Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-01-04

loving expectation. AT last tne
day came. She had received nc
intelligence, but she felt sure that
be would come.
The evening was in spring. genial
and balmy, their little home a
wilderness of blossoms. She pre-
pared his supper with her own
hands, she adorned tbe rooms with
the flowers he loved, and even laid
out bis gown and slippers
and drew his armchair beneath
the window. Then she went
10 ber chamber and Iut on
the dress he liked TO see her Wear,
a mauye silk with dainty lace al
the throat and wrists, and jet and
gold ornaments, her tlOssy brown
hair held back by sprays of hello
trope and sweet verbena. Survey
ing herself in the mirror. she smiled
and blushed, remembering bis
words when she had first worn the
dress.
'Oh, Maud, you are so beautiful.
Always wear this dress, darling,
when you want to please rue.'
The May sun wheeled lower and
lower, and at lasc went down, leaN-
ing the earth wrapped in the dusky
mlSts of twilight. Maud began to
grow impatient. She lit the lamps
in the parlOr and then went ont to
the porch to wait. He surely come;
he would not disappoint her ! Tie
golden Iints OF day faded like the
colors ot dream. The stars came
out one 10y one IN the hazy luster
of the sky, and then the moon
arose, coming up gradually above
the purple sleeps. Still he had not
coma, and the poor wife's heart
began to grow sick with hope de-
ferred. Another hour, and then,
above the murmurOus music of the
night, she heard a sharp step upon
The gravel aud started to her feet,
flushed and breathless, but the
next Instant she fell back, pale
with disappointment, for the step
was not his-she knew that long
before the person came in sight,
He bad advanced toward the porch
where she sat with slow, uncertain
step, observing which, and recOg-
nizing him as one of her neigh
bOrs, she advanced to meet HIM
Mr.. r Rutherford, is it yOOi am
locking for my husband. What dc
you think can detaln bIm9'
The man stood still his face fol
of silent, unspeakaDle pity. S)ne'
thing in his expression caught hel
quick eyes, and she spraDg forward
and grasped his arm.
'Mr. Rutherford, you bring M
tldings. Speak; don't keep me IL
suspense
still the man was silent.
'Oh, SIR she entreated, don
triAe with my feelings. Do yo'
know anything concerning m,
husbaDd9 1t you do for mercy SAKE
speak QUIZ
.Madam. have heard-that is
there is bad news he began, hi
voice husky and broken.
Her face grew as white as death
but her eyes we're clear and calr
and her hand strong as she graspe
his arm.
'Sir, if yOn pity me tell me tn
worst at once. 1 can bear it,
) well, madam, your husband an
2 his party have been waylaid an
: murdered by the Indians
f sAllY Did none escapeP
No onep
9 She turned sharply, leaving bill
, without a word. and he saw h(
q enter the house and close the doc
after her, and that was the en'
}. He wOnld never come back an
d more, no matter how patiently 81
S might wait and watch. lie woul
/. never know that he had y Sol
? never look upon the little chubb
r. face, with its bold, blue eyes, an
Is sunny curls, so like his own. Fro
hencetOrth her heart and hon
"a would be desOlate.
And this was the anniversary
,e her Wedding day. Six years al
" and she was y happy bride. FL
], years she had been a heartbrok'
1t widow. Her boy slept in his lItt
g bed, and she sat there thlnkln
d, and gazing out at the low lead
g SIX and the wind tossed trees. L
a night was closing Rapidly
IN night of storm and darkness. I
rs in came down in great smokll
@ sheets. and the wild, wailing win
er rushed round the gables aud we
IN. shrlekiug over the hills Ike hum
ny souls in agony. Her heart ach
.ar Nth q daeoIation that epampd