Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-11-08

Kdl.eu. Il05bnIly IOOtblcUS COm-
ing along the path made her jump
up IN fright. a terror of dis
cOvery suddenly came over her
She crept round the boat house
gently pushed the door open, and
stepped inside, so that she was
quite hidden by the shadow. The
footsteps stopped close by and
Mabel was in fear that her hiding
place would be discovered. Pres
entity she heard more footsteps,
and then voices; party OF three OF
four girls had come out for an
evening walk. They did not pass
the bOat.hOuse, however. ana after
a little while they turned and re-
traced their steps. Mabel waited
until their voices died away IN the
distance, aud then followed them
stealthily. she was cold and
dizzy, but she did not dare tC
hurry lest she should oYertake
them. She got bone without hav-
ing been seen by any one, and
went straight to bed.
In the mornaln she was very i'll,
low fsver the doctor said, and it
was some days before she was able
to see any one. At last, when she
was getting better, she learned the
truth. Her lover had gone away
had left the country the very hight
that lie had asked her to meet him,
no one knew how or why. Called
away on, business his people gave
out, and nobody else had any e1.
PLANTATION to offer. But Mabel
knew, for in the early days of her
convalescence, when she was al
lowed to sit IN an armchair on the
the verands, or to have her bath
chair pulled up among the bracktn
and heather OH the headlaud, hrst
one and then another of her own
personal girl friends came and
sobbed out just such another story
Of heartbreak and deception. And
not a word of explanation or re
pentance did he send to any one
of them. Mabel Kept her own
counsel, and no one suspected that
her illness was anything but
ply steal. She never got really
well again. They took her abroad,
but she never seemed to get any
stronger. at last she begged them
to take her home and let h'r die
III peace, and the doctors said they
might as well let her haYe her way.
So they took her back to the little
house a; S4G1eld'-
'Seaheldr The half.burnt cigar
dropped from the mans nervous
fingers as the word broke from him
involuntarily.
yes, do you know Seafeldl
asked the girl in surprise.
'And your friend-was it Mabel
Cahusac7' HIS face had gone very
pale under the tan.
Mabel Cahusac, yes. Oh! Cap
tain Aldenham, did you know
MAbelr
Il met her-once,' Fred Alden
ham spoke with great effort.
Miss GRAHAM, did lou hear-the
name-Of the manN
NO. said the girl, sadly. mabel
would not tell me that. And L
don't even know whether his pee
pie we're visitors or residents in the
place. am sorry, becaute | have
so wished | could meet tho man
and see him get the punishment he
deserves. Bat, you see, | might
meet him without ever Knowing
For which he may thank heaven,
said Aldenham fervently.
You knew Seafeld and you
knew Ma5elr said the girl, softly
and wOnderlngly. 'now strange it
all seems! The place has often
been 10 my mind since | came here.
The Iiyer sounds just like this,
and the gardens slope down TO its
banks Just like the compound here
Yes said Aldenham In a low
tone. 1T was OF Sea0eld | was
thinking when | SAID the place re-
minded me of home. | like to shut
my eyes, sometimes, and forget the
palms and the free ferns, and
fancy that the wind Is stirring in
the oaks and beeches OF the old
garden.
i d0n't wonder you long tor
home,' SAID the girl, gcutly. Sea-
field is such a lovely spot! 1t must
have been hard 10 come away
Yes said Aldenham, rising sud
denly. 'When man gets to my
age things begin to sitter. When
1 was a younester | wanted to see
life. wanted to get as much fun
out OF the old show as possible,
and | was glad of the chance oil