account
Of his great dlsapp ointment, and,
indeed. there were years when
suffered terribly. How greatly be
has ch .nged! But, since you have
told me thus secret. | can SEQ that
there is y resemblance that makes
it just possible for me TO believe
that he was once tue handsome
youth whom knew"
A few days latter Mrs. Harring
ton was stricken with pneumonia
Finding that ler strength was
rapidly failing, she called hel
nephew to her bedside and said:
81 feel that | am about TO die
and wish you to do me one more
favor On The top Of the bureau II
this room yop will find a photo
graph of my self, taken when | wa
oung and beautiful. Garry 1t t'
james SymlngtOu and ask him II
return for it to send me the Bible
gave him"
Thomas did as he was bidden
The hermit received the picture III
an ecstasy OF delight, and could no
gaze at it enough. He readily
gave the Bible with bis blessing t
carry to the woman whom he ha'
so faithfully lOyed.
WbeE Mrs. II lrriDgtOn died th'
little book lay Ivy her side; and th'
day after the fnneral Thomas visit
ed the hut IF the hermit, and toun'
him lying dead IN bis hammock
his glazed eyes directed lowar'
| .-Af,h ruoa aft I ~