Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-03-16

having some tlme 10 spare ne tnTeW
himself upon lounge and lay musing
in the darkness Now that he was
ready to test his faith he was not quite
so confident
Suppose she refuses me? But, great
Scott! she is no coquette, and, then.
hasn't she shown she likes me? Per-
haps," but he put the thought aside as
preposterous. No, of course Lane
couldn't be on the same and as him
self.
At last The hall clock sweetly and
clearly rang out eight strokes. 1t was
time to go. How we'll he recalled the
pretty picture Daisy made the first time
he saw her in her own home. Hastily,
joyously he mounts the steps OF her
house and smiles TO hear the resound-
ing noise his energetic knock has made.
The door is opened as before by the
trim servant, but this time she shows
him into the parlor at once. Winthrop
never forgot the picture as the draw
ing-room door opened. Daisy was
lounging in an easy chair before the
fire Near her on footstool was one
of her most constant visitors, Arthur
Scott.
Lane was leaning on the heavily
carved mantel. talking easily with
both. The freight glittered on Daisys
hair, bringing out the golden tints and
making her simple white gown rosy
red. This evening she was attired in
a soft white silk, and hearts-ease was
her only ornament-a bunch at her
waist and throat
As she rises to greet viii he notices
that her eyes are very bright and she
appears very nervous. After speaking
a moment with his hostess Will turns
to Lane and both his outstretched
hands are caught in a warm clasp by
him
A couple of hours passed pleasantly.
and then Scott rose to go. AS soon as
Daisy left the room Herbert Lane
turned quickly to Winthrop and ex-
claimed:
"Old fellow, you will help me, won't
you? So glad explained everything
in my letter-saves bother now, and
Daisy is 50 pleased"
Winthrop stared stupidly at Herbert
and gasped: What, for heavens sake,
are you driving at2 What letter do you
mean?'
1t was now Lanes turn to look
amazed. You don't mean to tell me
you never got my letter? Why, Daisy
was always writing how kind you were
to her and l thought it was on that ac-
count"
Speak quickly, Herb" exclaimed
Will Before she comes back. How
dare you call her Daisy? What right
have you, say?'
why, man, the best in the world,
for-for she is my wife"
"Your wife? Your-your wife?
You're fooling. Herbert, say you are,
for love her"
For moment he spoke as il dazed,
then sank on chair and covered his
face with his hands. Just then Daisy
appeared in the doorway. She looked
in amazcment from one to the other,
then as VIII raised his head and she
saw the direst misery in his eyes she
came swiftly forward.
lie sees the face Of the girl he loves,
all her pretty color gone and all her
happiness gone. Will tries to speak,
but Lane comes gently to her and says:
"Go, Daisy dear, leave him to me"
Then as Wills face again falls on his
hands. she bends softly and giving
Winthrop one quick kiss hurries away.
When Daisy had gone, Lane told
everything. How he had loved Daisy
for years, but could not get her fathers
consent, until taking matters into
their own hands, they had married Sc
cretly.
When Lane found that Mr.. Garland
intended to bring his daughter to Point
Comfort he told Daisy to make friends
with Winthrop and he would write a
letter to viii explaining all. And that
was the letter Winthrop never re-
ceived.
But now he (Herbert) had good po-
sition and had come to confess to her
father, and had wanted Will to say q
good word for him Daisy was only
too glad to have friend who knew
her secret, and so showed a marked
preference for Wills society to that Of
any of the other men that hocked about
her
When Lane had finished, VIII stood
up and grasping Herberts hands said
nobly:
Herb, dear fellow, will do my best
Leave me alone and l will see her
father, and congratulate your-your
wife for me-"
AS Lane left him Will sat down and
gazed around YEARLY What bright
dreams had come and gone in this little
parlor, but now all was over.
He touched the bell and asked to see
Mr.. Garland How he pleaded his
friends cause, or what he said, l never
knew; however, he must have done his
best, for Mr. Garland forgave and for
got. The next morning Mrs Lane sent
a note of invitation to Winthrop to
spend the day at their house. He never
came or got the note, for he had left
for the north the night before.
When he reached New York he wrote
to Daisy, bis first and last letter, and
that was note of congratulation. To
Lane he wrote more briefly, as follows:
DEAR HERBERT: Do not think envy you
your happiness for OF all men on earth you
most deserve It; but could not stay and see
her day By day. When left the house that
night, and had TO leave without her, the only
woman I ever loved, 1t was never to return
Give your wife ny heartiest congratulations
and tell her for me II I could not have her she
IS married TO the very man would have chosen.
Believe me. old friend, yours faithfully,
WILL WINTHROP"
Chicago Journal.