Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-05-10

other boys in their sports.
At school he was the teachers
fayorite, and a thIi of pleasure
ran through my heart whenever
| heard strangers praising his
manly beauty, bis graceful wa
or his sunny nature. AS we grew
older be was my constant com
panlOn and my escort from church
and all our parties and little social
gatherings, for we we're very gay
IN those old days. The autumn
that RNph was nineteen aud l
seventeen he left home for college.
How everyone missed bin, for no
Que cOull talk as he could talk,
| missed him more than anyone,
for hewas all the world to me.
The evening before he wentaway
he walked home with me fro n a
friends house, and as we were
waiting in the chnrchysrd to say
good.by be took me in hrs arms
and kissed me. just then the
chimes rang out, and somehow,
after he had gone away, | loved
those chimes and would listen III
the hush of evening for them tol
ring, and when l heard tier me
lodlous peal remembered that
loving kiss aud he seemed to he
near to me.
When be came home for The bOli-
days he looked both well and
happy. Of course he came at on el
to see me, but not with quite the
old time freedom, Tor we were
grown up people then, and called
him Mr.. Gordon aud he called T. O.
Miss Llcell.
Three years went quickly by a. d
Ralph |, # college and came home
to us. "Such a fine young man.
the people all said, and "proud
might be the girl who could win
his love- and | was happy then,
| believed that he loved me.
Then the life.saylng station WAS
built, the crew organized aid
Ralph was chosen captain. All
the young men in town were eager
to JON the crew as volunteers, and
the girls were not far behind IN
their enthusiasm. Everybody was
interested and wanted to do some
thing, for the coast had long need
ed a lighthouse and l.fe.s@vlug
station. Fairs and sOclables were
held and the money needed was
soon raised. All summer the
carpenters and boys worked to-
build the station, for it was to be a
club house house also, and big
room was built for parties anu
social entertainments.
A watchman was to live there
and be in charge day and night,
and an immense alarm bell was
hung on the top Of the boat house,
which was to be rang when neceS-
sary to call the captain and HE
crew from their homes in tie
village. Two beautiful boats were
built for the crew and early in
September IN 1893 the station with
its outfit was completed.
A dedication party was to be
held in the club hOnse, and every
body in Belmont was IN joyful an
ticipation of that brilliant event.
Young ladies with their manly
escorts roamed the hlilsldes in
search of autumn leaves and
ey eyergreens for the decorations and
? the boys who were members of the
crew trimmed the club house with
many bright cOlors. The evening
) before the day of the party | had
been to the boat house with r hph
to see the decorations. We were
1 looking forward to the party with
| so much pleasure. AS we wended
] our way hOmewaTd from the sta
! ton that beautiful, calm Septem
g ber evening felt in my heart that
he loved me and | was blissfully
happy.
. AS we entered the parsonage
s gate and stood together in the
moonlight he put Ills arms around
8 and asked me to become his wife
d Ny darling Ralph, how much
e loved him; but | told him to wall
Q for his answer until we meet al The
d party the next evening.
: How happy ] was that nigh,
l All, too happy. went to my ward
robe aud locked at my dresses
There was the lovely white one
e had made for the party wOult
r wear that dress when | gave hin
n my answer, which should be
= ayes NY love, | accept the mos
q sacred gift man can bestow upOI
!, wOman-the gift of his IoYe, hi
o name and his honor"
ot After awhile | went to bed an,