Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-05-21

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and hack to The past from which
lie wished to draw her entlrel'
and h. watched her inten face
with fnrtIve upeasiness and per
tubAhOn, conscious that he had
made a grave mistake, tInAlly,
as the curtain fell at the clos" OF
the first part, to be- followed by q
short interval, Neal rose with evil
dent relief.
Il see friend IN another part
of the bonse 10 whom | wish ID
speak, if on will excuse me tor a
moment he said. Then with a
forced laugh; i hope they will
give Us something a little more
cheerful IN the remaining numbers
of tine programme. This high
strung sentiment is rather toe
rarifird for actual every day ex
perlence'
He turned away without waiting
for an answer; and r mule was sit
ting with her head bowed, and
her eyes fail Of tears, when a step
sounded near her, and a VOICE
vibrating with earnest patbOs, sin'
cerlty aad griet-sali:
MAY | sit here AMI talk will
yOu for a few mOmentsi May.
Miss Lawrcncep and lifting hel
head with a sudden start she look
ed into the frank but troubled
face Of Roscoe Fsrnham.
Where was do Ib', mlstruSt, Sus
plcion noNa
Gone, before the whisperings of
that truer voice, whose accents uc
heart could mistake or disbelleye-
that voice that bade him welcome
TO her side.
Il thought yOu had gone to En-
rope she fdltered, scarcely Know
ing what she slid. 'Mr Neal
then she stopped abruptly.
'Mr. Neal told you so, supple
mented Roscoe, with involuntary
bitterness. Perhaps it may prove
to be not the misrepresentation
for which | ain indebted to M
Neal Then with "A quick move
mput drawing letter from his
pocket: Tell me, R-unle, what
does this meanl Did this inderd
cone from yOu7 II seems impossi i
BILE, and yet the writing j. yours.
Mechanically Rinnie took the
letter he offered
A glance at the address brought
au expression OF asronlSn nent 10
her face. Then taking ont he
enclosed sheet she read 1t TO th'
end.
The writing il not nine snt
sad, trembling violently, 1T is a
clever forgery, | almi: but | never
saw this letter before. | did write
you on that date, bat | dIl rot di
rect it to that address, for / die
not know you were out OF the city.
Thank Hravenr jiculatQd RDs
cOe teryently, then, more earnestly
'Rennie. it is William Neal. 3u
as looked at you both to nigh
from where | sat, | read admira
ton aud triumph IN Meals face
, bat neither love nor interest il
yours, aud IN spite OF all that hal
passed my heart gave a sudder
bound OF renewed hope and conl
age. so when Neal left you jus
now, resolved to avail myself o
. The first opportunity | had fonn
to approach you sluce the receip
OF that cruel letter. | am cOnvnC
ed that there has been some tel
nbIe wrong-sOme shamefl
treachery. Tell me, did you Sc
Neal th'"day this letter was writ
tent
For answer Rsnnie eate
briefly as possible what she kne'
. of the whole matter.
Neal knew that | was cIile
away from the city by a telegra
that very evening", said ROsco
He accompanied me to the car
and received message from N
to you, with the promi,e 80 to wri
. In day or two-T expectsd to /
d, absent for about three weeks. II
evidently though that wOuld Civ
him time for his sinister work, an
having heard you make the Il
claratlon that you would send
, letter and let me witness for m
self, he doubtless contrlved. b
bribing the servant, or in son
other way, to obtain possession
the letter, aud initiated your han
= writing in preparing this one y
very clever forgery.
b During the period YOU wers "A
y sent, wrote twice, begging yor
"a explain that strange letter. Tho
d, letters were seturned unopened
,a see. here they aTe-we can que